Methods and apparatus for charging a battery in a peripheral device
First Claim
1. A power manager unit for managing power delivered to a battery powered device, comprising:
- a voltage converter unit arranged to convert an external voltage received by an external voltage supply by way of a cable to a supply voltage, wherein the cable includes a number of lines some of which are data lines arranged to form a transmit-receive connection and at least one of which is a power line arranged to carry the external voltage from the external voltage supply to the battery powered device;
a voltage sensor unit coupled to the voltage converter unit for sensing a voltage;
a comparator unit coupled to the voltage sensor unit arranged to generate a switching signal based upon the sensed voltage; and
a switchover circuit coupled to the comparator unit arranged to receive the switching signal, wherein the switchover circuit responds to the received switching signal by connecting the battery powered device and a not fully charged battery to the voltage converter unit such that the supply voltage is provided thereto, wherein when the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically disconnecting the battery so as to not overcharge the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power manager for managing power delivered to a battery operated peripheral device is disclosed. The power manager includes an input current limiter arranged to suppress a power surge associated with an insertion event by a power cable arranged to provide an external voltage. A voltage converter unit coupled to the input current limiter converts the received external voltage to a supply voltage that is transmitted by way of a main bus to a voltage sensor unit coupled thereto. During the insertion event, a comparator unit coupled to the voltage sensor, sends a first switching signal to a switchover circuit that responds by connecting the peripheral device and an uncharged battery to the main bus such that the supply voltage is provided thereto. When the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically disconnecting the battery so as to not overcharge the battery.
79 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A power manager unit for managing power delivered to a battery powered device, comprising:
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a voltage converter unit arranged to convert an external voltage received by an external voltage supply by way of a cable to a supply voltage, wherein the cable includes a number of lines some of which are data lines arranged to form a transmit-receive connection and at least one of which is a power line arranged to carry the external voltage from the external voltage supply to the battery powered device; a voltage sensor unit coupled to the voltage converter unit for sensing a voltage; a comparator unit coupled to the voltage sensor unit arranged to generate a switching signal based upon the sensed voltage; and a switchover circuit coupled to the comparator unit arranged to receive the switching signal, wherein the switchover circuit responds to the received switching signal by connecting the battery powered device and a not fully charged battery to the voltage converter unit such that the supply voltage is provided thereto, wherein when the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically disconnecting the battery so as to not overcharge the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for managing power delivered to a battery-operated peripheral device, comprising:
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receiving an external voltage from an external voltage supply by way of a cable, wherein the cable includes a number of lines some of which are data lines arranged to form a transmit-receive connection and at least one of which is a power line arranged to carry the external voltage from the external voltage supply to the device; converting the received external voltage to a supply voltage by a voltage converter unit; sensing a voltage by a voltage sensor unit coupled to the voltage converter unit; generating a switching signal based upon the sensed voltage; receiving the switching signal by a switchover circuit; and connecting the peripheral device and a not fully charged battery to the voltage converter unit such that the supply voltage is provided thereto in response to the received switching signal, wherein when the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically isolating the battery from the external voltage supply. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for managing power delivered to a battery-operated peripheral device, comprising:
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means for receiving an external voltage from an external voltage supply by way of a cable, wherein the cable includes a number of lines some of which are data lines arranged to form a transmit-receive connection and at least one of which is a power line arranged to carry the external voltage from the external power supply to the device; means for converting a received external voltage to a supply voltage; means for sensing a voltage; means for generating a switching signal based upon the sensed voltage; means for receiving the switching signal by a switchover circuit; and means for connecting the peripheral device and a not fully charged battery to the supply voltage in response to the received switching signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification