Portable battery charger

• US 20020053895A1
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Simoes, Felipe Oliveira, Radut, Dan G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,583,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007186 obtained with the battery disconnected from the charge or discharge circuit

Abstract

A portable battery charger for a mobile device having a rechargeable battery includes battery contacts, a switching regulator, and a charger interface. The battery contacts are configured to receive a battery having a low-voltage value. The switching regulator is coupled to the battery contacts and configured to draw the low-voltage value from the battery and convert the low-voltage value to a charger output. The charger interface is configured to electrically engage the mobile device and is further configured to couple the charger output from the switching regulator to the rechargeable battery in the mobile device.

Claims

1. A portable battery charger for a mobile device having a rechargeable battery, comprising:

battery contacts configured to receive a battery having a low-voltage value;

a switching regulator coupled to the battery contacts and configured to draw the low-voltage value from the battery and convert the low-voltage value to a charger output; and

a charger interface configured to electrically engage the mobile device and further configured to couple the charger output from the switching regulator to the rechargeable battery in the mobile device.

2. The mobile battery charger of claim 1, wherein the battery contacts are configured to engage a AA battery.

3. The mobile battery charger of claim 1, wherein the switching regulator is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode is a current limiting mode.

4. The mobile battery charger of claim 3, wherein the switching regulator generates a full duty cycle charger output when operating in current limiting mode.

5. The mobile battery charger of claim 3, wherein the second mode is a constant voltage mode.

6. The mobile battery charger of claim 3, further comprising a control and monitor module coupled between the switching regulator and the charger interface and configured to control the charger output.

7. The mobile battery charger of claim 6, wherein the control and monitor module is configured to switch the switching regulator from the first mode to the second mode when the voltage of the rechargeable battery is above a threshold voltage.

8. The mobile battery charger of claim 7, wherein the threshold voltage is 2.5 V.

9. The mobile battery charger of claim 6, wherein the control and monitor module monitors the voltage on the battery in order to turn the switching regulator off when the voltage of the battery is insufficient to charge the rechargeable battery.

10. The mobile battery charger of claim 9, wherein the control and monitor module is configured to send a shutdown signal to the switching regulator when the voltage of the battery drops below a threshold voltage.

11. The mobile battery charger of claim 10, wherein the threshold voltage is 1.0 V.

12. The mobile battery charger of claim 9, wherein the control and monitor module is configured to send a low battery value to the mobile device when the voltage of the battery drops below a threshold voltage.

13. The mobile battery charger of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium ion battery.

14. The mobile battery charger of claim 1, further comprising a reverse battery protection module coupled between the battery contacts and the switching regulator, the reverse battery protection module being configured to detect a reverse polarity of the battery.

15. The mobile battery charger of claim 14, further comprising a switch coupled between one of the battery contacts and the switching regulator, the switch being configured to receive a control signal from the reverse battery protection module, wherein the switch isolates the switching regulator from the reverse polarity battery when a reverse polarity of the battery is detected.

17. The portable battery charger of claim 16 wherein the housing further comprises a well having side wall guides and an edge surface guide configured to slidably receive and mate the mobile device to the portable battery charger.

18. The portable battery charger of claim 17 wherein the housing further comprises fasteners configured to fasten the portable battery charger to the mobile device.

19. The portable battery charger of claim 18 wherein the fasteners are a pair of prongs located on the side wall guides.

20. The portable battery charger of claim 19 wherein the prongs are configured to snap onto the mobile device such that an interference fit between the prongs and the mobile device supports the weight of the portable battery charger.

21. The portable battery charger of claim 20 wherein the portable battery charger is slidably disengaged from the mobile device.

16. A portable battery charger for a mobile device having a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a housing configured to house a battery compartment and engage the mobile device;

a connector configured to electrically couple the portable battery charger to the mobile device.

22. A method for charging a rechargeable battery in a mobile device from a portable battery charger, comprising the steps of:

receiving a low voltage value from a battery;

converting the low-voltage value to a charger output; and

coupling the charger output to the rechargeable battery in the mobile device.