Multi-phase battery charging with boost bypass

• US 10,075,007 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Langlinais, Jamie, Yoshimoto, Mark A., Chen, Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung V
• Application Number:
  US14/749,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20160064986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 320134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007184 in response to battery voltage gradient
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007186 obtained with the battery disconnected from the charge or discharge circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system operates a charging circuit for converting an input voltage from a power source into a set of output voltages for charging the battery and powering a low-voltage subsystem and a high-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device. Upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a low-voltage state in the battery during operation of the charging circuit, the system uses a first inductor group in the charging circuit to down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery that is lower than a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem. The system also uses a second inductor group in the charging circuit to up-convert the target voltage to power the high-voltage subsystem.

Claims

1. A method for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:

operating a charging circuit for converting an input voltage from a power source into a set of output voltages to simultaneously charge the battery, power a low-voltage subsystem, and power a high-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device; and

during operation of the charging circuit, upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a low-voltage state in the battery;

using a first inductor group in the charging circuit to down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery that is lower than a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem;

using the target voltage to charge the battery and power the low-voltage subsystem; and

using a second inductor group in the charging circuit to up-convert the target voltage to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

upon detecting a change between a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem and a battery voltage of the battery beyond a threshold, switching a membership of an inductor between the first and second inductor groups to facilitate operation of the charging circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a high-voltage state in the battery, using the first and second inductor groups to;

down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery; and

charge the battery and power the low-voltage subsystem and the high-voltage subsystem from an input current of the power source.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a voltage state in the battery between the low-voltage state and the high-voltage state;

using the first inductor group to down-convert the input voltage to the target voltage of the battery; and

powering the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted target voltage from the second inductor group; and

the target voltage from the first and second inductor groups.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during discharge of the battery in the low-voltage state;

using the second inductor group to up-convert a battery voltage of the battery to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

using the charging circuit to directly power the low-voltage subsystem from the battery voltage.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon detecting coupling of an external load to the portable electronic device, using the first inductor group to up-convert the battery voltage to power the external load.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

during discharge of the battery between the low-voltage state and a high-voltage state, powering the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted battery voltage from the second inductor group; and

the battery voltage along a bypass path to the high-voltage subsystem in the charging circuit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second inductor groups comprises one or more inductors.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the charging circuit comprises at least one of:

down-converting the input voltage;

up-converting a target voltage of the battery; and

up-converting a battery voltage of the battery.

9. A charging system for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a switching converter comprising a first inductor group and a second inductor group; and

a control circuit configured to use the switching converter to convert an input voltage from a power source into a set of output voltages to simultaneously charge a battery in the portable electronic device, power a low-voltage subsystem, and power a high-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device,

wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a low-voltage state in the battery, the control circuit is further configured to;

use the first inductor group to down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery that is lower than a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem; and

use the second inductor group to up-convert the target voltage to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

wherein upon detecting a change between a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem and a battery voltage of the battery beyond a threshold, the control circuit is further configured to;

switch a membership of an inductor between the first and second inductor groups to facilitate operation of the charging system.

10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a high-voltage state in the battery, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first and second inductor groups to;

down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery; and

charge the battery and power the low-voltage subsystem and the high-voltage subsystem from an input current of the power source.

11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a voltage state in the battery between the low-voltage state and the high-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first inductor group to down-convert the input voltage to the target voltage of the battery; and

power the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted target voltage from the second inductor group; and

the target voltage from the first and second inductor groups.

12. The charging system of claim 9, wherein during discharge of the battery in the low-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the second inductor group to up-convert a battery voltage of the battery to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

directly power the low-voltage subsystem from the battery voltage.

13. The charging system of claim 12, wherein upon detecting coupling of an external load to the portable electronic device, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first inductor group to up-convert the battery voltage to power the external load.

14. The charging system of claim 12, wherein during discharge of the battery between the low-voltage state and a high-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

power the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted battery voltage from the second inductor group; and

the battery voltage along a bypass path to the high-voltage subsystem.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a first set of components in a high-voltage subsystem;

a second set of components in a low-voltage subsystem;

a battery;

a switching converter comprising a first inductor group and a second inductor group; and

a control circuit configured to use the switching converter to convert an input voltage from a power source into a set of output voltages to simultaneously charge the battery, power the low-voltage subsystem, and power the high-voltage sub system,

wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a low-voltage state in the battery, the control circuit is further configured to;

use the first inductor group to down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery that is lower than a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem; and

use the second inductor group to up-convert the target voltage to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

wherein upon detecting a change between a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem and a battery voltage of the battery beyond a threshold, the control circuit is further configured to;

switch a membership of an inductor between the first and second inductor groups to facilitate operation of the charging system.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a high-voltage state in the battery, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first and second inductor groups to;

down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery; and

charge the battery and power the low-voltage subsystem and the high-voltage subsystem from an input current of the power source.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a voltage state in the battery between the low-voltage state and the high-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first inductor group to down-convert the input voltage to the target voltage of the battery; and

power the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted target voltage from the second inductor group; and

the target voltage from the first and second inductor groups.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein during discharge of the battery in the low-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the second inductor group to up-convert a battery voltage of the battery to power the high-voltage subsystem; and

directly power the low-voltage subsystem from the battery voltage.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein upon detecting coupling of an external load to the portable electronic device, the control circuit is further configured to:

use the first inductor group to up-convert the battery voltage to power the external load.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein during discharge of the battery between the low-voltage state and a high-voltage state, the control circuit is further configured to:

power the high-voltage subsystem from at least one of;

the up-converted battery voltage from the second inductor group; and

the battery voltage along a bypass path to the high-voltage subsystem.