Power management system with charger/boost controller

• US 20080100143A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lipcsei, Laszlo
• Application Number:
  US11/906,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/80
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A power management system comprises a power conversion stage and a controller. The power conversion stage has two terminals. The first terminal is coupled to a first power source which provides a first voltage. The second terminal is selectively coupled to a second power source which provides a second voltage. The controller coupled to the power conversion stage can select a mode from at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the power conversion stage receives the first voltage at the first terminal and generates a step-up voltage at the second terminal. The generated step-up voltage is greater than the first voltage. In the second mode, the power conversion stage receives the second voltage at the second terminal and generates a step-down voltage at the first terminal for charging the first power source. The generated step-down voltage is less than the second voltage.

Claims

1. A power management system comprising:

a power conversion stage comprising a first terminal coupled to a first power source which has a first voltage and comprising a second terminal selectively coupled to a second power source which has a second voltage; and

a controller coupled to said power conversion stage operable for selecting a mode from at least a first mode and a second mode,

wherein in said first mode said power conversion stage receives said first voltage at said first terminal and generates a step-up voltage at said second terminal, and wherein in said second mode said power conversion stage receives said second voltage at said second terminal and generates a step-down voltage at said first terminal for charging said first power source, and wherein said step-up voltage is greater than said first voltage and said step-down voltage is less than said second voltage.

2. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first power source comprises a battery pack comprising at least one battery cell.

3. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second power source comprises an adapter.

4. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second power source comprises a universal serial bus device.

5. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power conversion stage comprises an inductor coupled to a capacitor.

6. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step-up voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage.

7. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said first mode said first power source powers a load coupled to said second terminal via said second terminal.

8. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said second mode said second power source powers a load coupled to said second terminal via said second terminal.

9. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller selects said first mode when said first voltage is less than a predetermined threshold.

10. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a switch coupled between said first power source and a load, and operable for selectively coupling said first power source to said load,

wherein said switch is controlled by said controller.

11. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a switch coupled between said second power source and said second terminal and operable for selectively coupling said second power source to said second terminal,

wherein said switch is controlled by said controller.

12. The power management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power conversion stage further comprises a high side switch coupled to said second terminal and a low side switch coupled between said high side switch and ground, and wherein said high side switch and said low side switch are controlled by said controller.

13. A method for powering a load, comprising:

coupling a first power source which has a first voltage to a first terminal;

selectively coupling a second power source which has a second voltage to a second terminal; and

selecting a mode from at least a first mode and a second mode,

wherein in said first mode a power conversion stage receives said first voltage at said first terminal and generates a step-up voltage at said second terminal, and wherein in said second mode said power conversion stage receives said second voltage at said second terminal and generates a step-down voltage at said first terminal for charging said first power source, and wherein said step-up voltage is greater than said first voltage and said step-down voltage is less than said second voltage.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

powering a load by said first power source via said second terminal in said first mode.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

powering a load by said second power source via said second terminal in said second mode.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first power source comprises a battery pack having at least one battery cell.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second power source comprises an adapter.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second power source comprises a universal serial bus device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said power conversion stage comprises an inductor coupled to a capacitor.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a power conversion stage comprising a first terminal coupled to a first power source which has a first voltage and comprising a second terminal selectively coupled to a second power source which has a second voltage;

a load coupled to said second terminal and selectively coupled to said first terminal; and

a controller coupled to said power conversion stage operable for selecting a mode from at least a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode,

wherein in said first mode said power conversion stage receives said first voltage at said first terminal and generates a step-up voltage at said second terminal for powering said load, and wherein in said second mode said power conversion stage receives said second voltage at said second terminal and generates a step-down voltage at said first terminal for charging said first power source, and wherein in said third mode said first power source powers said load via said first terminal, and wherein said step-up voltage is greater than said first voltage and said step-down voltage is less than said second voltage.

21. The electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first mode is selected when said first voltage is less than a predetermined threshold, and wherein said third mode is selected when said first voltage is greater than said predetermined threshold.

22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first power source comprises a battery pack comprising at least one battery cell.

23. The electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said second power source comprises an adapter.

24. The electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said second power source comprises a universal serial bus device.