Integrated battery charger and system regulator circuit
First Claim
1. An integrated battery charger and system regulator, comprising:
- a converter having a first terminal coupled to an input node for receiving an input voltage, a second terminal coupled to a system node, and a control terminal for controlling said converter to convert said input voltage to a system voltage on said system node;
a regulator device having a control terminal and first and second terminals forming a controlled current path coupled in a charge path of a rechargeable battery, said first terminal coupled to said system node;
a current sensing device that senses charge current of said charge path; and
a controller, coupled to said current sensing device, said converter control input and said regulator device control terminal, that controls said converter to regulate said system voltage between minimum and maximum voltage levels and that operates in a plurality of modes, including a trickle charging mode for controlling said regulator device to maintain said system node at said minimum voltage level, a current charging mode for regulating said charge current, and a voltage control mode for maintaining said system node at said maximum voltage level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated regulator and charging system including a DC/DC converter, a P-channel device, a battery system and a system/charger controller. The DC/DC converter converts an input voltage to a regulated voltage on a system bus. The battery system includes a rechargeable battery and a current sense device coupled in series between the drain of the P-channel device and ground, where the source of the P-channel device is coupled to the system bus. The system charger/controller regulates the system bus at a minimum voltage level when the battery voltage is below the minimum voltage level, such as a deeply discharged battery. The system charger/controller also regulates charge current through the battery when its voltage is between the minimum voltage level and a maximum voltage level and regulates the system bus at the maximum voltage level when the battery voltage is at the maximum voltage level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated battery charger and system regulator, comprising:
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a converter having a first terminal coupled to an input node for receiving an input voltage, a second terminal coupled to a system node, and a control terminal for controlling said converter to convert said input voltage to a system voltage on said system node; a regulator device having a control terminal and first and second terminals forming a controlled current path coupled in a charge path of a rechargeable battery, said first terminal coupled to said system node; a current sensing device that senses charge current of said charge path; and a controller, coupled to said current sensing device, said converter control input and said regulator device control terminal, that controls said converter to regulate said system voltage between minimum and maximum voltage levels and that operates in a plurality of modes, including a trickle charging mode for controlling said regulator device to maintain said system node at said minimum voltage level, a current charging mode for regulating said charge current, and a voltage control mode for maintaining said system node at said maximum voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A regulator and charging system, comprising:
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a DC/DC converter that converts an input voltage to a regulated voltage on a system bus; a P-channel device having a source coupled to said system bus, a drain and a gate; a battery system including a rechargeable battery and a current sense device coupled in series between said drain of said P-channel device and ground; and a system charger/controller having a first output coupled to said DC/DC converter, a second output coupled to said gate of said P-channel device, a first input coupled to said system bus, a second input coupled to said current sense device, and a third input coupled to said battery; wherein said system charger/controller regulates said system bus at a minimum voltage level when said third input is pulled below said minimum voltage level, regulates charge current through said battery while said third input is between said minimum voltage level and a maximum voltage level, and regulates said system bus at said maximum voltage level when said third input is at said maximum voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of charging a battery using a system/charger regulator circuit, comprising:
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regulating a system bus to a voltage level between a minimum level and a maximum level; controlling a regulator device, coupled between the system bus and the battery, to maintain the system bus at the minimum level to trickle charge the battery when its voltage is below the minimum level, wherein said trickle charge comprises a constant and reduced charging current; maintaining constant charge current through the battery when its voltage is between the minimum and maximum levels; and regulating the system bus at the maximum level when the battery voltage is approximately at the maximum level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification