Charge system and charger for an electric apparatus and a control method thereof

• US 7,545,118 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US11/225,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/135, 320/136, 320/158, 320/163
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charge system comprising an electric apparatus that comprises a first rechargeable battery and an adapter for supplying power to the first rechargeable battery, and a charger connected to the electric apparatus and used to charge a second rechargeable battery. The charge system employs a first charging part for charging the first rechargeable battery with the power supplied from the adapter, a first interface for forming a power supplying path and connecting to the charger, a power switch for switching the power supplying path between the electric apparatus and the charger via the first interface, and a first controller for controlling the first charging part and the power switch to enable the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged in sequence when the adapter is connected to the electric apparatus in the state that the charger is connected to the electric apparatus, and control the power switch to make the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery be discharged in sequence when the adapter is not connected to the electric apparatus.

Claims

1. A charge system comprising:

an electric apparatus that comprises a first rechargeable battery and an adapter for supplying power to the first rechargeable battery, and a charger for connecting to the electric apparatus and charging a second rechargeable battery, the charge system comprising;

a first charging part for charging the first rechargeable battery with the power supplied from the adapter;

a first interface for providing a power supplying path and connecting with the charger;

a power switch for switching the power supplying path between the electric apparatus and the charger via the first interface;

a first controller for controlling the first charging part and the power switch to enable the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged in sequence when the adapter is connected to the electric apparatus in the state that the charger is connected to the electric apparatus, and control the power switch to enable the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery be discharged in sequence when the adapter is not connected to the electric apparatus; and

a first discharging switch interposed between the first rechargeable battery and the power switch to switch driving power supplied from the first rechargeable battery, wherein the first controller enables the first discharging switch and the power switch to allow the charger to detect the power state of the first rechargeable battery via the first interface when the adapter is not connected to the electric apparatus.

2. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the charger comprises a second discharging switch to switch driving power supplied from the second rechargeable battery, and the charger enables the second discharging switch to supply the driving power from the second rechargeable battery to the electric apparatus via the first interface when the charger detects that the first rechargeable battery provided in the electric apparatus has a voltage below a predetermined voltage level, through the first interface.

3. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the first controller disables the first discharging switch and enables the power switch to detect the power state of the second rechargeable battery provided in the charger through the first interface when the adapter is not connected to the electric apparatus.

4. The charge system according to claim 3, wherein the first controller enables the first discharging switch and disables the power switch to supply the driving power from the first rechargeable battery to the electric apparatus when the first controller detects that the second rechargeable battery is at or below a predetermined voltage level.

5. The charge system according to claim 4, wherein the first controller disables the first discharging switch and enables the power switch to supply the driving power from the second rechargeable battery provided in the charger to the electric apparatus via the first interface when the first controller detects that the second rechargeable battery has a predetermined voltage level or more.

6. A method of controlling a charge system comprising an electric apparatus that comprises a first charging part for charging a first rechargeable battery with power supplied from an adapter, a first interface for forming a power supplying path and connecting to an external device, and a power switch for switching the power supplying path, and a charger that comprises a second interface connected with the first interface, and a second charging part connected to the electric apparatus via the second interface to charge a second rechargeable battery with the power supplied from the adapter, the method comprising:

connecting the charger to the electric apparatus via the first and second interfaces;

determining whether the adapter is connected to the electric apparatus; and

controlling the first and second charging parts to sequentially charge the first and second rechargeable batteries with the power supplied from the adapter in a predetermined order in a charging mode of when the adapter is connected to the electric apparatus, and controlling the first and second rechargeable batteries to be sequentially discharged in a predetermined order and supply the driving power to the electric apparatus in a discharging mode when the adapter is not connected to the electric apparatus;

wherein the electric apparatus comprises a first discharging switch interposed between the first rechargeable battery and the power switch to switch driving power supplied from the first rechargeable battery, and

the electric apparatus controls the first discharging switch and the power switch to be enabled to enable the charger to detect a power state of the first rechargeable battery via the second interface in the discharging mode.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the charger comprises a second discharging switch interposed between the second rechargeable battery and the second interface to switch driving power supplied from the second rechargeable battery, and the charger controls the second discharging switch to be enabled to supply the driving power from the second rechargeable battery of the charger to the electric apparatus via the second interface in the discharging mode.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising controlling the second discharging switch of the charger to be enabled to supply the driving power from the second rechargeable battery to the electric apparatus via the interface when the charger detects that the first rechargeable battery of the electric apparatus is at or below a predetermined voltage level.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising allowing the electric apparatus to control the first discharging switch to be disabled and the power switch to be enabled to detect the power state of the second rechargeable battery provided in the charger via the second interface in the discharging mode.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising allowing the electric apparatus to control the first discharging switch to be enabled and the power switch to be disabled to supply the driving power from the first rechargeable battery to the electric apparatus when it is detected that the second rechargeable battery is at or below a predetermined voltage level.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising allowing the electric apparatus to control the first discharging switch to be disabled and the power switch to be enabled to supply the driving power from the second rechargeable battery to the electric apparatus via the first and second interfaces when it is detected that the second rechargeable battery has a predetermined voltage level or greater.