FAST BATTER CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120286741A1
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Seethaler, Kenneth Scott, Wong, Tin-Lup, Odaohhara, Shigefumi, Carlson, Jeremy Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A system and method includes detecting whether a fast charger is coupled to a system having a processor and a memory, providing current to a battery from an internal charger circuit if no fast charger is detected, and providing current to the battery from the fast charger if the fast charger is detected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a processor and memory;

an internal charger to receive DC power from an external supply and provide charging current to charge a battery;

a battery connector to receive current from the internal charger and to provide current to the processor and memory; and

a fast charge connector to receive a fast charging current from a charger module and selectively couple the fast charging current to the battery connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

an internal charger switch coupled between the internal charge circuit and the battery connector; and

a fast charger switch coupled between the fast charge connector and the battery connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fast charge connector includes conductors to control the charger switches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a current control device coupled between the fast charger connector and the fast charger switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a current control device coupled between the battery connector and the processor and memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a fast charger coupled to the fast charger connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fast charger is adapted to couple to an AC power source.

8. A system comprising:

an enclosure including a processor and memory;

an internal charger within the frame to receive DC power from an external supply and provide charging current to charge a battery;

a battery connector to receive current from the internal charger and to provide current to the processor and memory from a battery when connected;

a fast charge connector to receive a fast charging current from a charger module when connected and selectively couple the fast charging current to the battery connector;

an internal charger switch coupled between the internal charge circuit and the battery connector;

a fast charger switch coupled between the fast charge connector and the battery connector, wherein the fast charge connector includes conductors to control the charger switches; and

a current control device coupled between the fast charger connector and the fast charger switch.

9. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a current control device coupled between the battery connector and the processor and memory.

10. The system of claim 9 and further comprising a fast charger coupled to the fast charger connector.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the fast charger controls the switches such that only one switch is closed to provide charging current to the battery connector.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the fast charger is operable to control the switches such that current is provided to the processor and memory from the fast charger.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the internal charger is adapted to control the switches.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the internal charger is adapted to sense whether a fast charger is operating.

15. A method comprising:

detecting whether a fast charger is coupled to a system having a processor and a memory;

providing current to a battery from an internal charger circuit if no fast charger is detected; and

providing current to the battery from the fast charger if the fast charger is detected.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein providing current to a battery from the internal charger comprises closing a switch between the internal charger and a battery connector.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein providing current to a battery from the internal charger further comprises providing current to the processor and memory from the battery via a current control device.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein providing current to a battery from the fast charger comprises closing a switch between the fast charger and a battery connector.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein providing current to a battery from the fast charger further comprises providing current to the processor and memory from the fast charger via a current control device.

20. The method of claim 19 and further comprising providing current from the battery to the processor and memory via a separate current control device.