Adaptive power battery charging apparatus

• US 6,127,809 A
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheehan, Edward P. Jr., Kates, Barry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/290,089
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/134, 320/136, 320/135, 320/162, 320/163, 320/164, 324/433, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/10 Nonbattery load controls charging

Abstract

An adaptive battery charger for charging batteries used in portable electronic devices. The battery charger monitors power provided from an AC adapter to the portable electronic device, and adaptively utilizes all available power from the AC adapter for charging the batteries, both when the portable electronic device is off, and when it is in use. As the power required for the portable electronic device increases, the power provided to the batteries decreases. As the power required to power the portable electronic device decreases, the power available to charge the batteries increases.

Claims

1. An adaptable power battery charger system for a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including a battery for providing power to the portable electronic device, the battery charger system comprising:

a power source, connected to the battery, for charging the battery, and for connecting to the portable electronic device for providing power to the portable electronic device; and

power control circuitry, connected to said power source and to the battery, the power control circuitry monitoring the power provided to the battery and to the portable electronic device by said power source, and varying the power provided by the power source based upon the power needs of the battery as determined by the power needs of the battery being below a maximum power output.

2. The battery charging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable computing device which may be powered either by the battery, or by said power control circuitry.

3. The battery charging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery comprises at least one battery pack for providing power to said electrical load.

4. The battery charging system as recited in claim 3, wherein said battery pack comprises a plurality of lithium-ion cells.

5. The battery charging system as recited in claim 1, wherein said power control circuitry comprises:

an AC adapter for connecting to an alternating power source, the AC adapter for receiving power from the alternating power source; and

the AC adapter being connected to said portable electronic device for providing DC power to the portable electronic device.

6. The battery charging system as recited in claim 5, wherein said power control circuitry further comprises:

power modulation circuitry connected to said AC adapter, and to said battery system, said power modulation circuitry receiving a first signal indicative of an amount of current provided to the battery and a second signal indicative of a voltage provided across the battery said power modulation circuitry varying said power supplied to said the battery responsive to said first and said second signals.

7. The battery charging system as recited in claim 5, wherein

said power control circuitry is connected to receive a third signal indicative of the power provided by said power control circuitry to the battery and to the electronic device.

8. The battery charging system as recited in claim 7, wherein said power control circuitry limits the amount of power provided to the battery and to the electronic device, in response to said third signal, to a predetermined amount which is below the maximum that can be provided by said power control circuitry.

9. The battery charging system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second indicative signals effect said power control circuitry so as to minimize the charge time of the battery.

10. A portable electronic system comprising:

a portable electronic device;

a battery coupled to the portable electronic device, the battery providing power to the portable electronic device;

a power source coupled to the battery and the portable electronic device, the power source charging the battery and providing power to the portable electronic device; and

a power control circuit coupled to the power source and the battery, the power control circuit monitoring the power provided to the battery and to the portable electronic device by the power source and varying the power provided by the power source based upon the power needs of the battery as determined by the power needs of the battery being below a maximum power output.

11. The portable electronic system of claim 10 wherein the portable electronic device may be powered either by the battery or by the power control circuit.

12. The portable electronic system of claim 10 wherein the power control circuit includes

an AC adapter coupled to an alternating power source, the AC adapter receiving power from the alternating current source and providing DC power to the battery and the portable electronic device.

13. A portable electronic system comprising:

a portable electronic device;

a battery system coupled to the portable electronic device, the battery system providing power to the portable electronic device;

a power source coupled to the battery system and the portable electronic device, the power source charging the battery and providing power to the portable electronic device; and

a power control circuit coupled to the power source and the battery system, the power control circuit monitoring the power provided to the battery system and to the portable electronic device by the power source and varying the power provided by the power source based upon the power needs of the battery system as determined by the power needs of the battery system being below a maximum power output.

14. The portable electronic system of claim 13 wherein the portable electronic device may be powered either by the battery system or by the power control circuit.

15. The portable computer system of claim 13 wherein the power control circuit includes

an AC adapter coupled to an alternating power source, the AC adapter receiving power from the alternating current source and providing DC power to the battery and the portable electronic device.

16. The portable computer system of claim 13 wherein

the battery system includes a battery;

and

the battery system provides a first signal indicative of an amount of current provided to the battery system and a second signal indicative of a voltage across the battery; and

wherein

the power control circuit determines the power needs of the battery based upon the first and second signals.

17. The portable computer system of claim 16 wherein the battery includes a plurality of lithium-ion cells.

18. The portable electronic system of claim 16 wherein the battery system has a charge time representing a time to charge the battery system to a predetermined capacity, and

the power control circuit provides power to the battery so as to minimize the charge time of the battery system.

19. An battery charging apparatus for a portable electronic device, the battery charging apparatus varying an amount of power provided to a battery in accordance with an amount of power provided to the portable electronic device thereby allowing the battery to utilize the maximum available power from the battery charging apparatus for charging, the battery charging apparatus comprising:

an AC adapter having a maximum power output coupled to the portable electronic device and to the battery, the AC adapter providing power to the portable electronic device and the battery;

an input power sensor coupled to the AC adapter, the input power sensor monitoring the amount of power provided by the AC adapter to the portable electronic device and to the battery, the input power sensor producing a first signal indicative of the amount of power provided;

a current sensor coupled to the battery, the current sensor determining the amount of current provided to the battery;

the current sensor producing a second signal indicative of the amount of current provided to the battery;

a voltage sensor coupled to the battery, the voltage sensor determining the voltage across the battery, the voltage sensor providing a third signal indicative of the amount of voltage across the battery;

a modulation circuit coupled between the AC adapter and the battery, the modulation circuit varying the amount of power provided to the battery by the AC adapter based upon the first, second and third signals;

wherein, the amount of power provided by the AC adapter to the battery and the portable electronic device varies with the power needs of the battery and the portable electronic device when the power needs are below the maximum power output.