Bi-directional battery charging for coupled electronic devices

• US 7,863,856 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Demri, Tamr
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/008,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for bi-directional battery charging, including a first electronic device, including a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device, and a first battery charger, and a second electronic device, including a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device, a second battery charger, a voltage boost that receives an input voltage from the first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to the second battery charger, or else to passively pass the input voltage to the second battery charger; and a controller for programmatically controlling the first and the second battery chargers and the voltage boost, wherein the second electronic device attaches to the first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein the controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of the first and the second rechargeable batteries: (i) whether to supply power to the second electronic device from the first or second rechargeable battery, (ii) whether to charge the second rechargeable battery from the first rechargeable battery, and (iii) whether to enable or disable the voltage boost. A method is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system for bi-directional battery charging, comprising:

a first electronic device, comprising;

a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device; and

a first battery charger; and

a second electronic device, comprising;

a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device;

a second battery charger;

a voltage boost that receives an input voltage from said first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to said second battery charger, or else to pass the input voltage through unchanged to said second battery charger; and

a controller for programmatically controlling said first and said second battery chargers and said voltage boost, wherein said second electronic device attaches to said first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein said controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of said first and said second rechargeable batteries;

(i) whether to supply power to said second electronic device from said first or second rechargeable battery, (ii) whether to charge said second rechargeable battery from said first rechargeable battery, and (iii) whether to enable or disable said voltage boost.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second battery charger operates in a fixed current and a fixed voltage mode, and wherein said controller further decides (iv) whether said second battery charger should operate in the fixed current or the fixed voltage mode.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said second electronic device has a high current consumption operational mode and a standby current consumption operational mode, and wherein said controller bases its decisions (i)-(iv) on the operational mode of said second electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second battery charger is a dual input charger, with one input from said voltage boost and another input from a USB charger.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said second electronic device comprises a modular cell phone, and said first electronic device comprises a jacket for said modular cell phone.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said second electronic device comprises a modular media player, and said first electronic device comprises a jacket for said modular media player.

7. A system for bi-directional battery charging, comprising:

a first electronic device, comprising;

a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device;

a first battery charger;

a first voltage boost for receiving an input voltage is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to said first battery charger, or else to block the input voltage from being transferred to said first battery charger; and

a second electronic device, comprising;

a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device and for providing the input voltage to said first voltage boost;

a second battery charger;

a second voltage boost that receives an input voltage from said first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to said second battery charger, or else to pass the input voltage through unchanged to said second battery charger; and

a controller for programmatically controlling said first and said second battery chargers and said first and second voltage boosts,

wherein said second electronic device attaches to said first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein said controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of said first and said second rechargeable batteries;

(i) whether to supply power to said second electronic device from said first or said second rechargeable battery, (ii) whether to charge said first or second rechargeable battery from the other rechargeable battery, and (iii) whether to enable or disable said first and second voltage boosts.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said first and second battery chargers operate in a fixed current and a fixed voltage mode, and wherein said controller further decides (iv) whether said first and said second battery chargers should operate in the fixed current or the fixed voltage mode.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said second electronic device has a high current consumption operational mode and a standby current consumption operational mode, and wherein said controller bases its decisions (i)-(iv) on the operational mode of said second electronic device.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said second battery charger is a dual input charger, with one input from said voltage boost and another input from a USB charger.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said second electronic device comprises a modular cell phone, and said first electronic device comprises a host for said modular cell phone.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said second electronic device comprises a modular media player, and said first electronic device comprises a host for said modular media player.

13. A method for controlling battery power supply and battery charging for two coupled electronic devices, each device having its own rechargeable battery and its own internal battery charger, comprising:

determining battery voltages for each of the two electronic devices;

determining operational modes for each of the two electronic devices; and

based on said determining battery voltages and said determining operational modes, controlling the batteries and battery chargers comprising deciding (i) whether to supply power to each electronic device from its own battery or from the other device'"'"'s battery, (ii) whether to charge one battery from the other battery, and whether to boost a voltage from one battery for input to the other battery'"'"'s charger.