MULTIPATH CHARGER AND CHARGING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20150357851A1
• Filed: 12/24/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: HUANG, Chih-Chien, HSU, Chih-Yuan, CHEN, Po-Hsin
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/00 Details of apparatus for conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load

Abstract

A multipath charger includes a first charging path, a second charging path, and a management module. A supply voltage is coupled through the first charging path and the second charging path to a battery. The management module provides the supply voltage and detects the operating state of the battery. The management module selectively enables the first charging path, the second charging path, or both according to the operating state of the battery, so as to charge the battery through the enabled charging path.

Claims

1. A multipath charger for charging a battery, comprising:

a first charging path;

a second charging path, wherein a supply voltage is coupled through the first charging path and the second charging path to the battery; and

a management module, providing the supply voltage, and detecting an operating state of the battery, wherein the management module selectively enables the first charging path, the second charging path, or both according to the operating state of the battery, so as to charge the battery through the enabled charging path.

2. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second charging path is completely separate from the first charging path.

3. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management module is further coupled to one or more adapters so as to obtain electric power and generate the supply voltage.

4. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adapters comprise an AC (Alternating Current) adapter and/or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) adapter.

5. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first charging path is implemented with a main charging circuit, and the second charging path is implemented with an auxiliary charging circuit.

6. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the main charging circuit is a switching charging circuit.

7. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 6, wherein the switching charging circuit comprises:

a first PMOS transistor (P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), wherein the first PMOS transistor has a gate controlled by the management module, a source coupled to the supply voltage, and a drain coupled to an inner node;

an NMOS transistor (N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), wherein the NMOS transistor has a gate controlled by the management module, a source coupled to a ground voltage, and a drain coupled to the inner node; and

an inductor, wherein the inner node is coupled through the inductor to the battery.

8. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the auxiliary charging circuit is a linear charging circuit or a wireless charging circuit.

9. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the linear charging circuit comprises.

a second PMOS transistor (P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), wherein the second PMOS transistor has a gate controlled by the management module, a source coupled to the supply voltage, and a drain coupled to the battery.

10. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the management module further detects connection states and capabilities of the adapters.

11. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the AC adapter and the USB adapter are both coupled to the management module, the management module enables both the main charging circuit and the auxiliary charging circuit.

12. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein when only the AC adapter is coupled to the management module and the AC adapter has a capability of supplying a relatively large power current, the management module enables both the main charging circuit and the auxiliary charging circuit.

13. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein when only the AC adapter is coupled to the management module and the AC adapter has a capability of supplying a relatively small power current, the management module enables the main charging circuit and disables the auxiliary charging circuit.

14. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein when only the USB adapter is coupled to the management module, the management module enables the main charging circuit and disables the auxiliary charging circuit.

15. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the AC adapter and the USB adapter are both decoupled from the management module, the management module disables both the main charging circuit and the auxiliary charging circuit.

16. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating state of the battery comprises a battery voltage, a battery temperature, and a battery capacity.

17. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the battery temperature is higher than a temperature threshold, the management module reduces currents on the first charging path and/or the second charging path.

18. The multipath charger as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the battery temperature is higher than a temperature threshold, the management module disables one or both the first charging path and the second charging path.

19. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:

providing a first charging path and a second charging path, wherein a supply voltage is coupled through the first charging path and the second charging path to the battery;

detecting an operating state of the battery;

selectively enabling the first charging path, the second charging path, or both according to the operating state of the battery; and

charging the battery through the enabled charging path.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second charging path is completely separate from the first charging path.