Low noise charging method and device for portable devices

• US 7,573,240 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Spiridon, Constantin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/114,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 320/133, 320/139, 320/158, 320/159, 320/157, 320/155
• US Class Current: 320/133
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process

Abstract

A method is used for charging a battery. According to the method of the present invention, the battery is first charged to a predetermined voltage at a substantially constant current. Then, the charging current is disabled. A pulsing current is applied to the battery for charging the battery.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

charging said battery by an external power source via a switch;

generating an output signal indicating whether a battery voltage of said battery is higher than a predetermined voltage;

generating a signal having a plurality of pulses;

generating a control signal according to said output signal and said plurality of pulses by a latch for controlling said switch;

enabling said switch in response to said plurality of pulses and said control signal if said battery voltage is higher than said predetermined voltage;

measuring a time period when said control signal remains substantially constant; and

stopping charging said battery if said time period exceeds a first predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring said output signal to a data input of said latch; and

transferring said plurality of pulses to a clock input of said latch.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a voltage to said battery in response to said plurality of pulses of said signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stopping charging said battery if said battery voltage is higher than said predetermined voltage for a second predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a logic block to said latch for indicating a charging status,

wherein said charging status comprises a presence of said external power source, charging, and charging termination.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pulses are periodic.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a bypass circuit in parallel to said switch; and

charging said battery through said bypass circuit when said battery voltage of said battery is lower than a lower threshold voltage.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring and remeasuring said battery voltage when a charging current is substantially zero.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

coupling a bi-directional switch to said logic block; and

enabling said bi-directional switch by said logic block to supply energy from said battery to an external battery-driven device.

10. A system for charging a battery, comprising:

a first comparator for determining whether a battery voltage of said battery is lower than a first predetermined voltage;

a switch coupled to said first comparator for coupling an external power source to said battery;

a timer coupled to said switch for generating a signal having a plurality of pulses;

a latch for receiving an output from said first comparator and for receiving said signal from said timer, and for generating a control signal to control said switch; and

a counter for measuring a time period when said control signal remains substantially constant,

wherein said switch is enabled in response to said plurality of pulses of said signal and said control signal if said battery voltage of said battery is higher than said first predetermined voltage, and wherein said system stops charging said battery if said time period exceeds a predetermined period of time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a duty cycle ratio of said plurality of pulses is from about 60% to about 80%.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of pulses of said signal are periodic.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second comparator for determining whether said battery voltage is lower than a second predetermined voltage;

a precharger for charging said battery when said battery voltage is lower than said second predetermined voltage.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a third comparator for determining whether said battery voltage is higher than a third predetermined voltage; and

a stopping device for disabling said switch when said battery voltage is higher than said third predetermined voltage so as to protect said battery from overcharging.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a discharging logic block for further enabling and disabling said switch for controlling discharging of said battery.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a device for stating where whether said battery voltage of said battery has been over said predetermined voltage.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a memory device for memorizing said battery voltage of said battery between said plurality of pulses for a certain period of time.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a state device coupled to said timer and said memory device to indicate a state of said system.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising;

a bi-directional controller for enabling said switch when said external power source is removed from said switch and an external battery-driven device is coupled to said switch.

23. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a data input of said latch is coupled to an output of said first comparator, and wherein a clock input of said latch is coupled to an output of said timer.

24. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a flip-flop circuit coupled to an output of said first comparator and for latching an output of said flip-flop circuit to a first state when said battery voltage is higher than said first predetermined voltage.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said flip-flop circuit latches said output of said flip-flop circuit to a second state when said battery voltage is lower than said first predetermined voltage.

20. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

generating an output signal indicating whether a battery voltage of said battery is higher than a predetermined voltage;

charging said battery by a substantially continuous charging current via a switch until said battery voltage is higher than said predetermined voltage;

generating a discrete voltage having a plurality of voltage pulses;

generating a signal having a plurality of pulses;

charging said battery by said plurality of voltage pulses via said switch;

generating a control signal according to said output signal and said plurality of pulses by a latch for controlling said switch;

enabling said switch in response to said plurality of pulses of said signal and said control signal if said battery voltage is higher than said predetermined voltage;

measuring a time period when said control signal remains substantially constant; and

stopping charging said battery if said time period exceeds a first predetermined period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

transferring said output signal to a data input of said latch; and

transferring said plurality of pulses to a clock input of said latch.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

periodically measuring said battery voltage during a low level of said plurality of voltage pulses; and

completing charging of said battery if said battery voltage is higher than said predetermined voltage for a second predetermined period of time.