BATTERY CHARGER INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIP
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising:
- an on-chip power source interface to obtain power from a separate power source;
an on-chip digital communication interface circuit to be directly coupled to a counterpart interface circuit of a separate battery-side gas gauge circuit; and
an on-chip battery charging control circuit to control battery charging voltage and current at a battery cell terminal, using power that is supplied by the power source interface,the battery charging control circuit being coupled to the digital communication interface circuit to read battery charging voltage and current limits from the gas gauge circuit and to use the battery charging voltage and current limits to implement one of a plurality of different battery charging profiles.
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Abstract
An on-chip digital communication interface circuit is to be directly coupled to a counterpart interface circuit of a separate battery-side gas gauge circuit. An on-chip battery charging control circuit controls battery charging voltage and current that is supplied from a separate power source interface circuit to a battery cell terminal, according to charging voltage and current limits. The charging limits are read from the gas gauge circuit and in effect carry out a selected one of several different battery charging profiles. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
12 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising:
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an on-chip power source interface to obtain power from a separate power source; an on-chip digital communication interface circuit to be directly coupled to a counterpart interface circuit of a separate battery-side gas gauge circuit; and an on-chip battery charging control circuit to control battery charging voltage and current at a battery cell terminal, using power that is supplied by the power source interface, the battery charging control circuit being coupled to the digital communication interface circuit to read battery charging voltage and current limits from the gas gauge circuit and to use the battery charging voltage and current limits to implement one of a plurality of different battery charging profiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable electronic device comprising:
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a battery having a battery cell, a battery temperature sensor and a battery-side gas gauge circuit; a display screen; a processor; memory having stored therein an operating system and a plurality of application programs for execution by the processor; a computer peripheral interface connector to connect with a separate pluggable power source; and an integrated circuit (IC) chip that comprises an on-chip interface to the connector, an on-chip digital communication interface circuit that is directly coupled to a counterpart interface circuit in the gas gauge circuit, and an on-chip battery charging control circuit to control battery charging voltage and current that is drawn in from the connector and that is directed to a terminal of the battery cell, the battery gas gauge circuit to implement a plurality of different battery charging profiles, the battery charging control circuit a) being coupled to the digital communication interface circuit to read charging voltage and current limits from the gas gauge circuit, and b) to use the charging limits to charge the battery cell according to a selected one of the plurality of different battery charging profiles. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method performed by an integrated circuit (IC) chip in a portable electronic device for charging a battery of the device, comprising:
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accessing an on-chip battery charging limit register that is in direct digital communication with a battery-side gas gauge circuit, wherein the register contains the latest battery charging voltage and current limits produced by the gas gauge circuit; and controlling a battery charging current that is drawn in from a separate power source and that is directed to a cell terminal of the battery, and a battery cell voltage, in accordance with one of a plurality of different battery charging profiles that is specified by the gas gauge circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification