ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND EXTERNAL DEVICE CHARGING METHOD

• US 20170256968A1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YOON, Sung Geun, PARK, Chul Woo, LEE, Min Jeong, JUNG, Ku Chul
• Granted Patent: US 10,547,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/10 Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
• 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 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic device is provided which includes a connector connected with an external electronic device, a plug connected with an external power source, a power supply circuit that supplies power to the external electronic device through the connector, a first charging module configured to receive first protocol-related charging request information and change a charging voltage and a charging current of the power supply circuit based on the charging request information, a second charging module configured to receive second protocol-related charging request information from the external electronic device, and a processor configured to convert the second protocol-related charging request information to the first protocol-related charging request information and transmit the converted first protocol-related charging request information to the first charging module.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a connector that connects with an external electronic device;

a plug that connects with an external power source;

a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the external electronic device through the connector;

a first charging module configured to receive first protocol-related charging request information and change a charging voltage and a charging current of the power supply circuit based on the first protocol-related charging request information;

a second charging module configured to receive second protocol-related charging request information from the external electronic device; and

a processor configured to convert the second protocol-related charging request information to the first protocol-related charging request information and transmit the converted first protocol-related charging request information to the first charging module.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) type-C connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first charging module receives the first protocol-related charging request information through a D+ pin or a D−

pin of the connector, and

wherein the second charging module receives the second protocol-related charging request information through a CC1 pin or a CC2 pin of the connector.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first protocol comprises a communication protocol using a D+ pin or a D−

pin of the connector, and

wherein the second protocol comprises a communication protocol using a CC1 pin or a CC2 pin of the connector.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch configured to disconnect a connection path between the first charging module and the connector, if a second protocol-related signal is transmitted or received through the second charging module.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the connector is connected with the external electronic device, the first charging module transmits a first list comprising voltage and current information that a first protocol-related charging method supports, to the external electronic device through the connector, and receives the first protocol-related charging request information, which is generated based on the first list, from the external electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the connector is connected with the external electronic device, the second charging module transmits a second list comprising voltage and current information that a second protocol-related charging method supports, to the external electronic device through the connector, and receives the second protocol-related charging request information, which is generated based on the second list, from the external electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if information about a first charging voltage and a first charging current, which is included in the first protocol-related charging request information, is different from voltage and current information, which a first protocol-related charging method supports and which is included in a first list, the first charging module converts a charging voltage and a charging current of the power supply circuit to a second charging voltage and a second charging current that correspond to the voltage and current information included in the first list.

9. A charging method of an electronic device connected with an external electronic device through a connector, the method comprising:

receiving second protocol-related charging request information from the external electronic device;

converting the second protocol-related charging request information to first protocol-related charging request information;

changing a charging voltage or a charging current based on the first protocol-related charging request information; and

supplying power to the external electronic device through the connector based on the changed charging voltage or charging current.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a USB type-C connector.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the second protocol-related charging request information comprises receiving the second protocol-related charging request information through a CC1 pin or a CC2 pin of the connector.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first protocol comprises a communication protocol using a D+ pin or a D−

pin of the connector, and

wherein the second protocol comprises a communication protocol using a CC1 pin or a CC2 pin of the connector.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the second protocol-related charging request information comprises:

if the connector is connected with the external electronic device, transmitting a second list comprising voltage and current information, which a second protocol-related charging method supports, to the external electronic device through the connector; and

receiving the second protocol-related charging request information, which is generated based on the second list, from the external electronic device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein changing the charging voltage or the charging current comprises:

comparing information about a first charging voltage and a first charging current, which is included in the first protocol-related charging request information, with voltage and current information included in a first list; and

if the information about the first charging voltage and the first charging current is different from the voltage and current information included in the first list, converting the charging voltage and the charging current to a second charging voltage and a second charging current, which correspond to the voltage and current information included in the first list.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a connector that connects with an external electronic device;

a plug that connects with an external power source;

a plurality of signal lines configured to connect the connector with the plug; and

a control circuit electrically connected with the connector and the plug and comprising a first module and a second module,

wherein the second module is configured to receive a second protocol-related signal from the connector,

wherein the first module is configured to convert the second protocol-related signal to a first protocol-related signal, and

wherein the control circuit is configured to supply power to the external electronic device through the connector based on the converted first protocol-related signal.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the connector comprises a USB type-C connector,

wherein the first protocol comprises a protocol using a CC1 pin and a CC2 pin of the USB type-C connector, and

wherein the second protocol comprises a protocol using a D+ pin and a D−

pin of the USB type-C connector.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the second protocol supports a plurality of charging voltages and charging currents for charging the external electronic device.