Method for computing an amount of energy taken from a battery

• US 6,891,355 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exar Corporation (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FYRE Storm Incorporated (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kernahan, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/285, 320/132, 320/133, 320/103, 320/30, 324/429, 324/433, 324/427, 324/430, 324/428
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/262 using field-effect transistors only
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0845 digitally controlled (or with digital control)
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/08 Code representation by pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2828 using control circuits for the switching elements H05B41/2827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A method to compute an amount of energy taken from a battery coupled to a switching power converter is disclosed. The switching power converter charges a capacitor to a voltage and by the application of one or more control pulses to the switching power converter the voltage on the capacitor is maintained within a predetermined range having an upper voltage. The voltage on the capacitor is sampled and one or more control pulses are applied to the switching power converter to raise the voltage on the capacitor to the upper voltage. The amount of energy taken from the battery is computed based on measurement of a change in voltage on the capacitor over an elapsed time.

Claims

1. In a system for controlling a switching power converter circuit having a battery coupled to the converter circuit for charging a capacitor to a voltage and maintaining the voltage on the capacitor within a predetermined voltage range defined by an upper and a lower voltage, a method for computing an amount of energy taken from the battery, the method comprising:

applying one or more control pulses to the switching power converter circuit to establish a voltage on the capacitor at the upper voltage;

periodically sampling a voltage on the capacitor and applying at least one control pulse to the switching power converter circuit to raise the voltage to the upper voltage;

computing an amount of energy taken from the battery based on the measured voltage change and a time elapsed.