Dynamic current redistribution for portable electronic devices

• US 10,312,697 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stieber, Marcel Colman Eric, Kar, Sagnik, Tuzman, David, Venkatasamy, Vidhyananth Ramasamy, Lim, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poudel, Santosh R
• Application Number:
  US14/744,782
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 713321, 713320, 713323
• 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: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

Method and systems for dynamic current redistribution in electronic devices with external power storage devices are disclosed. The dynamic current redistribution system includes a set of policies for each state of the electronic device. Depending on a device state, the system identifies the policies to be put in place, and directs current according to the policies. The electronic device may be connected to an external power source in one state, an external battery device in another state, and may be connected to both in a third state.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a battery;

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processing unit configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine a first current received from an external power source;

determine a second current consumed by the device;

determine a third current being used for charging the battery;

determine that an external power storage device is coupled to the device;

determine a fourth current for charging the external power storage device, the fourth current being substantially equal to a difference between the first current and a sum of the second current and the third current;

provide the fourth current to the external power storage device;

determine that the external power source is disconnected;

cause the battery to provide the second current;

determine that the battery is discharged to a first threshold level that is less than fully charged;

in response to determining that the battery is discharged to the first threshold level, cause the external power storage device to provide a first output current to the device, wherein the first output current is at least equal to the second current;

determine that the sum of the second current and the third current is greater than the first output current; and

cause the external power storage device to provide a second output current to the device, wherein the second output current is at least equal to the sum of the second current and the third current.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine the battery is fully charged; and

provide a fifth current to the external power storage device, wherein the fifth current is greater than the fourth current.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the external power source is connected;

charge the battery to the first threshold level;

discontinue receiving power from the external power source upon reaching the first threshold level;

determine a charge level in the battery is at a second threshold level, the second threshold level being lower than the first threshold level;

receive power from the external power storage device; and

charge the battery to the first threshold level.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a level of charge in the battery; and

cause to increase a charging current going to the external power storage device based on the level of charge in the battery and an available power source current.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine the battery is not fully charged; and

provide a maximum charging current to the battery.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a first input current limit on a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) providing power to the battery and the device based on a sum of the maximum charging current of the battery and the second current consumed by the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit comprises at least one processor and/or at least one power management integrated circuit.

8. A system comprising:

an electronic device comprising a first processing unit, a first battery configured to provide power to the first processing unit, and at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

an external power storage device electrically coupled to the electronic device;

wherein the first processing unit is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine that an external power source is providing a first current to the electronic device;

determine a second current consumed by the electronic device;

determine a third current being used for charging the first battery;

determine a first charging current for the external power storage device, the first charging current being substantially equal to a first difference between the first current and a sum of the second current and the third current;

provide the first charging current to the external power storage device;

determine that the first battery is fully charged;

in response to determining that the first battery is fully charged, provide a second charging current to the external power storage device, wherein the second charging current is greater than the first charging current;

determine that the external power source is disconnected from the electronic device;

determine that the first battery is discharged to a first threshold level;

cause the external power storage device to provide a first output current to the electronic device, wherein the first output current is at least equal to the second current;

determine that the sum of the second current and the third current is greater than the first output current;

cause the external power storage device to provide a second output current to the electronic device, wherein the second output current is at least equal to the sum of the second current and the third current; and

cause the external power storage device to charge the first battery from the first threshold level to a second threshold level that is less than fully charged and to disable charging of the first battery upon reaching the second threshold level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the first battery is fully charged; and

cause to increase the second charging current to a maximum charging current of the external power storage device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a charge level in the first battery has reached the first threshold level; and

charge the first battery to the second threshold level.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a level of charge in the first battery; and

cause a charging current going to the external power storage device to increase based on the level of charge in the first battery and an available power source current.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine the first battery is not fully charged; and

cause to increase the third current of the first battery to a maximum charging current of the first battery.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine an input current limit on a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) providing power to the first battery and the electronic device based on a sum of the maximum charging current of the first battery and the second current consumed by the electronic device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processing unit comprises at least one processor and/or at least one power management integrated circuit.

15. A device comprising:

an internal battery;

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine that a power adapter is connected to the device;

charge the internal battery at a first charging current value using current from the power adapter;

determine that an external battery is connected to the device;

determine that the power adapter is disconnected;

determine that a first charge level of the external battery is greater than a second charge level of the internal battery;

cause the internal battery to power the device;

determine that the internal battery is discharged to a third charge level;

in response to determining that the internal battery is discharged to the third charge level, cause the external battery to provide a first output current to power the device, wherein the first output current is at least equal to a system current consumed by the device;

determine that a sum of a maximum charging current for the internal battery and the system current is greater than the first output current; and

cause the external battery to provide a second output current to the device, wherein the second output current is at least equal to the sum of the maximum charging current and the system current.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the third charge level is greater than the first charge level.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

cause the external battery to charge the internal battery.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that a fourth charge level of the external battery is at a threshold; and

cause the internal battery to at least partially power the device.