CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE BOX

• US 20150015187A1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huizhou Kimree Technology Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Huizhou Kimree Technology Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Xiang, Zhiyong
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection

Abstract

A control circuit and method for use with an electronic cigarette box, the control circuit includes a charge management module, an inner battery, a control module, a voltage booster, a batter voltage detective module, a load detective module and an indicative module. According to received signals form the battery voltage detective module, the load detective module and the charge management module, the control module control the voltage booster adjusting a charge voltage supplied from the inner battery and outputting a voltage to charge a charge load, and the control module further control the indicative module displaying a charge state. The control circuit provides indications of various operation states or breakdown states, various charge interfaces, functions of detecting load and protection for inner battery and circuits.

Claims

1. A control circuit for use with an electronic cigarette box, the control circuit includes:

a charge management module,

an inner battery,

a control module and

a voltage booster, and further includes

a battery voltage detective module,

a load detective module and

an indicative module;

the control module is separately connected to the charge management module, the inner battery, the voltage booster, the battery voltage detective module, the load detective module and the indicative module, the charge management module is connected to the voltage booster and the inner battery coupled to the battery voltage detective module;

the charge management module, inputted a voltage from an external power source, outputs a charge voltage to charge the inner battery and sends a battery charge signal to the control module;

the inner battery is configure to output a charge voltage when there is no voltage from the external power source;

the battery voltage detective module is configured to detect the inner battery voltage and transmit a battery voltage signal to the control module in real time;

the load detective module is configured to detect whether or not a charge load is connected and transmit a load detective signal to the control module in real time;

the control module, according to the battery voltage signal, the load detective signal and the battery charge signal, controls the voltage booster adjusting the charge voltage and charging the charge load, and further controls the indicative module displaying a charge state of the inner battery in real time.

2. The control circuit for use with an electronic cigarette box of claim 1, wherein the load detective signal is a plugging load signal or an unplugging load signal;

the charge state includes information of the inner battery such as;

power level, in charge, full charge, low battery voltage and discharge.

3. The control circuit for use with an electronic cigarette box of claim 2, wherein when an external power source is supplied, the control module receives the battery voltage signal and the battery charge signal, and calculates the power level of the inner battery and further controls the indicative module displaying the power level of the inner battery;

the control module also controls the indicative module displaying in charge or full charge according the charge state;

the control module further controls the voltage booster operative state according a plugging or unplugging load signal.

5. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 3, wherein the control circuit includes a charge interface module having a battery bar charge interface and Micro-USB charge interface, the charge interface module is separately connected to the voltage booster and the charge load.

6. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 5, wherein the control circuit includes a battery protective module, the battery protective module is connected to the inner battery and is configured to protect the inner battery when over current occurs.

7. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes an current and full charge detective module, the current and full charge detective module is separately connected to the control module and the charge interface module;

the current and full charge detective module is configured to detect a charging current to the charge load which is connected to the charge interface module, the control module, according to the charging current, controls the voltage booster operative state and further adjusting the charging current, or controls the voltage booster stopping operation when it judges that the charge load is in full charge state according the charge current.

8. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 7, wherein the control module includes a microprocessor, type of the microprocessor is HT462065.

9. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 8, wherein the indicative module includes at least one first LED diode and at least one second LED diode;

the first LED is configured to display one of signals of charge in, charge full, low battery voltage and discharge for the inner battery;

the second LED is configured to display power level for the inner battery.

10. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 9, wherein the load detective module includes a key switch and a trigger switch, one end of the key switch is connected to the ground, another end of the key switch is connected to the microprocessor;

one end of the trigger switch is connected to the negative of the charge interface, another end of the trigger switch is connected to microprocessor;

the key switch is configured to detect a charge load plugging or unplugging via the Micro-USB charge interface;

the trigger switch is configured to detect a charge load plugging or unplugging via the battery bar charge interface.

11. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 10, wherein the battery voltage detective module includes a first divider resistance and a second divider resistance;

one end of the first divider resistance is connected to the inner battery, the other end of the first divider resistance is connected to the microprocessor and one end of the second divider resistance, and the other end of the second divider resistance is connected to the microprocessor.

12. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 11, wherein the charge management module includes a fuse, a zener diode, a first transistor, a first MOSFET and a charger control chip, the fuse is separately connected to the external power source and the negative of the zener diode, the anode of the zener diode is connected to the base of the first transistor via a first resistance, the collector of the first transistor is connected to the gate of the first MOSFET via a third resistance, the emitter of the first transistor and the supply of the first MOSFET are connected to the ground, the drain of the first MOSFET is connected to the charger control chip via a fifth resistance;

the fuse is used for over current protection;

the zener diode is configured to stabilize an inputted voltage, and when the inputted voltage exceeds breakdown voltage of the zener diode, the first transistor will turns on that cause the first MOSFET turning off to cut off the external power source to protect circuits.

4. The control circuit for use with an electronic cigarette box of clam 2, wherein when no external power source is supplied, the control module receives the battery voltage signal, calculates the power level of the inner battery according to the battery voltage signal, and further controls the indicative module displaying the power level of the inner battery;

the control module, when the battery voltage is less than a preset low voltage, also controls the voltage booster stopping operation and the indicative module displaying the low battery voltage;

the control module, when the battery voltage is greater than or equal to the preset voltage, controls the voltage booster operative state and the indicative module displaying or not displaying discharge due to a plugging or unplugging load signal.

13. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of clam 12, wherein the battery protective module includes a protective control chip and switch chip;

the protective control chip is configured to control the switch chip turning on or off according to a detected current flowing through the switch chip, and further control whether the inner battery operates.

14. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 13, wherein the current and full charge detective modules a sampling current resistance, one end of the sampling current resistance is connected to the ground, and another end of the sampling current resistance is connected to the negative of the charge interface and connected to the microprocessor via a resistance.

15. The control circuit for use with an electronic box of claim 14, wherein the voltage booster includes an inductance, a booster control chip, a diode, a second transistor and second MOSFET, the base of the second transistor is connected to the microprocessor via a resistance, the emitter of the second transistor is connected to the ground, the collector of the second transistor is connected to the gate of the second MOSFET, the supply of the second MOSFET receives the charge voltage via a resistance, the drain of the second MOSFET is connected to the inductance, the booster control chip is configured to boost the charge voltage;

the microprocessor controls the second transistor turning on or off, and further the second MOSFET is turned on or off.

16. A control method for use with an electronic box, the control method comprising steps as following:

S1, generating a charge voltage from a charge management module or an inner battery depending on whether an external power source is inputted, if the charge voltage is generated from the charge management module, then a battery charge signal is transmitted to a control module;

a battery voltage detective module detecting a battery voltage of the inner battery in real time and transmitting the battery voltage signal to the control module;

a load detective module detecting whether a charge load is plugged and transmitting the load detective signal to the control module;

S2, according to the battery voltage signal, the load detective signal and the battery charge signal, the control module controlling a voltage booster to adjust the charge voltage to the charge load; and

the control module controlling an indicative module to display a charge state.

17. The control method for use with an electronic box of claim 16, wherein when an external power source is inputted, the step Si further comprising:

the charge management module generating the charge voltage to charge the inner battery and transmitting the battery charge signal to the control module;

the battery voltage detective module detecting a battery voltage of the inner battery in real time and transmitting the battery voltage signal to the control module;

the load detective module detecting whether a charge load is plugged and transmitting the load detective signal to the control module;

the step S2 further comprising;

the control module receiving the battery voltage signal and the battery charge signal and calculating a power level of the inner battery and further controlling the indicative module to display the power level of the inner battery;

the control module also controlling the indicative module to display in charge or full charge according to the power level of the inner battery;

the control module further controls the voltage booster operative state according to a plugging or unplugging load signal.

18. The control method for use with an electronic cigarette box of claim 16, wherein when no external power source is supplied, the step S1 further comprising:

the inner battery directly outputting the charge voltage;

the battery voltage detective module detecting a battery voltage of the inner battery in real time and transmitting the battery voltage signal to the control module;

the load detective module detecting whether a charge load is plugged and transmitting the load detective signal to the control module;

the step S2 further comprising;

the control module receives a battery voltage signal, calculates a power level of the inner battery according to the battery voltage signal, and further controls the indicative module displaying the power level of the inner battery;

the control module, when the battery voltage is less than a preset low voltage, also controls the voltage booster stopping operation and the indicative module displaying the low battery voltage.

the control module, when the battery voltage is greater than or equal to the preset voltage, controls the voltage booster operative state and the indicative module displaying or not displaying discharge due to a plugging or unplugging load signal.