Charging circuit for parallel charging in multiple battery systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power supply system comprising:
- a host power management unit configured to execute a power management routine;
a charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a plurality of batteries by a DC to DC converter, said charging circuit further comprising;
a first path configured to monitor a first battery charging current provided to a first battery;
a second path configured to monitor a second battery charging current provided to a second battery;
a third path configured to monitor a first battery charging voltage provided to said first battery; and
a fourth path configured to monitor a second battery charging voltage provided to said second battery; and
a regulating circuit configured to reduce said system charging parameter provided to said plurality of batteries by said DC to DC converter if said first battery charging current exceeds a first maximum charging current level or said second battery charging current exceeds a second maximum charging current level, or said first battery charging voltage exceeds a first maximum charging voltage level when said first battery and said second battery are coupled in parallel, or said second battery charging voltage exceeds a second maximum charging voltage level, said first and said second maximum charging current levels and said first and said second maximum charging voltage levels provided to at least one input terminal of said charging circuit by said host power management unit.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a host of rechargeable batteries, wherein the host of batteries includes at least a first battery and second battery that may be coupled in parallel. The charging circuit provides for fast charging of rechargeable batteries in parallel. Independent current and voltage sensing for each battery enables parallel charging of batteries at different charging currents. The charging circuit may be configured to accept either analog or digital signals from an associated power management unit.
41 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A power supply system comprising:
-
a host power management unit configured to execute a power management routine; a charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a plurality of batteries by a DC to DC converter, said charging circuit further comprising; a first path configured to monitor a first battery charging current provided to a first battery; a second path configured to monitor a second battery charging current provided to a second battery; a third path configured to monitor a first battery charging voltage provided to said first battery; and a fourth path configured to monitor a second battery charging voltage provided to said second battery; and a regulating circuit configured to reduce said system charging parameter provided to said plurality of batteries by said DC to DC converter if said first battery charging current exceeds a first maximum charging current level or said second battery charging current exceeds a second maximum charging current level, or said first battery charging voltage exceeds a first maximum charging voltage level when said first battery and said second battery are coupled in parallel, or said second battery charging voltage exceeds a second maximum charging voltage level, said first and said second maximum charging current levels and said first and said second maximum charging voltage levels provided to at least one input terminal of said charging circuit by said host power management unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for controlling a system charging parameter comprising:
-
providing a control signal to a DC to DC converter by a regulating circuit; monitoring a first battery charging current provided to a first battery by a first path; monitoring a second battery charging current provided to a second battery by a second path; monitoring a first battery charging voltage provided to said first battery by a third path; and monitoring a second battery charging voltage provided to said second battery by a fourth path; and reducing said system charging parameter provided to a plurality of batteries by said DC to DC converter that may be coupled in parallel, if said first battery charging current exceeds a first maximum charging current level when said first battery and said second battery are coupled in parallel or said second battery charging current exceeds a second maximum charging current level, or said first battery charging voltage exceeds a first maximum charging voltage level, or said second battery charging voltage exceeds a second maximum charging voltage level, said first and said second maximum charging current levels and said first and said second maximum charging voltage levels provided to at least one input terminal of a charging circuit by a host power management unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An electronic device comprising:
-
a power management unit configured to provide an output signal representative of at least a first maximum charging current level, a second maximum charging current level, a first maximum charging voltage level, and a second maximum charging voltage level; a charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to said plurality of batteries by a DC to DC converter, said charging circuit further comprising; a first path configured to monitor a first battery charging current provided to a first battery and compare said first battery charging current to said first maximum charging current level; a second path configured to monitor a second battery charging current level provided to a second battery and compare said second battery charging current to said second maximum charging current level; a third path configured to monitor a first battery charging voltage provided to said first battery and compare said first battery charging voltage to said first maximum charging voltage level; and a fourth path configured to monitor a second battery charging voltage provided to said second battery and compare said second battery charging voltage to said second maximum charging voltage level; and a regulating circuit configured to reduce said system charging parameter provided to a plurality of batteries by said DC to DC converter if said first battery charging current exceeds said first maximum charging current level or said second battery charging current exceeds said second maximum charging current level, or said first battery charging voltage exceeds said first maximum charging voltage level, or said second battery charging voltage exceeds said second maximum charging voltage level by said DC to DC converter, said first and said second maximum charging current levels and said first and said second maximum charging voltage levels provided to at least one input terminal of said charging circuit by said power management unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification