COMPUTER SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080309291A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHA, Jae-deok
• Application Number:
  US12/042,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/139
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

A computer system, including a converter to convert a level of an input voltage into a charging voltage and to output the charging voltage to a battery unit; a converter driving unit to output a driving signal to the converter so that the charging voltage outputted from the converter is able to reach a predetermined target value; and a controller to control the converter driving unit to alternate the driving signal between supplying the charging voltage and suspension of the charging voltage.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus comprising:

a converter to convert a level of an input voltage into a charging voltage and to output the charging voltage to a battery unit;

a converter driving unit to output a driving signal to the converter so that the charging voltage outputted from the converter is able to reach a predetermined target value; and

a controller to control the converter driving unit to alternate the driving signal between supplying the charging voltage and suspension of the charging voltage.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the converter driving unit to alternate the driving signal between supplying and suspension after the charging voltage of the battery unit has reached the predetermined target value.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the converter converts a level of an input direct current (DC) voltage according to a switch-mode method; and

the driving signal of the converter driving unit comprises a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the converter driving unit and the controller are integrally formed.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging voltage outputted from the converter has the same level as a cell voltage of the battery unit.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller selectively performs a first control operation to alternate the driving signal between supplying and suspension and a second control operation to maintain output of the driving signal.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a user input unit to input an instruction from a user, wherein one of the first control operation and the second control operation is determined according to the instruction from the user.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery unit is provided in a computer system.

9. A control method of a computer system comprising a converter to convert a level of an input voltage and outputs a charging voltage of a battery unit that supplies power to the computer system, and a converter driving unit to output a driving signal to the converter so that the charging voltage outputted from the converter is able to reach a predetermined target value, the control method comprising:

alternating the driving signal output by the converter driving unit between supplying the charging voltage and suspension of the charging voltage.

10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the driving signal is alternated after the charging voltage of the battery unit has reached the predetermined target value.

11. The control method according to claim 9, wherein:

the converter converts a level of an input direct current (DC) voltage according to a switch-mode method; and

the driving signal of the converter driving unit comprises a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal.

12. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the charging voltage outputted from the converter has the same level as a cell voltage of the battery unit.

13. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the driving signal is alternated by selectively performing a first control operation to alternate the driving signal between supply and suspension and a second control operation to maintain output of the driving signal.

14. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the selectively performing the first control operation and the second control operation comprises:

receiving an instruction from a user; and

selecting one of the first control operation and the second control operation according to the instruction from the user.

15. A power supply unit comprising:

a battery unit;

a converter to convert an input voltage into a charging voltage and to supply the charging voltage to the battery unit;

a converter driving unit to transmit a driving signal to the converter to control the operation of the converter to switch between a constant current constant voltage (CCCV) charging mode and a pseudo pulse charging mode.

16. The power supply unit according to claim 15, wherein the CCCV mode is a mode in which the converter driving unit transmits the driving signal to the converter until the charging voltage reaches a predetermined target value, and then controls the converter to maintain the charging voltage at the predetermined target value.

17. The power supply according to claim 16, wherein, after the charging voltage reaches the predetermined value, the converter driving unit transmits the driving signal so as to alternate between supplying the charging voltage and not supplying the charging value.

18. The power supply according to claim 15, wherein the converter driving unit transmits the driving signal based on input from a user.

19. The power supply according to claim 15, wherein the pseudo pulse charging mode is a mode wherein the converter driving unit transmits the driving signal to the converter so as to control the converter to alternate between supplying the charging voltage to the battery unit and not supplying the charging voltage to the battery unit.

20. The power supply according to claim 15, further comprising a controller to control the converter driving unit.

21. A method of controlling the charging of a battery unit, the method comprising:

transmitting a charging voltage to the battery unit until a predetermined target value is reached; and

alternating between supplying the charging voltage and not supplying the charging voltage after the predetermined target is reached, until charging of the battery is complete.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the charging voltage is transmitted to the battery unit based on a driving signal.