Battery charging apparatus and method with charging mode convertible function
First Claim
1. A battery charging apparatus for charging at least one battery in at least one of a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, comprising:
- a switching regulator for generating a switching voltage from a DC voltage source;
a constant current charging control means for detecting a current of a DC output provided by the switching regulator to produce a charging control signal for enabling the switching regulator to operate in the constant current mode;
a battery detection means for detecting a voltage level of the at least one battery;
a control means for producing a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, a charging speed control signal F--, and a charging enable signal CHG-- EN in response to the voltage level detected from the battery detection means, the charging enable signal CHG-- EN for permitting the switching regulator to start charging for the at least one battery, said control means for producing the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to convert from charging in the constant current mode to charging in the constant voltage mode without interruption of charging in the constant current mode to determine if at least one of a preset voltage level and a preset charging condition has been reached;
a charging speed control means for enabling the switching regulator to perform a fast charging operation in response to an input level of the charging speed control signal F-- Q;
a constant voltage charging control means for outputting a control signal to a feedback input terminal of the switching regulator in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to operate the switching regulator in the constant voltage mode if at least one of the voltage level of the at least one battery has reached the preset voltage level an the preset charging condition has been reached;
a protection means for preventing the constant voltage charging control means from being damaged by an excessive surge voltage; and
a charging mode selection means for enabling the constant voltage charging control in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD.
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Abstract
A battery charging apparatus for use with batteries that require charging in a constant current mode and/or constant voltage mode. The charging apparatus includes a constant current charging control circuit converting the charging current supplied with the battery into a voltage signal and applying the voltage signal to a feedback input terminal of a switching regulator in response to a charging speed control signal F-- Q, and a constant voltage charging control circuit providing a control signal to the feedback input terminal for controlling constant voltage charging if the battery voltage level has reached a preset voltage level, whereby a constant voltage charging is possible during the charging operation in response to a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD. A microcomputer produces the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD when it is detected the charging voltage of the battery in the constant current mode and the detected voltage reached to a preset level in order to convert the charging mode into the constant voltage mode. Further, a charging speed control signal F-- Q is produced to enable the switching regulator to perform quick charging operation. With this arrangement, the constant voltage (CV) charging mode can be performed when the battery is in the preset condition, regardless of type of batteries. In addition, by provision of a protection circuit, possible damage of the CV charging control circuit due to the excessive static or surge is effectively prevented.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery charging apparatus for charging at least one battery in at least one of a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, comprising:
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a switching regulator for generating a switching voltage from a DC voltage source; a constant current charging control means for detecting a current of a DC output provided by the switching regulator to produce a charging control signal for enabling the switching regulator to operate in the constant current mode; a battery detection means for detecting a voltage level of the at least one battery; a control means for producing a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, a charging speed control signal F--, and a charging enable signal CHG-- EN in response to the voltage level detected from the battery detection means, the charging enable signal CHG-- EN for permitting the switching regulator to start charging for the at least one battery, said control means for producing the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to convert from charging in the constant current mode to charging in the constant voltage mode without interruption of charging in the constant current mode to determine if at least one of a preset voltage level and a preset charging condition has been reached; a charging speed control means for enabling the switching regulator to perform a fast charging operation in response to an input level of the charging speed control signal F-- Q; a constant voltage charging control means for outputting a control signal to a feedback input terminal of the switching regulator in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to operate the switching regulator in the constant voltage mode if at least one of the voltage level of the at least one battery has reached the preset voltage level an the preset charging condition has been reached; a protection means for preventing the constant voltage charging control means from being damaged by an excessive surge voltage; and a charging mode selection means for enabling the constant voltage charging control in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery charging apparatus for charging at least one battery in at least one of a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, comprising:
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a switching regulator for generating a switching voltage from a DC voltage source; a constant current charging control means for detecting a current of a DC output provided by the switching regulator to produce a charging control signal for enabling the switching regulator to operate in the constant current mode; a battery detection means for detecting a voltage level of the at least one battery; a control means for producing a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, a charging speed control signal F-- Q, and a charging enable signal CHG-- LEN in response to the voltage level detected from the battery detection means, the charging enable signal CHG-- EN for permitting the switching regulator to start charging for the at least one battery, said control means for producing the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to convert from charging in the constant current mode to charging in the constant voltage mode without interruption of charging in the constant current mode to determine if at least one of a preset voltage level and a preset charging condition has been reached; a charging speed control means for enabling the switching regulator to perform a fast charging operation in response to an input level of the charging speed control signal F-- Q; a constant voltage charging control means for outputting a control signal to a feedback input terminal of the switching regulator in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to operate the switching regulator in the constant voltage mode if at least one of the voltage level of the at least one battery has reached the preset voltage level and the preset charging condition has been reached; and a charging mode selection means for enabling the constant voltage charging control means in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A battery charging apparatus for charging at least one battery in at least one of a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, comprising:
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a switching regulator for generating a switching voltage from a DC voltage source; a constant current charging control means for detecting a current of a DC output provided by the switching regulator to produce a charging control signal for enabling the switching regulator to operate in the constant current mode; a battery detection means for detecting a voltage level of the at least one battery; a control means for producing a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, a charging speed control signal F-- Q, and a charging enable signal CHG-- EN in response to the voltage level detected from the battery detection means, the charging enable signal CHG-- EN for permitting the switching regulator to start charging for the at least one battery, said control means for producing the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to convert from charging in the constant current mode to charging in the constant voltage mode without interruption of charging in the constant current mode to determine if at least one of a preset voltage level and a preset charging condition has been reached; a charging speed control means for enabling the switching regulator to perform a fast charging operation in response to an input level of the charging speed control signal F-- Q; a constant voltage charging control means for outputting a control signal to a feedback input terminal of the switching regulator in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to operate the switching regulator in the constant voltage mode if at least one of the voltage level of the at least one battery has reached the preset voltage level and the preset charging condition has been reached; and a protection means for preventing the constant voltage charging control means from being damaged by an excessive surge voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for charging at least one battery in at least one of a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, comprising the steps of:
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generating by a switching regulator a switching voltage from a DC voltage source; detecting a current of a DC output provided by the switching regulator to produce a charging control signal for enabling the switching regulator to operate in the constant current mode; detecting a voltage level of the at least one battery; producing a charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, a charging speed control signal F-- Q, and a charging enable signal CHG-- EN in response to the voltage level detected, the charging enable signal CHG-- EN permitting the switching regulator to start charging the at least one battery; operating in the constant current mode to charge the at least one battery, if the charging control signal is produced; producing the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD to convert from charging in the constant current mode to charging in the constant voltage mode without interruption of charging in the constant current mode to determine if at least one of a preset voltage level and a preset charging condition has been reached; enabling the switching regulator to perform a fast charging operation dependent upon an input level of the charging speed control signal F-- Q; and operating the switching regulator in the constant voltage mode, in response to the charging mode selection signal CHG-- MOD, if at least one of the voltage level of the at least one battery has reached the preset voltage level and the preset charging condition has been reached.
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Specification