Method and apparatus for charging a battery using a threshold to cease charging
First Claim
1. A method of charging a battery attached to a mobile communication device after the battery has been charged to a charge voltage limit, the method then comprising:
- while the mobile communication device is not engaged in a communication activity, continuing charging of the battery using a constant voltage charge regime;
while the mobile communication device is engaged in a communication activity, the method comprising;
ceasing charging until the battery voltage falls to a preselected threshold; and
upon the battery voltage falling to the preselected threshold, charging the battery with a constant current charge regime until the battery voltage reaches the charge voltage limit.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device (102) contains a battery (116) which is recharged under control of a charge controller (112). An external power supply (104) provides charging current and voltage (106). A linear regulator (110) regulates the raw voltage provided by the external power supply. The device (102) also contains a heat-generating sub-system (118). To prevent excess heat generation while charging the battery, the battery charging regime is altered from a conventional regime when the heat-generating sub-system is active. Once the battery voltage reaches a charge limit (208), charge current is ceased (210) until the battery voltage falls to a lower limit (212), at which time the charging current is recommenced.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of charging a battery attached to a mobile communication device after the battery has been charged to a charge voltage limit, the method then comprising:
-
while the mobile communication device is not engaged in a communication activity, continuing charging of the battery using a constant voltage charge regime; while the mobile communication device is engaged in a communication activity, the method comprising; ceasing charging until the battery voltage falls to a preselected threshold; and upon the battery voltage falling to the preselected threshold, charging the battery with a constant current charge regime until the battery voltage reaches the charge voltage limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A battery charging system for a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device including an attached rechargeable battery and a current-limited power supply coupled to the mobile communication device for supplying a charging current to the mobile communication device, the battery charging system comprising:
-
a charge control transistor coupled in series between the current-limited power supply and the rechargeable battery; and a charge controller for monitoring a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery and controlling operation of the charge control transistor; wherein the charge controller operates the charge control transistor in an on state while the rechargeable battery is first charged to a charge voltage limit, and subsequently; while the mobile communication device is not engaged in a communication activity, operating the charge control transistor in a linear mode to maintain a substantially constant voltage at the rechargeable battery; and while the mobile communication device is engaged in a communication activity, operating the charge control transistor in an off state until the battery voltage falls to a preselected threshold, then operating the charge control transistor in an on state until the charge voltage limit is reached. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for charging a battery of a device, the device having a heat-generating subsystem, the method comprising:
-
coupling an external power supply to the device, the external power supply providing a charge current having a maximum current level; charging the battery at a substantially constant charging current until a battery voltage of the battery reaches a charge limit threshold, the charging current provided by the external power supply; Subsequent to the battery voltage reaching the charge limit threshold a first time; while the heat-generating subsystem is not active, charging of the battery using a constant voltage charge regime; while the heat-generating subsystem is active, the method comprising; ceasing charging until the battery voltage falls to a preselected threshold; and upon the battery voltage falling to the preselected threshold, charging the battery with a constant current charge regime until the battery voltage reaches the charge limit threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for charging a battery of a device having a heat-generating subsystem, the battery being disposed in the device, the charging being controlled by a charge controller in the device, the method comprising:
-
charging the battery with a substantially constant current until a battery voltage of the battery first reaches a charge limit threshold; activating the heat-generating subsystem of the device; and while activating the heat-generating subsystem, alternating between; ceasing charging until the battery voltage falls to a preselected limit; and charging the battery with a substantially constant current until the battery voltage again reaches the charge limit threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification