MULTI-PURPOSE BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT

• US 20100231171A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: De Cremoux, Guillaume
• Granted Patent: US 8,310,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration able to be selectively in a simple charge mode when intended for low-end solutions (option 3) or in a charge-and-play mode when intended for medium- and high-end solutions (options 1 and 2 respectively), while maintaining the supply voltage of any portable and mobile electronic devices with an acceptable noise level. The selection will be made possible by the use of multiplexers (MUX1, MUX2). If the option 1 is chosen, the bi-directional switching device (210) will be controlled by a driver circuit (340) for allowing the current which flows through it towards the battery (20) to strongly increase and thereby maintaining the voltage across the circuitry (10) at a value slightly greater than the voltage across the battery (20). If the option 2 is chosen, the synchronous step-down voltage regulator (310) comprising at least the driver circuit (350) and the switching devices (200, 230) will track the voltages across the circuitry (10) and the battery (20) for regulating the voltage across the circuitry (10) at a value in the vicinity of the voltage across the battery (20). If the option 3 is chosen, the battery (20) which cannot be separated from the circuitry (10) will be in a simple charge mode while being charged through the switching device (210).

Claims

1. A battery charging circuit configuration for operating a circuit and simultaneously charging an associated battery separated from said circuit, said battery charging circuit configuration comprising:

a voltage regulator means coupled between a first node to which a power supply means 4404 is connected and a second node to which said circuit is connected, for outputting a regulated voltage at said second node at a value close to a voltage at a third node to which said battery is connected, said value being higher than said voltage at said third node;

a bi-directional switching means, coupled between said second node and said third node, for allowing a current flowing from said second node towards said third node to be reverted in order to flow from said third node towards said second node, said bi-directional switching means being controlled by a driver means.

2. A battery charging circuit configuration 1 according to claim 1, wherein said voltage regulator means is a DC-DC controller means based on a switched operating mode, said DC-DC controller means being a step-down DC-DC controller.

3. A battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 2, wherein an external energy storage means is provided between said voltage regulator means and said second node.

4. A battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 3, wherein said external energy storage means is an inductor or a coil.

5. A battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 1, wherein said driver means is a digital and analog controller means.

6. A battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 1, wherein said battery charging circuit is an integrated circuit made from a single silicon implementation.

7. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration for being selectively configurable in a charge-and-play mode for operating a circuit separated from an associated battery and simultaneously charging said battery or in a simple charge mode for charging a battery connected to an associated circuit, said multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration comprising:

a first switching means, coupled between a first node and a fourth node;

a bi-directional switching means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driver means further allows said current flowing from said second node towards said third node to be increased;

a first multiplexing means, for selecting a driver means amongst at least a first, a second and a third driver means, said selected driver means controlling said first switching means;

a second multiplexing means, for selecting said second driver means if said first multiplexing means selects said second driver means, said second driver means controlling a second switching means connected to said fourth node, and for deactivating said second driver means if said first multiplexing means selects said first driver means or said third driver means;

an external energy storage means if said first multiplexing means selects said second driver means, or a short-circuit means if said first multiplexing means selects said first driver means or said third driver means, said external energy storage means or said short-circuit means being connected between said fourth node and said second node;

a voltage regulator means, wherein said voltage regulator means comprises at least said first switching means, said second switching means and said second driver means.

8. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein said selected first driver means has a first input and a second input, said first input being coupled to said first node and said second input being coupled to a first reference voltage, said first switching means being switched off when said first input has a voltage potential greater than said second input.

9. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein said selected third driver means has a first input and a second input, said first input being connected to said second node and said second input being connected to a second reference voltage, said first switching means being switched off when said first input has a voltage potential greater than said second input.

10. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein said voltage regulator means is a DC-DC controller means based on a switched operating mode, said DC-DC controller means being a step-down DC-DC controller.

11. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit 1 configuration according to claim 10, wherein said external energy storage means is an inductor or a coil.

12. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein any one of said driver means is a combined digital and analog controller means.

13. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein said first switching means is a power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor or a bipolar junction transistor or any other controllable semiconductor switching device.

14. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein a second switching means controlled by a driver means is connected in anti-series between said first switching means and said fourth node.

15. A multi-purpose battery charging circuit configuration according to claim 7, wherein said multi-purpose battery charging circuit is an integrated circuit made from a single silicon implementation.