Electronic Device and Method For Controlling Charging of the Same

• US 20160254688A1
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: RYU, Sanghyun, JUNG, Kuchul, PARK, Chulwoo, YOON, Sunggeun
• Granted Patent: US 9,979,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0084 measuring voltage only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

An electronic device of the present disclosure includes a battery cell configured to be electrically connected between a first node and a second node; an over current protection circuit configured to include a first terminal, a second terminal, and a switching element responsive to an occurrence of over current, and the first terminal is electrically connected to the first node; a power management integrated circuit configured to be electrically connected to the second terminal of the over current protection circuit; and a first protection circuit configured to be electrically connected between the first node and the power management integrated circuit, and to include at least one first passive element, wherein the power management integrated circuit monitors a voltage of the battery cell, based on at least a portion of a voltage or a current which is transmitted through the first protection circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a battery cell configured to be electrically connected between a first node and a second node;

an over current protection circuit configured to include a first terminal, a second terminal, and a switching element responsive to an occurrence of over current, and the first terminal is electrically connected to the first node;

a power management integrated circuit configured to be electrically connected to the second terminal of the over current protection circuit; and

a first protection circuit configured to be electrically connected between the first node and the power management integrated circuit, and to include a first passive element,

wherein the power management integrated circuit monitors a voltage of the battery cell, based on at least a portion of a voltage or a current which is transmitted through the first protection circuit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second protection circuit configured to be electrically connected between the second node and the power management integrated circuit, and to include a second passive element,

wherein the power management integrated circuit monitors a voltage of the battery cell, based on a voltage or a current which is transmitted through the second protection circuit.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the second passive element comprises a resistance element respectively.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a third passive element configured to be electrically connected between the second node and the power management integrated circuit.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first node is electrically connected to a negative electrode of the battery cell, and the second node is electrically connected to a positive electrode of the battery cell.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first passive element includes a resistive element.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power management integrated circuit controls a charging operation of the battery cell based on the voltage of the battery cell monitored.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power management integrated circuit changes a charging method of the battery cell from a constant current (CC) method to a constant voltage (CV) method, when the voltage of the battery cell is at or above a preset reference voltage.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power management integrated circuit monitors the voltage of the battery cell based on a differential sensing method.

10. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a switching element configured to block a leakage path of a power connected to the second protection circuit, the power management integrated circuit, and ground.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the power management integrated circuit controls the switching element to block the leakage path according to an operation state of the over current protection circuit.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the power management integrated circuit opens a circuit connected to the switching element for blocking the leakage path by controlling the switching element for blocking the leakage path, when the over current protection circuit is open.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the power management integrated circuit opens a circuit connected to the switching element to block the leakage path by controlling the switching element for blocking the leakage path, when the voltage of the battery cell is at or above a preset threshold voltage value.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power management integrated circuit comprises:

a first switch unit that controls a power transmitted to the battery cell from an interface;

a second switch unit that controls the power transmitted to at least one of the battery cell from the interface and the electronic device from the battery cell; and

a power control module configured to control the first switch unit and the second switch unit, and to change a charging method of the battery cell based on the voltage of the battery cell.

15. A method for controlling a charging of an electronic device comprising a battery cell, a power management integrated circuit, an over current protection circuit connected between the battery cell and the power management integrated circuit, and a first protection circuit including a first passive element between the power management integrated circuit and the battery cell, the method comprising:

monitoring a voltage of the battery cell, based on at least a portion of a voltage or a current which is transmitted through the first protection circuit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises a second protection circuit including a second passive element between the power management integrated circuit and the battery cell, and further comprising monitoring a voltage of the battery cell, based on a voltage or a current which is transmitted through the second protection circuit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling a charging changing a charging method from a constant current (CC) method to a constant voltage (CV) method, when a voltage of the battery cell is at or above a preset reference voltage.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises a switching element configured to block a leakage path of a power connected to the second protection circuit, the power management integrated circuit, and ground, and further comprising opening a circuit connected to the switching element for blocking the leakage path by controlling the switching element for blocking the leakage path, when the over current protection circuit is open.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising opening the circuit connected to the switching element for blocking the leakage path by controlling the switching element for blocking the leakage path, when the voltage of the battery cell is at or above a preset threshold voltage value.

20. A battery pack comprising:

a battery cell;

an over current protection circuit configured to include a switching element responsive to an occurrence of over current, and to be electrically connected to a terminal of the battery cell; and

a first protection circuit configured to be electrically connected to a terminal of the battery cell in order to monitor a voltage of the battery cell, and to include a first passive element.