CHARGING CIRCUIT

• US 20080042622A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LI, TAI-CHUN, WONG, SHIH-FANG
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/162
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

A charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery (70) includes a charge management unit (40), a comparator (80) and a changeover switch (60). The changeover switch (60) includes a default state of connecting the rechargeable battery to the comparator (80), so that the comparator (80) produces a comparison result by comparing a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery (70) with a preset voltage threshold. The comparison result is transmitted to the charge management unit (40) and the charge management unit (40) controls the changeover switch (60) to switch from the default state to a controlled state if the battery voltage is less than the preset voltage threshold according to the comparison result. In the controlled state the changeover switch (60) connects the rechargeable battery (70) to the charge management unit (40), so that the charge management unit (40) charges the rechargeable battery (70).

Claims

1. A charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a changeover switch having a default state and a controlled state;

a comparator configured for receiving a battery voltage from the rechargeable battery via the changeover switch when the changeover switch is at the default state, wherein the comparator compares the battery voltage with a preset voltage threshold and outputs a comparison result accordingly; and

a charge management unit for receiving the comparison result and controlling the changeover switch to switch from the default state to the controlled state if the battery voltage is less than the preset voltage threshold according to the comparison result, wherein the charge management unit charges the rechargeable battery via the changeover switch when the changeover switch is at the controlled state.

2. The charging circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator for indicating if the battery voltage reaches or exceeds the preset voltage threshold according to the comparison result of the comparator.

3. The charging circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a selector switch configured for signaling the charge management unit to control the changeover switch to switch from the default state to the controlled state when the battery voltage reaches or exceeds the preset voltage threshold.

4. The charging circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the changeover switch is a double-pole double-throw relay.

5. The charging circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the charge management unit terminates to control the changeover switch and the changeover switch rebounds to the default switch when the charge is completed.