Power management system

• US 20050253560A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Popescu-Stanesti, Vlad Mihail, Kobildjanov, Oleg, Chen, Jiwei
• Granted Patent: US 7,615,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment may include selecting at least one power supply, among a plurality of different power supplies, and coupling at least one available power supply to a load. The method may also include selecting at least one charging mode, among a plurality of different charging modes, to charge a rechargeable battery. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an integrated circuit capable of selecting at least one power supply, among a plurality of different power supplies, and coupling at least one available power supply to a load, said integrated circuit further capable of selecting at least one charging mode, among a plurality of different charging modes, to charge a rechargeable battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of coupling at least one said available power supply to said load and to said rechargeable battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of selecting at least one charging phase, among a plurality of different charging phases, to charge said rechargeable battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said plurality of different charging phases selected from the group consisting of a wake-up phase, a constant current phase, and a constant voltage phase.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of different charging modes being selected from the group consisting of a switch mode and a linear mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a high power supply capable of delivering an instantaneous power to said load.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a restricted power supply capable of delivering a restricted power to said load.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising said rechargeable battery capable of delivering power to said load.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of allocating power to said load and allocating any remaining power to said rechargeable battery.

10. A method, comprising:

selecting at least one power supply, among a plurality of different power supplies, and coupling at least one available power supply to a load; and

selecting at least one charging mode, among a plurality of different charging modes, to charge a rechargeable battery.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling at least one said available power supply to said load and to said rechargeable battery.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

selecting at least one charging phase, among a plurality of different charging phases, to charge said rechargeable battery.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said plurality of different charging phases selected from the group consisting of a wake-up phase, a constant current phase, and a constant voltage phase.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said plurality of different charging modes being selected from the group consisting of a switch mode and a linear mode.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a high power supply capable of delivering an instantaneous power to said load.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a restricted power supply capable of delivering a restricted power to said load.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising said rechargeable battery capable of delivering power to said load.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

allocating power to said load and allocating any remaining power to said rechargeable battery.

19. A system, comprising:

a portable electronic device comprising an integrated circuit and a load, said integrated circuit capable of selecting at least one power supply, among a plurality of different power supplies, and coupling at least one available power supply to said load, said integrated circuit further capable of selecting at least one charging mode, among a plurality of different charging modes, to charge a rechargeable battery.

20. The system claim 19, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of coupling at least one said available power supply to said load and to said rechargeable battery.

21. The system claim 19, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of selecting at least one charging phase, among a plurality of different charging phases, to charge said rechargeable battery.

22. The system claim 21, wherein:

said plurality of different charging phases selected from the group consisting of a wake-up phase, a constant current phase, and a constant voltage phase.

23. The system claim 19, wherein:

said plurality of different charging modes being selected from the group consisting of a switch mode and a linear mode.

24. The system claim 19, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a high power supply capable of delivering an instantaneous power to said load.

25. The system claim 19, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising a restricted power supply capable of delivering a restricted power to said load.

26. The system claim 19, wherein:

said at least one power supply comprising said rechargeable battery capable of delivering power to said load.

27. The system claim 20, wherein:

said integrated circuit is further capable of allocating power to said load and allocating any remaining power to said rechargeable battery.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein:

said portable electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a portable phone, a digital still camera and a digital movie camera.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein:

said load comprising at least one active electronic circuit capable of receiving power from at least one said power supply.