Power source switchover apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A battery-switching apparatus for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
- a first battery compartment having a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal;
a second battery compartment having a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal;
a comparator operatively electrically connected to the first negative terminal, electrically connected to the second negative terminal, configured to compare a first voltage at the first negative terminal with a second voltage at the second negative terminal, and configured to generate an output based on such comparison; and
a single boost converter electrically connected to each of the first and second battery compartments, the boost converter operative to draw power from a one of the first and second battery compartments based on the output of the comparator;
a first transistor operatively connected to the comparator; and
a second transistor operatively connected to the comparator, wherein;
the first and second transistors switch states according to the output of the comparator;
the output of the comparator is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the first transistor and to a gate terminal of the second transistor;
the first negative terminal is electrically connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor; and
the second negative terminal is electrically connected to a drain terminal of the second transistor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for switching from a first power supply to a second power supply. Such an apparatus may determine which of the first and second power supplies has a greater voltage, and may power a device from the power supply having the greater voltage or charge. A single boost converter may be used regardless of which power supply is providing power.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A battery-switching apparatus for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
-
a first battery compartment having a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal; a second battery compartment having a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal; a comparator operatively electrically connected to the first negative terminal, electrically connected to the second negative terminal, configured to compare a first voltage at the first negative terminal with a second voltage at the second negative terminal, and configured to generate an output based on such comparison; and a single boost converter electrically connected to each of the first and second battery compartments, the boost converter operative to draw power from a one of the first and second battery compartments based on the output of the comparator; a first transistor operatively connected to the comparator; and a second transistor operatively connected to the comparator, wherein; the first and second transistors switch states according to the output of the comparator; the output of the comparator is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the first transistor and to a gate terminal of the second transistor; the first negative terminal is electrically connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor; and the second negative terminal is electrically connected to a drain terminal of the second transistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A battery-switching apparatus for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
-
a first battery compartment having a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal; a second battery compartment having a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal; a comparator operatively electrically connected to the first negative terminal, electrically connected to the second negative terminal, configured to compare a first voltage at the first negative terminal with a second voltage at the second negative terminal, and configured to generate an output based on such comparison; and a single boost converter electrically connected to each of the first and second battery compartments, the boost converter operative to draw power from a one of the first and second battery compartments based on the output of the comparator, wherein; the positive terminal of the first battery compartment is connected directly to a first common node; the positive terminal of the second battery compartment is connected directly to the first common node; the negative terminal of the first battery compartment is connected to a first input of the comparator through a second common node; and the negative terminal of the second battery compartment is connected to a second input of the comparator through a third common node. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
-
detecting a first voltage at a negative terminal of the first battery; detecting a second voltage at a negative terminal of the second battery; determining which one of the first battery and the second battery has a greater voltage based on the detected first and second voltages; and in response to determining which one of the first battery and the second battery has a greater voltage, supplying power from the one of the first battery and the second battery having the greater voltage to a single boost converter charging a capacitor using an output voltage of the single boost converter; comparing a voltage of the capacitor to a threshold voltage; and when the voltage of the capacitor meets the threshold voltage, activating an output transistor connected to an output of the single boost converter; and in response to activating the output transistor, outputting an output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification