METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING OF TERMINAL DEVICE

• US 20160211692A1
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: YANG, Xiaoxing, DU, Hui, GU, Linghua
• Granted Patent: US 10,790,690 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00719 in response to degree of gas development in the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery

Abstract

A method for controlling charging of a terminal device includes determining whether there is a need to switch from a first charging chip currently charging a battery of the terminal device to a second charging chip waiting to charge the battery, and controlling the first charging chip to stop charging the battery and starting the second charging chip to charge the battery if it is determined that there is the need to switch.

Claims

1. A method for controlling charging of a terminal device, comprising:

determining whether there is a need to switch from a first charging chip currently charging a battery of the terminal device to a second charging chip waiting to charge the battery; and

controlling the first charging chip to stop charging the battery and starting the second charging chip to charge the battery if it is determined that there is the need to switch.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether there is the need to switch includes:

determining a charging time of the first charging chip; and

determining there is the need to switch when the charging time reaches a preset time period.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

determining, if it is determined that the charging time has not reached the preset time period, a temperature of the first charging chip;

determining whether the temperature of the first charging chip reaches a preset temperature; and

determining, if the temperature of the first charging chip reaches the preset temperature, that there is the need to switch.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether there is the need to switch includes:

determining a temperature of the first charging chip; and

determining, when the temperature of the first charging chip reaches a preset temperature, that there is the need to switch.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining a temperature of at least one standby charging chip waiting to charge the battery;

determining a lowest temperature from the temperature of the at least one standby charging chip; and

choosing, if the lowest temperature is lower than the preset temperature, one of the at least one standby charging chip that corresponds to the lowest temperature as the second charging chip.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

reducing, if the lowest temperature is higher than the preset temperature, a charging current of the first charging chip.

7. An apparatus for controlling charging of a terminal device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine whether there is a need to switch from a first charging chip currently charging a battery of the terminal device to a second charging chip waiting to charge the battery; and

control the first charging chip to stop charging the battery and start the second charging chip to charge the battery if it is determined that there is the need to switch.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine a charging time of the first charging chip; and

determine there is the need to switch when the charging time reaches a preset time period.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine, if it is determined that the charging time has not reached the preset time period, a temperature of the first charging chip;

determine whether the temperature of the first charging chip reaches a preset temperature; and

determine, if the temperature of the first charging chip reaches the preset temperature, that there is the need to switch.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine a temperature of the first charging chip; and

determine, when the temperature of the first charging chip reaches a preset temperature, that there is the need to switch.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine a temperature of at least one standby charging chip waiting to charge the battery;

determine a lowest temperature from the temperature of the at least one standby charging chip; and

choose, if the lowest temperature is lower than the preset temperature, one of the at least one standby charging chip that corresponds to the lowest temperature as the second charging chip.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

reduce, if the lowest temperature is higher than the preset temperature, a charging current of the first charging chip.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an apparatus for controlling charging of a terminal device, cause the apparatus to:

determine whether there is a need to switch from a first charging chip currently charging a battery of the terminal device to a second charging chip waiting to charge the battery; and

control the first charging chip to stop charging the battery and start the second charging chip to charge the battery if it is determined that there is the need to switch.