BATTERY CHARGER FOR USE WITH LOW VOLTAGE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE
First Claim
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1. A battery charger integrated circuit, comprising:
- a first input for receiving a charging input from a low voltage energy harvesting device;
a first output for providing a charging current to a battery;
a controller for controlling a charging operation to charge the battery through the first output responsive to the charging input from the energy harvesting device, the controller operating at an operating voltage level, which operating voltage level is above the minimum voltage output by the low voltage energy harvesting device; and
wherein the battery charging integrated circuit is powered by the battery connected to the first output.
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Abstract
A battery charging integrated circuit includes a first input connected to an energy harvesting device and a first output providing charging voltage to a battery. Control circuitry charges the battery through the first output responsive to an input from the energy harvesting device. The battery charging integrated circuit is powered by the battery connected to the first output.
95 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A battery charger integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first input for receiving a charging input from a low voltage energy harvesting device; a first output for providing a charging current to a battery; a controller for controlling a charging operation to charge the battery through the first output responsive to the charging input from the energy harvesting device, the controller operating at an operating voltage level, which operating voltage level is above the minimum voltage output by the low voltage energy harvesting device; and wherein the battery charging integrated circuit is powered by the battery connected to the first output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A battery charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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an input for coupling to a low voltage energy harvesting device capable of operating at a voltage lower than the battery; a battery charge core operating in a plurality of charging modes to receive the output of the coupled energy harvesting device and causing charge to be transferred therefrom to the battery; and wherein the battery charge core is powered from the battery at an operating voltage that is above the lowest possible output voltage of the energy harvesting device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for charging a battery from a low power energy harvesting device, which low power energy harvesting device is capable of outputting a voltage lower than the voltage of the battery, comprising the steps of:
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receiving power from the low power energy harvesting device; receiving operating power from the battery when connected; and transferring charge from the low power energy harvesting device to the battery with a battery charge controller powered by the received operating power; wherein the output of the low power energy harvesting is insufficient to power any portion of the operation of transferring charge to the battery by the battery charge controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A self contained powered device, comprising:
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a housing; a functional device powered by a battery disposed in the housing, the functional device performing a predetermined function; a rechargeable battery disposed in the housing; at least one low voltage energy harvesting device disposed in close association with the housing; and a battery charger powered by the battery and operable to transfer charge from the low voltage energy harvesting device to the battery from a voltage level of the low voltage energy harvesting device that is lower than the voltage level of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A monolithic integrated circuit voltage boost battery charger for charging a rechargeable storage element, comprising:
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a storage element input for interfacing with a voltage terminal of the storage element; an external power source input for interfacing with an external power source, wherein the external power source can operate at a voltage level that is lower than the voltage level of the storage element; a power converter including a voltage boost circuit for boosting the voltage level on the external power source input that is higher than the voltage level of the storage element; a charge control section controlling the power converter to maintain the boosted voltage at a level sufficient to charge the storage element until the storage element is at a full charge level; and the power converter and charge control section powered from the storage element for all operations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification