Charging device capable of dynamically adjusting charging power

• US 6,617,826 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Shen, Wen-Chun, Liao, Yu-Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/017,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 363/20, 363/37, 363/21.01, 322/222, 322/282, 322/283, 320/118, 320/127, 320/137, 320/164, 320/120
• US Class Current: 320/118
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage

Abstract

A charging device capable of dynamically adjusting a charging power. The charging device has elements as follows. A DC-DC converter power stage is used for supplying a charging current to the rechargeable battery. A current error amplifier is used for setting a charging current adjustment signal, being fed to the DC-DC converter power stage for adjusting the charging current. A first current detecting device is used for setting the charging current signal being fed to the current error amplifier. Meanwhile, the charging current is outputted to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery. A current detecting/comparating device is used for feedback and outputting the charge current operation signal based upon the work current and a calculated charge current signal. The charging device dynamically adjusts the charging power to increase the utility of the output power of the external power source and reduce the charging time.

Claims

1. A charging device capable of dynamically adjusting a charging power within a system block of a portable system, wherein the system block consists of the charging device and a main function device, and an external power source is coupled to the system block for supplying a work current to the main function device and for charging a rechargeable battery in the charging device, the charging device comprising:

a DC-DC converter power stage coupled to the external power source for supplying a charging current to the rechargeable battery;

a current error amplifier, coupled to the DC-DC converter power stage for setting a charging current adjustment signal according to a charging current signal and a charge current operation signal, and the charging current adjustment signal being fed to the DC-DC converter power stage for adjusting the charging current;

a first current detecting device, coupled to the DC-DC converter power stage, current error amplifier and the rechargeable battery, for outputting the charging current signal based upon the charging current, and the charging current being fed to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery; and

a current detecting/comparating device, coupled to the external power source and the current error amplifier, for outputting the charge current operation signal based upon the work current and a calculated charge current signal.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the current detecting/comparating device further comprises:

a second current detecting device, coupled to the external power source, for outputting a work current signal according to the work current to detect the work current inputted to the portable device; and

a current comparating device, coupled to the second current detecting device, for setting and then outputting the charge current operation signal according to the work current signal and the calculated charge current signal.

3. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the current detecting/comparating device is further coupled to the main function device, when the current detecting/comparating device detects an abnormal work current, the current detecting/comparating device outputs an alarm signal to the main function device of the portable system for informing the main function device that the abnormal work current is inputted.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the portable system is a notebook computer.

5. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the portable system is a mobile phone.

6. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the portable system is a personal digital assistant (PDA).