System and method of trickle charging a battery in a narrow rail architecture
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected a/c power adapter, comprising:
- a voltage regulator for regulating an input voltage provided by the a/c power adapter and providing a regulated output voltage;
a transistor connected between the regulated output voltage and the battery;
charging control circuitry responsive to the regulated output voltage applied thereto for controlling charging of the battery connected to the charging control circuitry;
wherein the charging control circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the charging control circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level and switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to the state of the transistor;
wherein the charging control circuitry further drives the transistor in a source follower configuration to maintain the regulated output voltage at the settable voltage level if a battery voltage is approximately less than the settable voltage level.
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Abstract
The charging circuit for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected AC power adaptor includes circuitry responsive to an applied regulated voltage for charging the battery connected to the charging circuitry. The circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level. Additionally, the circuitry switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to a state of a transistor.
5 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected a/c power adapter, comprising:
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a voltage regulator for regulating an input voltage provided by the a/c power adapter and providing a regulated output voltage; a transistor connected between the regulated output voltage and the battery; charging control circuitry responsive to the regulated output voltage applied thereto for controlling charging of the battery connected to the charging control circuitry; wherein the charging control circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the charging control circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level and switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to the state of the transistor; wherein the charging control circuitry further drives the transistor in a source follower configuration to maintain the regulated output voltage at the settable voltage level if a battery voltage is approximately less than the settable voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected a/c power adapter, comprising:
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a voltage regulator for regulating an input voltage provided by the a/c power adapter and providing a regulated output voltage; charging control circuitry responsive to the regulated output voltage applied thereto for controlling charging of the battery connected to the charging circuitry, the charging circuitry including; a transistor connected between the regulated output voltage and the battery; an amplifier connected to drive the transistor; a comparator for generating a first output if the transistor is operating in a linear region of operation and for generating a second output if the transistor is not operating in a linear region of operation; a reference voltage block for generating a reference voltage at a first level responsive to the first output and for generating the reference voltage at a second level responsive to the second output; wherein the amplifier drives the transistor in a source follower configuration to maintain the regulated output voltage at the settable voltage level if the battery voltage is approximately less than the settable voltage level; and wherein the reference voltage at the first level causes the charging control circuitry to provide a charging current at a trickle charge level and the reference voltage at the second level causes the charging circuitry to provide a changing current at a quick charge level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Charging circuitry for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected a/c power adapter, comprising:
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a transistor connected between an applied regulator voltage and the battery; circuitry responsive to the applied regulated voltage for charging the battery connected to the charging circuitry; wherein the circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level and switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to a state of the transistor; and wherein the control circuitry further drives the transistor in a source follower configuration to maintain the regulated output voltage at the settable voltage level if a battery voltage is approximately less than the settable voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected a/c power adapter, comprising the steps of:
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regulating an input voltage provided by the a/c power adapter; providing a regulated output voltage; controlling charging of the battery responsive to the regulated output voltage, the step of controlling further comprising the steps of; monitoring a state of a transistor connected between the regulated output voltage and the battery preventing the regulated voltage from falling below a settable voltage level and switching a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to the state of the transistor; and driving the transistor in a source follower configuration to maintain the regulated output voltage at the settable voltage level if the battery voltage is approximately less than the settable voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification