BI-DIRECTIONAL CHARGER

• US 20150091497A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Patrick K. Leung
• Inventors: Schiff, Tod F., LEUNG, Patrick K., Nge, Chee Lim
• Granted Patent: US 10,476,283 B2
• 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: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits

Abstract

A bi-directional charger may be provided that includes a logic, at least a portion of which is hardware, to determine an operational mode based at least on a characteristic at a battery port or at a charge port, and to control power flow between the charge port and the battery port based on the determined operational mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing power comprising:

logic, at least a portion of which is hardware, to determine an operational mode of a charger based at least on a characteristic at a battery port or a charge port, and to control power flow between the charge port and the battery port based on the determined operational mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to provide an increase of voltage from the charge port to the battery port based on the determined operational mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to provide a decrease of voltage from the charge port to the battery port based on the determined operational mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine the operational mode based at least on a voltage at the battery port.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine the operational mode based at least on a voltage at the charge port.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to control the power flow to be from the charge port to the battery port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to control the power flow to be from the battery port to the charge port.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine the operational mode based on a type of device to couple to the charge port.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of switches to control the power flow.

10. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic to include a controller to control the power switches.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a charge port to receive a device;

a battery port to receive a battery; and

a charger to provide power based at least on a characteristic of a battery to couple to the battery port or a device to couple to the charge port, the charger to include;

logic, at least a portion of which is hardware, to provide power flow along a first path or a second path based on the characteristic of the battery or the device.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic to provide an increase of voltage from the charge port to the battery port.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic to provide a decrease of voltage from the charge port to the battery port.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic to determine an operational mode based at least on the characteristic at the battery port or at the charge port.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the logic to determine the operational mode based at least on a voltage at the battery port.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the logic to determine the operational mode based at least on a voltage at the charge port.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the logic to determine an operational mode based on a type of the device to couple to the charge port.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed on a processor to configure the processor to perform one or more operations to:

determine a first operational mode of a charger based at least on a first characteristic at a battery port or a charge port; and

control power flow path between the charge port and the battery port based on the determined first operational mode.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the processor to perform one or more operations to:

determine a second operational mode of the charger based at least on a second characteristic at the battery port or the charge port; and

control power flow path between the charge port and the battery port based on the determined second operational mode.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the power flow path to provide an increase of voltage from the charge port to the battery port.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the power flow path to provide a decrease of voltage from the charge port to the battery port.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first characteristic is a voltage at the battery port.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first characteristic is a voltage at the charge port.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first characteristic is a type of device to couple to the charge port.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the power flow path is to be from the charge port to the battery port.