Deep under voltage recovery in a battery pack
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery system comprising:
- determining that a charger is coupled to a battery system, the battery system including one or more cells and a charge transistor, where;
the battery system is distinct from the charger,the charger monitors a voltage level of the battery system, andthe charger is operable to charge in two or more modes of operation and switch between the two or more modes of operation based on the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger;
determining that a voltage level of the cells is less than a first low voltage level,where the voltage level of the cells is distinct from the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger;
charging the cells at a reduced rate including adjusting a voltage applied to a charge transistor gate terminal, including;
regulating the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger to a level that is less than a second voltage level, where the charger does not switch between the two or more modes of operation, andsupplying a minimum operating voltage for at least one component of the battery system; and
when the voltage of the cells reaches the first low voltage level, substantially fully enabling the charge transistor to allow the charger to switch between the two or more modes of operation.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one implementation, a method for charging a battery system is provided. The method includes enabling determining if a charger is coupled to a battery system, the battery system including one or more cells and a charge enable transistor. The method also includes enabling determining if a voltage level of the cells is less than a predetermined first low voltage level. If the voltage level of the cells is less than the predetermined first low voltage level, enabling charging of the cells at a reduced rate including adjusting a voltage applied to the charge transistor gate terminal to regulate a voltage seen by the charger to a level that is less than a predetermined second voltage level. Additionally, when the voltage of the cells reaches the predetermined first low voltage level, the method includes substantially fully enabling the charge transistor to allow for charging at full rate by the charger.
35 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for charging a battery system comprising:
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determining that a charger is coupled to a battery system, the battery system including one or more cells and a charge transistor, where; the battery system is distinct from the charger, the charger monitors a voltage level of the battery system, and the charger is operable to charge in two or more modes of operation and switch between the two or more modes of operation based on the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger; determining that a voltage level of the cells is less than a first low voltage level,where the voltage level of the cells is distinct from the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger; charging the cells at a reduced rate including adjusting a voltage applied to a charge transistor gate terminal, including; regulating the voltage level of the battery system monitored by the charger to a level that is less than a second voltage level, where the charger does not switch between the two or more modes of operation, and supplying a minimum operating voltage for at least one component of the battery system; and when the voltage of the cells reaches the first low voltage level, substantially fully enabling the charge transistor to allow the charger to switch between the two or more modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a high-side NFET charge transistor; a drive circuit for driving the high-side NFET charge transistor; and a monitor circuit coupled to the drive circuit for monitoring a voltage level of a battery cell to be charged; where, when a charger distinct from the apparatus is coupled to the apparatus, the drive circuit is operable to perform operations comprising; partially enabling the high-side NFET charge transistor if the voltage level of the battery cell is below a first threshold level including supplying a minimum operating voltage of the monitor circuit, where the charger does not switch between two or more modes of operation, and substantially fully enabling the charge transistor when the voltage level of the battery cell reaches the first threshold level to allow the charger to switch between the two or more modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification