Circuit and method of operation for an electrical power supply
First Claim
1. A battery charging circuit comprising:
- a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery;
a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of said semiconductor switch, the current output of said battery charge controller being controllable; and
a voltage sensing circuit for;
measuring the voltage drop across said battery charge controller; and
responding to said voltage drop across said battery charge controller by modulating said semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to said rechargeable battery when said voltage drop is too great;
whereby the total power dissipated by said battery charge controller is controlled, said portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and said rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging circuit comprising: a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery; a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of the semiconductor switch, the current output of the battery charge controller being controllable; and a voltage sensing circuit for: measuring the voltage drop across the battery charge controller; and responding to the voltage drop across the battery charge controller by modulating the semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to the rechargeable battery when the voltage drop is too great; whereby the total power dissipated by the battery charge controller is controlled, the portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and the rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A battery charging circuit comprising:
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a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery;
a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of said semiconductor switch, the current output of said battery charge controller being controllable; and
a voltage sensing circuit for;
measuring the voltage drop across said battery charge controller; and
responding to said voltage drop across said battery charge controller by modulating said semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to said rechargeable battery when said voltage drop is too great;
whereby the total power dissipated by said battery charge controller is controlled, said portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and said rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A battery charging circuit comprising:
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a battery charge controller connected to said external power supply and electrifying a battery and a portable device, and having a maximum current setting; and
a regulating circuit for sensing the voltage drop across said battery charge controller, and modulating the current to said battery to keep the power dissipated by said battery charge controller below a predetermined level.
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18. A method for charging a battery of a portable device via an external power supply, said method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the input of a battery charge controller to said external power supply;
connecting the output of said battery charge controller, in parallel, to said portable device and the input of a semiconductor switch;
connecting the output of said semiconductor switch to said battery;
controlling the current output of said battery charge controller;
measuring the voltage drop across said battery charge controller; and
responding to said voltage drop across said battery charge controller by modulating said semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to said rechargeable battery when said voltage drop is too great;
whereby the total power dissipated by said battery charge controller is controlled, said portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and said rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.
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19. A power supply circuit comprising:
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means for measuring the voltage drop across a battery charge controller providing power to a portable device and the input of a semiconductor switch in parallel;
means for controlling the current output of said battery charge controller; and
means for responding to the voltage drop across said battery charge controller by modulating said semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to said rechargeable battery when said voltage drop is too great;
whereby the total power dissipated by said battery charge controller is controlled, said portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and said rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.
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Specification