POWER ADAPTER, TERMINAL, AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING EXCEPTION OF CHARGING LOOP

• US 20160344228A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Zhang, Jialiang
• Granted Patent: US 10,211,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power adapter (10) comprises a power conversion unit (11), a charging interface (12), an exception detection unit (13), and an exception processing unit (14). The power conversion unit forms a charging loop with a terminal (20) through the charging interface, so as to charge a battery (21) of the terminal. The exception detection unit detects whether an exception occurs on the charging loop. When the exception occurs on the charging loop, the exception processing unit controls the charging loop to enter into a protection state. The power adapter can improve the security of a charging process. Also provided are a terminal, and a method for processing an exception of a charging loop.

Claims

1. A power adapter, comprising a power conversion unit and a charging interface, the power conversion unit being configured to form a charging loop with a terminal via the charging interface so as to charge a battery of the terminal, and being characterized at that, the power adapter further comprises an anomaly detection unit and an anomaly handling unit;

wherein

the anomaly detection unit is configured to detect whether an anomaly occurs in the charging loop, and the anomaly handling unit is configured to control the charging loop to enter into a protection state if the anomaly occurs in the charging loop.

2. The power adapter according to claim 1, being characterized at, further comprising:

a communication unit, configured to send charging protection indicative information to the terminal if the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, so as to indicate the terminal to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state.

3. The power adapter according to claim 2, being characterized at that, the charging interface comprises a power wire and a data wire;

the power conversion unit is configured to form the charging loop with the terminal via the charging interface so as to charge the battery of the terminal, and specifically to;

form the charging loop with the terminal via the power wire in the charging interface so as to charge the battery of the terminal; and

the communication unit is configured to send the charging protection indicative information to the terminal, and specifically to;

send the charging protection indicative information to the terminal via the data wire in the charging interface.

4. The power adapter according to any one of claims 1-3, being characterized at that, the anomaly handling unit is configured to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state, and specifically to:

reduce an output voltage of the power adapter;

reduce an output current of the power adapter;

or

disconnect the charging loop.

5. The power adapter according to any one of claims 1-3, being characterized at that, the anomaly occurring in the charging loop comprises at least one of following anomalies that:

an output voltage of the power adapter is an over-voltage;

an output current of the power adapter is an over-current;

a voltage at two ends of the battery is an over-voltage;

a current at the two ends of the battery is an over-current; and

a temperature of the battery is an over-temperature.

6. The power adapter according to claim 5, being characterized at that, the anomaly detection unit is configured to detect whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, and specifically to:

detect the output voltage of the power adapter;

compare the output voltage of the power adapter with a first voltage threshold; and

determine that the output voltage of the power adapter is the over-voltage and that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the output voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold.

7. The power adapter according to claim 6, being characterized at, further comprising:

a communication unit, configured to send first indicative information to the terminal if the output voltage of the power adapter is less than the first voltage threshold, wherein the first indicative information comprises the value of the output voltage of the power adapter and is used to indicate the terminal to re-determine based on a second voltage threshold set at the terminal side whether the output voltage of the power adapter is the over-voltage.

8. The power adapter according to claim 6 or 7, being characterized at that, the anomaly handling unit comprises a first over-voltage protection unit and a second over-voltage protection unit;

and

the anomaly handling unit is configured to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state, and specifically to;

control the charging loop to enter into the protection state through the first over-voltage protection unit; and

control the charging loop to enter into the protection state through the second over-voltage protection unit, if the first over-voltage protection unit loses efficacy.

9. The power adapter according to claim 5, being characterized at that, the anomaly detection unit is configured to detect whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, and specifically to:

detect the output current of the power adapter;

compare the output current of the power adapter with a first current threshold; and

determine that the output current of the power adapter is the over-current and that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the output current is greater than the first current threshold.

10. The power adapter according to claim 9, being characterized at, further comprising:

a communication unit, configured to send second indicative information to the terminal if the output current of the power adapter is less than the first current threshold, wherein the second indicative information comprises the value of the output current of the power adapter and is used to indicate the terminal to re-determine based on a second current threshold set at the terminal side whether the output current of the power adapter is the over-current.

11. The power adapter according to claim 5, being characterized at, further comprising a communication unit;

wherein

the communication unit is configured to receive a battery parameter detected by the terminal, wherein the battery parameter is used to indicate the voltage at the two ends of the battery, the current at the two ends of the battery or the temperature of the battery;

the anomaly detection unit is configured to detect whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, and specifically to;

determine whether the battery parameter received by the communication unit is greater than a predetermined battery parameter threshold; and

determine that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the battery parameter is greater than the predetermined battery parameter threshold.

12. A terminal, comprising a battery and a charging interface, the terminal being configured to form a charging loop with a power adapter via the charging interface so as to charge the battery, and being characterized at that, the terminal further comprises a communication unit and an anomaly handling unit, wherein

the communication unit is configured to receive charging protection indicative information from the power adapter if an anomaly occurs in the charging loop;

and the anomaly handling unit is configured to control the charging loop to enter into a protection state according to an indication of the charging protection indicative information.

13. The terminal according to claim 12, being characterized at that, the charging interface comprises a power wire and a data wire,

the terminal is configured to form the charging loop with the power adapter via the charging interface so as to charge the battery, and specifically to:

form the charging loop with the power adapter via the power wire in the charging interface so as to charge the battery; and

the communication unit is configured to receive the charging protection indicative information from the power adapter via the charging interface, and specifically to;

receive the charging protection indicative information from the power adapter via the data wire in the charging interface.

