SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND MANAGEMENT

• US 20160064962A1
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Gale, Vannin, Sadek, Kerloss
• Granted Patent: US 9,997,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A charging device can include an input interface for receiving electrical power from a power source and an output interface for outputting electrical power to a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include a supplemental battery. A bypass electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the output interface to pass electrical charge from the power supply through the charging device to the mobile electronic device. A charging electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the supplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can couple the supplemental battery to the output interface. The bypass electrical pathway can include a voltage modifier configured to modify the voltage output by the output interface. The charging device can be configured to empirically determine the power capacity of the power supply. The charging device can monitor temperatures and/or battery health information, which can be used to reduce current or disable the charging device.

Claims

1. A method for determining power output capacity of a power supply, the method comprising:

charging a battery with a first amount of current from a power supply;

measuring a first voltage provided by the power supply when charging the battery with the first amount of current;

determining that the first voltage is above a threshold voltage value;

charging the battery with a second amount of current from the power supply, wherein the second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current;

measuring a second voltage provided by the power supply when charging the battery with the second amount of current;

determining that the second voltage is above the threshold voltage value;

attempting to charge the battery with a third amount of current from the power supply, wherein the third amount of current is higher than the second amount of current;

measuring a third voltage provided by the power supply when attempting to charge the battery with the third amount of current;

determining that the third voltage is below the threshold voltage value; and

determining the power output capacity of the power supply based at least in part on the value of the second amount of current.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the battery with one or more additional current amounts that are between the first amount of current and the second amount of current;

measuring one or more additional voltages provided by the power supply when charging the battery at the one or more additional current amounts; and

determining that the one or more additional voltages are above the threshold voltage value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the power output capacity of the power supply is based at least in part on the second amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the power output capacity of the power supply comprises calculating a percentage of the second amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined power output capacity is lower than the threshold voltage value multiplied by the third amount of current, and wherein the determined power output capacity is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage value multiplied by the second amount of current.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a first amount of electrical power to send to the battery for charging the battery and determining a second amount of electrical power to send to an output interface for charging a mobile electronic device based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the power supply.

7. A charging device for determining a power output capacity of a power supply and for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

wherein the controller is configured to;

direct a first amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery;

determine a first voltage associated with the first amount of current;

determine that a threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage for the first amount of current;

direct a second amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is greater than the first amount of current;

determine a second voltage associated with the second amount of current;

determine that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current; and

determine a power output capacity of the external power supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part on the determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amount of current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfied by the second amount of current at the second voltage.

8. The charging device of claim 7, wherein the threshold is a threshold voltage value.

9. The charging device of claim 7, wherein to determine that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current, the controller is configured to determine whether dV/dI exceeds a threshold value, wherein dV is a voltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage, and where dI is a current difference between the second amount of current and the first amount of current.

10. The charging device of claim 7, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply is based at least in part on the first amount of current.

11. The charging device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine how much electrical power to direct along one or more of the bypass electrical pathway, the charging electrical pathway, and the discharge electrical pathway based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

12. The charging device of claim 7, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device.

13. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the protective case comprises:

a back portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a back side of the mobile electronic device;

a right side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

a top portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device; and

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

14. An electrical device for empirically determining a power output capacity of a power supply, the electrical device comprising:

a power input interface configured to receive electrical power from a power supply;

a variable load circuit configured to draw variable amounts of electrical current from the power supply through the power input interface;

a voltmeter configured to determine an input voltage provided by the power supply as the variable amounts of electrical current are drawn from the power supply; and

a controller configured to;

incrementally increase the amount of electrical current drawn by the variable load circuit from the power supply through the input interface;

use the voltmeter to monitor the input voltage provided by the power supply as the amount of electrical current is incrementally increased, and determine whether a threshold is satisfied based at least in part based on the monitored input voltage;

while the threshold is satisfied, continue to incrementally increase the amount of electrical current drawn by the variable load circuit from the power supply through the input interface; and

when the threshold is not satisfied, determine a power output capacity of the power supply based at least in part on one or more of the determinations of whether the threshold was satisfied for the variable amounts of electrical current.

15. The electrical device of claim 14, wherein the variable load circuit comprises a battery.

16. The electrical device of claim 15, further comprising an output interface for outputting electrical power from the battery for charging a mobile electronic device.

17. The electrical device of claim 16, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device.

18. The electrical device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine how much electrical power to send to the battery and to the output interface based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the power supply.

19. The electrical device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to determine the power output capacity of the power supply based at least in part on the value of the highest amount of electrical current for which the threshold was determined to be satisfied.

20. The electrical device of claim 14, wherein the threshold is a voltage value threshold.