Power supply control apparatus and method suitable for use in an electronic device
First Claim
1. A power supply control apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
- a supply terminal to provide power to the electronic device;
a battery terminal to couple to a battery;
an accessory connector to couple to an accessory, the accessory connector having a plurality of pins, one of the plurality of pins being an external power supply pin coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin supplied with external power when the accessory is coupled to the accessory connector;
a switch circuit coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin and the battery terminal, the switch circuit to connect the battery terminal to the supply terminal when the external power is not present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the battery, and the switch circuit to disconnect the battery terminal from the supply terminal when the external power is present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the external power; and
a controller coupled to the switch circuit and the external power supply pin, the controller, when the external power is present on the external power supply pin, to further control the switch circuit to provide a current path between the external power supply pin and the battery terminal so as to charge the battery with a current of the external power, thereby, using the external power supply pin to provide a voltage level for powering the electronic device and provide a current for charging the battery.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply control apparatus (113) for an electronic device (102) includes a terminal (115) to couple to a battery (103), a connector (122) to couple to an external power supply (172), a switch circuit (140) coupled to the terminal (115) and the connector (122), and a controller (108) coupled to the switch circuit (140). The switch circuit (140) connects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the terminal (115) when the battery (103) is attached and disconnects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the connector (122) when the external power supply (172) is attached. The controller (108) selectively controls the switch circuit (140) to connect the connector (122) to the terminal (115) so as to charge the battery (103) from the external power supply (172).
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power supply control apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
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a supply terminal to provide power to the electronic device; a battery terminal to couple to a battery; an accessory connector to couple to an accessory, the accessory connector having a plurality of pins, one of the plurality of pins being an external power supply pin coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin supplied with external power when the accessory is coupled to the accessory connector; a switch circuit coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin and the battery terminal, the switch circuit to connect the battery terminal to the supply terminal when the external power is not present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the battery, and the switch circuit to disconnect the battery terminal from the supply terminal when the external power is present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the external power; and a controller coupled to the switch circuit and the external power supply pin, the controller, when the external power is present on the external power supply pin, to further control the switch circuit to provide a current path between the external power supply pin and the battery terminal so as to charge the battery with a current of the external power, thereby, using the external power supply pin to provide a voltage level for powering the electronic device and provide a current for charging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device comprising:
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an antenna; a receiver coupled to the antenna; a transmitter coupled to the antenna; a supply terminal to provide power to the electronic device; an accessory connector to couple to an accessory, the accessory connector having a plurality of pins, only one of the plurality of pins being an external power supply pin, the external power supply pin coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin supplied with external power when the accessory is coupled to the accessory connector; a battery terminal to couple to a battery; a switch circuit coupled to the supply terminal, the external power supply pin and the battery terminal, the switch circuit to connect the supply terminal to the battery terminal when the external power is not present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the battery, and the switch circuit to disconnect the supply terminal from the battery terminal when the external power is present on the external power supply pin so as to supply the supply terminal with a voltage level of the external supply, the voltage level of the external supply greater than the voltage level of the battery; and a controller coupled to the receiver, the transmitter, the battery terminal, the external power supply pin and the switch circuit, the controller, when the external power is present on the external power supply pin, to further control the switch circuit to provide a current path between the external power supply pin and the battery terminal so as to charge the battery with a current of the external power, thereby, using the external power supply pin to provide a voltage level for powering the electronic the electronic device and provide a current for charging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power supply control method for an electronic device having a battery terminal and an accessory connector, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting attachment of a battery to the battery terminal; powering the electronic device from a voltage level of the battery; detecting attachment of an accessory to the accessory connector from the presence of external power supplied by the accessory on an external power supply pin of the accessory connector; powering the electronic device from a voltage level of the external power on the external power supply pin; halting powering of the electronic device from the voltage level of the battery; coupling current of the external power on the external power supply pin to the battery terminal for charging of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification