Series-Type Charging Device and Charging Method Thereof

• US 20130169214A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Twinhead International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Twinhead International Corporation
• Inventors: Tseng, Yuan-Li
• Application Number:
  US13/445,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/072 adapted to generate an output voltage whose value is lower than the input voltage

Abstract

The series-type charging device comprises an input-terminal, an output-terminal, a control unit and a detector unit. The input-terminal receives an input power. The output-terminal connects the input-terminal and another series-type charging device, and provides a next-level power. The control unit connects the input-terminal and the output-terminal, and stores an upper limit value of the input power, and obtains an output power by shunt of the input power. The control unit generates a charging power according to the output power, and charges a battery. The detector unit is connected between the input-terminal and the output-terminal to measure a supply power of the input power. Wherein, charging the battery of another series-type charging device first when another series-type charging device is connected with the output-terminal and the remaining power is arranged for the other series-type charging device.

Claims

1. A series-type charging device, comprising:

an input-terminal, used to receive an input power;

an output-terminal, coupled to the input-terminal, and coupled to another series-type charging device to supply a next-level power;

a control unit, coupled between the input-terminal and the output-terminal, and provided for obtaining an output power from a shunt of the input power, and generating a charging power according to the output power to charge a battery; and

a detector unit, with an end coupled between the input-terminal and the output-terminal, and the other end coupled to the control unit to measure a supply power of the input power;

wherein when the output-terminal is coupled to another series-type charging device, the output power is reduced, and the input power is converted completely into the next-level power to charge the battery of another series-type charging device in a first priority, and when the supply power of the series-type charging device has not reached an upper limit value, the remaining input power will be distributed to the other series-type charging device immediately to charge the battery of the series-type charging device.

2. The series-type charging device of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a comparator and a modulator, and the modulator controls the control unit based on the comparator to generate the charging power.

3. The series-type charging device of claim 2, wherein the input power of the input-terminal is supplied by a power supply device and the upper limit value is equal to a rated power of the power supply device, and the modulator controls the charging power of the control unit to remain below the upper limit value.

4. The series-type charging device of claim 3, wherein the comparator stores an upper limit value of the charging power according to a specification of the battery, and the modulator controls the charging power of the control unit below the upper limit value of the charging power.

5. The series-type charging device of claim 4, wherein when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is greater than or equal to the charging power upper limit value, then the modulator controls the control unit to generate the charging power equal to the upper limit value of the charging power.

6. The series-type charging device of claim 4, wherein when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is smaller than the upper limit value of charging power and greater than zero, the modulator controls the control unit to generate the charging power same as the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power.

7. The series-type charging device of claim 4, wherein when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is equal to zero, the modulator controls the control unit not to generate the charging power.

8. A charging method of a series-type charging device, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input power by an input-terminal;

connecting to another series-type charging device through an output-terminal to supply a next-level power;

measuring a supply power of the input power by a detector unit;

obtaining an output power by a shunt of the input power, and using a control unit to generate a charging power according to the output power to charge a battery;

determining whether to connect the output-terminal to another series-type charging device, reducing the output power when another device is connected and converting the input power completely into the next-level power to charge the battery of the other series-type charging device in a first priority; and

determining whether the supply power of the series-type charging device has reached an upper limit value, when the upper limit value has not been reached the remaining input power is distributed to the other series-type charging device immediately to charge the battery of the series-type charging device.

9. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises a comparator and a modulator, and the modulator controls the control unit based on the comparator to generate the charging power.

10. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 9, wherein the input power of the input-terminal is supplied by a power supply device, and the upper limit value is equal to a rated power of the power supply device, and the modulator controls the control unit according to the upper limit value to maintain the input power equal to or smaller than the upper limit value.

11. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 10, wherein the comparator stores an upper limit value of a charging power according to a specification of the battery, and the modulator controls the control unit according to the upper limit value of the charging power to maintain the charging power equal to or smaller than the upper limit value of the charging power.

12. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

using the comparator to determine a difference between the upper limit value and the supply power and its relation with the upper limit value of the charging power; and

using the modulator to control the control unit to generate the charging power, based on the comparator.

13. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

using the modulator to control the control unit to generate the charging power equal to the upper limit value of the charging power when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is greater than or equal to the upper limit value of the charging power.

14. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

using the modulator to control the control unit to generate the charging power same as the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is smaller than the upper limit value of the charging power and greater than zero.

15. The charging method of a series-type charging device as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

using the modulator to control the control unit not to generate the charging power when the comparator determines that the difference between the upper limit value and the supply power is equal to zero.