14. The terminal according to claim 12 or 13, being characterized at that, the anomaly occurring in the charging loop comprises at least one of following anomalies that:

an output voltage of the power adapter is an over-voltage;

an output current of the power adapter is an over-current;

a voltage at two ends of the battery is an over-voltage;

a current at the two ends of the battery is an over-current; and

a temperature of the battery is an over-temperature.

15. The terminal according to claim 14, being characterized at, further comprising a detection unit, wherein

the detection unit is configured to determine a battery parameter of the battery, wherein the battery parameter comprises:

the voltage at the two ends of the battery, the current at the two ends of the battery or the temperature of the battery;

the communication unit is further configured to send information indicating the battery parameter to the power adapter.

16. A method for handling an anomaly in a charging loop, being characterized at, comprising:

detecting, by a power adapter, whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop between the power adapter and a terminal; and

controlling, by the power adapter, the charging loop to enter into a protection state if the anomaly occurs in the charging loop.

17. The method according to claim 16, being characterized at, further comprising:

sending, by the power adapter, charging protection indicative information to the terminal, so as to indicate the terminal to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state.

18. The method according to claim 17, being characterized at that,

the power adapter is contacted with the terminal through a charging interface, wherein the charging interface comprises:

a power wire for charging, and a data wire; and

sending, by the power adapter, the charging protection indicative information to the terminal comprises;

sending, by the power adapter, the charging protection indicative information to the terminal through the data wire.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16-18, being characterized at that, controlling, by the power adapter, the charging loop to enter into the protection state comprises:

reducing, by the power adapter, an output voltage of the power adapter;

reducing, by the power adapter, an output current of the power adapter;

or

disconnecting, by the power adapter, the charging loop.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16-18, being characterized at that, the anomaly occurring in the charging loop comprises at least one of following anomalies that:

an output voltage of the power adapter is an over-voltage;

an output current of the power adapter is an over-current;

a voltage at two ends of a battery is an over-voltage;

a current at the two ends of the battery is an over-current; and

a temperature of the battery is an over-temperature.

21. The method according to claim 20, being characterized at that, detecting, by the power adapter, whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop between the power adapter and the terminal comprises:

detecting, by the power adapter, the output voltage of the power adapter; and

determining, by the power adapter, that the output voltage is the over-voltage and that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the output voltage is greater than a first voltage threshold.

22. The method according to claim 21, being characterized at, further comprising:

sending, by the power adapter, first indicative information to the terminal if the output voltage of the power adapter is less than the first voltage threshold, wherein the first indicative information comprises the value of the output voltage of the power adapter and is used to indicate the terminal to re-determine based on a second voltage threshold set at the terminal side whether the output voltage of the power adapter is the over-voltage.

23. The method according to claim 20, being characterized at that, detecting, by the power adapter, whether the anomaly occurs in the charging loop between the power adapter and the terminal comprises:

detecting, by the power adapter, the output current of the power adapter; and

determining, by the power adapter, that the output current is the over-current and that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the output current is greater than a first current threshold.

24. The method according to claim 23, being characterized at, further comprising:

sending, by the power adapter, second indicative information to the terminal if the output current of the power adapter is less than the first current threshold, wherein the second indicative information comprises the value of the output current of the power adapter and is used to indicate the terminal to re-determine based on a second current threshold set at the terminal side whether the output current of the power adapter is the over-current.

25. The method according to claim 20, being characterized at, further comprising:

receiving a battery parameter detected by the terminal, wherein the battery parameter is used to indicate the voltage at the two ends of the battery, the current at the two ends of the battery or the temperature of the battery;

wherein controlling, by the power adapter, the charging loop to enter into the protection state comprises;

determining, by the power adapter, whether the battery parameter is greater than a predetermined battery parameter threshold; and

determining, by the power adapter, that the anomaly occurs in the charging loop, if the battery parameter is greater than the predetermined battery parameter threshold.

26. A method for handling an anomaly in a charging loop, being characterized at, comprising:

receiving, by a terminal, charging protection indicative information from a power adapter if the anomaly occurs in the charging loop between the power adapter and the terminal; and

controlling, by the terminal, the charging loop to enter into a protection state according to an indication of the charging protection indicative information.

27. The method according to claim 26, being characterized at that,

the power adapter is contacted with the terminal through a charging interface, wherein the charging interface comprises:

a power wire for charging, and a data wire; and

receiving, by the terminal, the charging protection indicative information from the power adapter comprises;

receiving, by the terminal, the charging protection indicative information from the power adapter through the data wire in the charging interface.

28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, being characterized at that, the anomaly occurring in the charging loop comprises at least one of following anomalies that:

an output voltage of the power adapter is an over-voltage;

an output current of the power adapter is an over-current;

a voltage at two ends of a battery is an over-voltage;

a current at the two ends of the battery is an over-current; and

a temperature of the battery is an over-temperature.

29. The method according to claim 28, being characterized at, further comprising:

determining, by the terminal, a battery parameter of the battery, wherein the battery parameter is used to indicate the voltage at the two ends of the battery, the current at the two ends of the battery or the temperature of the battery; and

sending, by the terminal, information indicating the battery parameter to the power adapter.