Selector circuit for power management in multiple battery systems
First Claim
1. A power supply system comprising:
- a first path configured to be coupled to a first battery;
a second path configured to be coupled to a second battery, said first path and said second path coupled to a common node;
a first switch and a second switch coupled to said first path and configured to allow selective coupling of said first battery to a load for discharging said first battery;
a third switch and a fourth switch coupled to said second path and configured to allow selective coupling of said second battery to said load for discharging said second battery; and
a selector circuit configured to close said first, second, third, and fourth switch to allow discharging of said first battery and said second battery in parallel if a first discharge current level from said first battery is greater than a first discharge threshold level and a second discharge current level from said second battery is greater than a second discharge threshold level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel. A power supply block including the selector circuit and an electronic device including the power supply block is also provided. The selector circuit may be integrated with a charging circuit on one integrated circuit.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A power supply system comprising:
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a first path configured to be coupled to a first battery;
a second path configured to be coupled to a second battery, said first path and said second path coupled to a common node;
a first switch and a second switch coupled to said first path and configured to allow selective coupling of said first battery to a load for discharging said first battery;
a third switch and a fourth switch coupled to said second path and configured to allow selective coupling of said second battery to said load for discharging said second battery; and
a selector circuit configured to close said first, second, third, and fourth switch to allow discharging of said first battery and said second battery in parallel if a first discharge current level from said first battery is greater than a first discharge threshold level and a second discharge current level from said second battery is greater than a second discharge threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic device comprising:
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a first path configured to be coupled to a first battery;
a second path configured to be coupled to a second battery, said first path and said second path coupled to a common node;
a first switch and a second switch coupled to said first path and configured to allow selective coupling of said first battery to a system of said electronic device for discharging said first battery;
a third switch and a fourth switch coupled to said second path and configured to allow selective coupling of said second battery to said system for discharging said second battery; and
a selector circuit configured to close said first, second, third, and fourth switch to allow discharging of said first battery and said second battery in parallel if a first discharge current level from said first battery is greater than a first discharge threshold level and a second discharge current level from said second battery is greater than a second discharge threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of ensuring safe operation of batteries in parallel, said method comprising:
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receiving a control signal from an associated power management unit representative of a desired parallel coupling of at least a first battery and a second battery to a common node;
receiving a first current signal representative of a first current level along a first path coupled between said first battery and said common node;
receiving a second current signal representative of a second current level along a second path coupled between said second battery and said common node;
comparing said first current signal to a first threshold current level and said second current signal to a second threshold current level; and
coupling said first battery and second battery in parallel to said common node if said first current signal is greater than said first threshold current level and said second current signal is greater than said second threshold current level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification