Battery charger with temperature control

• US 7,598,710 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Zhengwei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/636,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/130, 320/134, 320/136, 320/137, 320/153, 320/144, 323/281, 323/313, 323/315, 323/316, 323/369, 327/53, 327/56, 327/66, 327/371, 327/373, 327/512, 327/534, 327/535, 327/536, 327/537, 327/539, 327/541
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

A battery charger integrated circuit with temperature control is disclosed that includes a temperature sensor circuit and a charging current generator circuit. Upon receiving a temperature reading voltage (VDT), the temperature sensing circuit is operable to generate a second reference voltage (V_REF) that is a function of the first reference voltage (V_REF1). The charging current generator circuit generates and continuously adjusts a reference current (I₁) and a charging current (I_OUT) according to the second reference voltage (V_REF). Whenever the temperature reading voltage (VDT) exceeds the first reference voltage, the temperature sensor circuit is operable to adjust the second reference voltage (V_REF).

Claims

1. A battery charger integrated circuit with temperature control, comprising:

a temperature sensor circuit, electrically coupled to receive a first reference voltage (VREF1) and a temperature reading voltage (VDT), operable to generate a second reference voltage (VREF) that is related to said first reference voltage (VREF1), wherein whenever said temperature reading voltage (VDT) surpasses said first reference voltage, a logic output signal is generated to adjust said second reference voltage (VREF); and

a charging current generator circuit, electrically coupled to receive said second reference voltage (VREF), operable to generate and continuously adjust a reference current (I1) and a charging current (I) to be linearly proportional to said reference current and to said second reference voltage (VREF).

2. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein temperature sensor circuit further comprises a die temperature indicator, connected to said battery charger integrated circuit, operable to generate a current that is proportional to a temperature measurement of said battery charger integrated circuit.

3. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein said temperature reading voltage (VDT) is linearly proportional to said current.

4. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 3 wherein said second reference voltage (VREF) is linearly proportional to said first reference voltage (VREF1) and when said temperature reading voltage (VDT) surpasses said first reference voltage (VREF1), said temperature sensor circuit is operable to reduce said second reference voltage (VREF) so that said charging current is reduced.

5. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 4 wherein said temperature sensor circuit further comprises:

an error amplifier, electrically coupled to said first reference voltage (VREF1) and said temperature sensing voltage (VDT), operable to generate a logic output signal, whenever said temperature sensing voltage (VDT) surpasses said first reference voltage (VREF1), said error amplifier generates said logic output signal with high level to adjust said second reference voltage (VREF); and

a n-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (nMOS) switch transistor, with gate electrically coupled to receive said logic output signal from said error amplifier; and

a resistive divider circuit, electrically coupled to said first reference voltage (VREF1), said second reference voltage (VREF), and said nMOS switch transistor, when said logic output signal is high, said nMOS is closed and part of said resistive divider circuit is shorted out and said second reference voltage (VREF).

6. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein said charging current generator circuit further comprises:

a second error amplifier, electrically coupled to receive said second reference voltage (VREF), operable to generate a second logic output signal, whenever said second reference voltage (VREF) changes due to said temperature measurement increases, said second error amplifier is operable to issue said second logic output signal; and

a current mirror circuit, electrically coupled to said second error amplifier, operable to generate said reference current and said charging current.

7. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 6 wherein said current mirror circuit further comprises:

A first npn bipolar junction transistor with drain flowed over said reference current (I1); and

A second npn bipolar junction transistor, the emitter of said second npn transistor is electrically coupled to the emitter of said first npn transistor and to an input voltage (VIN), the base of said second npn electrically connected to the base of said first pnp transistor and to the collector of said first pnp transistor, and the collector generates said charging current (I).

8. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 7 wherein said current mirror circuit further comprises;

a second n-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (nMOS) transistor, with gate electrically coupled to receive said second logic output signal from said second error amplifier, with source electrically connected to another input of said second error amplifier and its drain electrically connected to the drain of said first npn bipolar junction transistor;

a current reference generator circuit electrically coupled to the source of said second nMOS transistor operable to generate said reference current whenever said second nMOS transistor is turned ON by said second error amplifier.

9. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 8 wherein said reference current generator circuit further comprises a

resistor, electrically coupled to the source of said second nMOS transistor.

10. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein temperature sensor circuit further comprises a die temperature indicator, connected to said battery charger integrated circuit, operable to generate a current that is inversely proportional to a temperature measurement of said battery charger integrated circuit and wherein temperature reading voltage (VDT) varies linearly proportionally with said current.

11. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said second reference voltage (VREF) is linearly proportional to said first reference voltage (VREF1) and when said temperature reading voltage (VDT) surpasses said first reference voltage (VREF1), said temperature sensor circuit is operable to reduce said second reference voltage (VREF) so that said charging current is reduced.

12. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein said charging current generator circuit is powered by an input voltage (VIN).

13. A method of providing temperature control in a battery charger integrated circuit, comprising:

providing a temperature reading voltage (VDT) representative of a temperature measurement of said battery charger integrated circuit;

comparing said temperature reading voltage (VDT) to a first reference voltage (VREF1) to generate a logic output signal;

providing a second reference voltage (VREF) related to said first reference voltage (VREF1) and said logic output signal, whenever said temperature reading voltage (VDT) surpasses said first reference voltage (VREF1), adjusting said second reference voltage (VREF) to generate and decrease a reference current (I1) and a charging current (I) to be linearly proportional to said reference current (I1) and to said second reference voltage (VREF).

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said providing a temperature reading voltage further comprises:

taking said temperature measurement of said battery charger integrated circuit from a die temperature indicator; and

converting said temperature measurement into said temperature reading voltage.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said temperature reading voltage is linearly proportional to said temperature measurement.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said temperature reading voltage is inversely proportional to said temperature measurement.

17. A battery charger integrated circuit with temperature control, comprising:

means for comparing a temperature reading voltage (VDT) to a first reference voltage (VREF1), whenever said temperature reading voltage surpasses said first reference voltage, said comparing means generates a logic output signal;

means for generating a second reference voltage, coupled to receive said logic output signal to continuously adjusting said second reference voltage (VREF) so as to adjust said charging current (I) that is proportional to said temperature measurement; and

analog

means for adjusting a charging current, electrically coupled to said second reference voltage means, operating to generate and adjust a reference current (I1) and said charging current (I) that is linearly proportional to said reference current and said second reference voltage (VREF) so as to maintain said temperature reading voltage below said first reference voltage (VREF1).

18. The battery charger integrated circuit of claim 17 wherein said comparing means further comprises:

a resistive network for establishing a linear relationship between said first reference voltage and said second reference voltage; and

transistor means, electrically coupled between said comparing means and said value establishing means, for continuously changing the relationship between said first reference voltage and said second reference voltage in said resistive network.