Battery charging circuit with backflow prevention transistor, portable electronic device and semiconductor integrated circuit with backflow prevention transistor

• US 7,884,578 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Tetsuro, Yamamoto, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/804,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 320/133, 320/155, 320/159, 320/165
• US Class Current: 320/159
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

A battery charging circuit is used by being connected to a direct-current power source. The battery charging circuit includes a control transistor, a backflow prevention transistor and a charging controller. The control transistor is disposed in a charging path between the direct-current power source and a battery, and is configured to control a direct-current voltage from the direct-current power source, and to output controlled direct-current voltage as a charging voltage. The backflow prevention transistor is disposed in the charging path, and is configured to output the charging voltage to the battery, and to be turned off when an electric current flows backward from the battery to the direct-current power source. The charging controller is configured to turn on the backflow prevention transistor when charging of the battery starts, and to turn on the control transistor after a fixed period of time elapses from a start of the charging.

Claims

1. A battery charging circuit used by being connected to a direct-current power source, comprising:

a control transistor disposed in a charging path between the direct-current power source and a battery, and configured to control a direct-current voltage from the direct-current power source, and to output controlled direct-current voltage as a charging voltage;

a backflow prevention transistor disposed in the charging path, and serially connected to the control transistor, and configured to output the charging voltage to the battery, and to be turned off when an electric current flows backward from the battery to the direct-current power source;

a charging controller configured to turn on the backflow prevention transistor when charging of the battery starts, and to turn on the control transistor after a fixed period of time elapses from a start of the charging; and

a timer configured to measure a first time from a point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turned on;

wherein the charging controller is configured to turn on the control transistor after the first time elapses from the point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turn on;

the timer is configured to measure a second time from point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turned on, the second time being longer than the first time; and

the charging controller is configured to release forcibly-turned-on state of the backflow prevention transistor after the second time elapses from the time point when the backflow prevention transistor is turned on.

2. A semiconductor integrated circuit, which is used by being connected to a direct-current power source, a battery, and a control transistor disposed in a charging path between the direct-current power source and the battery, the control transistor controlling a direct-current voltage obtained from the direct-current power source, and outputting controlled direct-current voltage as a charging voltage, the semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a backflow prevention transistor disposed in the charging path, and serially connected to the control transistor, and configured to output the charging voltage to the battery, and to be turned off when an electric current flows backward from the battery to the direct-current power source;

a charging controller configured to turn on the backflow prevention transistor when charging of the battery starts, and to turn on the control transistor after a fixed period of time elapses from a start of the charging; and

a timer configured to measure a first time from a point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turned on, wherein

the charging controller is configured to turn on the control transistor after the first time elapses from the point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turned on;

the timer is configured to measure a second time from point in time at which the backflow prevention transistor is turned on, the second time being longer than the first time; and

the charging controller is configured to release forcibly-turned-on state of the backflow prevention transistor after the second time elapses from the time point when the backflow prevention transistor is turned on.