Power supply block with simplified switch configuration

• US 6,864,669 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bucur, Constantin
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/428,505
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/268, 323/270, 323/271, 323/273, 307 43- 46, 307/48, 307/49, 307/52, 307/66, 307/71, 307/75, 307/77, 307/80, 320/107, 320/127, 320/128, 320/135, 320/137
• US Class Current: 323/268
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 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: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence

Abstract

A power supply block is configured to provide a power supply path from at least one power source to an associated system. The power supply block includes a power conversion element, e.g., a DC to DC converter, coupled to at least one battery and to a DC power source. The power conversion element includes a conductive path configured to provide a charge path from the DC power source to the at least one battery and a discharge path from the at least one battery to the associated system. As such, the number of switches in a power supply block can be reduced. In addition, a system capacitor size can also be reduced. An electronic device with at least one rechargeable battery utilizing such a power supply block is also provided.

Claims

1. A power supply block configured to provide a power supply path form at least one power source to an associated system, said power supply block comprising:

a power conversion element coupled to at least one battery and to a DC power source, said power conversion element comprising a conductive path said conductive path configured to provide a charge path from said DC power source to said at least one battery and a discharge path from said at least one battery to said associated system wherein said at least one battery comprises a first battery and a second battery;

a first switch coupled to said DC power source and said power conversion element;

a second switch coupled to said first battery and said power conversion element a third switch coupled to said second battery and said power conversion element; and

a switch controller configured to control a conduction state of said first switch, said second switch, and said third switch in response to at least one input signal to said switch controller.

2. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said DC power source.

3. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said fixed battery.

4. The power supply block of claim 3, wherein said condition comprises a voltage level of said first battery.

5. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said second battery.

6. The power supply block of claim 5, wherein said condition comprises a voltage level of said second battery.

7. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a user command.

8. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein said power conversion element comprises a DC to DC buck converter having a high side switch and low side switch, and said power supply block further comprises a DC to DC controller responsive to an output signal from said switch controller to control said high side switch and said low side switch so that said high side switch is closed and said low side switch is open to provide said discharge path.

9. The power supply block of claim 8, wherein said DC to DC controller comprises a PWM controller.

10. The power supply block of claim 1, wherein a node is coupled to said power conversion element and said DC power source, and wherein said power supply block fir comprises a system capacitor coupled to said node, said system capacitor hag a predetermined size less than or equal to 22 μ

F.

11. An electric device comprising:

a power supply block configured to provide a power supply path from at least one power source to system circuitry of said electronic device wherein said power supply block comprises;

a power conversion element coupled to at last one battery and to a DC power source, said power conversion element comprising a conductive path, said conductive path configured to provide a chase path from said DC power source to said at least one battery and a discharge path from said at least one battery to said system circuitry,

wherein said at least one battery comprises a first battery and a second battery,

a first switch coupled to said DC power source and said power conversion element;

a second switch coupled to said first battery and said power conversion element;

a third switch coupled to said second battery and said power conversion element; and

a switch controller configured to control a conduction state of said first switch said second switch, and said third switch in response to at least one input signal to said switch controller.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said DC power source.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said first batter.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said condition comprises a voltage level of said first battery.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a condition of said second battery.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said condition comprises a voltage level of said second battery.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said at least one input signal is representative of a user command.

18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said power conversion element comprises a DC to DC buck converter having a high side switch and low side switch, and said power supply block further comprises a DC to DC controller responsive to an output signal from said switch controller to control said high side switch and said low side switch.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein said DC to DC controller comprises a PWM controller.

20. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein a node is coupled to said power conversion element and said DC power source, and wherein said power supply block further comprises a system capacitor coupled to said node, said system capacitor having a predetermined size less than or equal to 22 μ

F.

21. A power supply block configured to provide a power supply path from at least one power source to an associated system, said power supply block comprising:

a DC to DC converter coupled to a first battery, a second battery, and to a DC power source, said DC to DC converter comprising a conductive path, said conductive path configured to provide a charge path firm said DC power source to said first battery and second battery during a charge mode and a discharge path from said first battery and second battery to said associated system during a discharge mode;

a first switch coupled to said DC power source and said DC to DC converter,

a second switch network coupled to said first battery and said DC to DC converter;

a third switch network coupled to said second battery and said DC to DC converter, and

a switch controller configured to control a conduction state of said East switch, said second switch network and said third switch network in response to at least one input signal to said switch controller.

22. The power supply block of claim 21, wherein said second switch network comprises a second switch and a third switch, wherein a first diode is coupled in parallel with said second switch and is configured to permit current flow towards said first battery from said DC source in said charge mode, and wherein a second diode is coupled in parallel with said third switch and is configured to permit current flow from said first battery to said associated system in said discharge mode.

23. The power supply block of claim 21, wherein said third switch network comprises a fourth switch and a fifth switch, wherein a third diode is coupled in parallel with said fourth switch and is configured to permit current flow towards said second battery from said DC source in said charge mode, and wherein a fourth diode is coupled in parallel with said fifth switch is configured to permit current flow from said second battery to said associated system in said discharge mode.