Portable telecommunications device

• US 8,154,247 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Inha, Kai, Troberg, Mikael, Vuori, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/763,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 320112-116
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

A portable telecommunications device comprises a charging interface for connection to an external power supply, a voltage and current ratio converter configured to convert an input voltage at the charging interface into an output voltage for charging a battery; and a controller configured to control the converter.

Claims

1. A portable telecommunications device comprising:

a charging interface for connection to an external power supply;

a voltage and current ratio converter configured to convert an input voltage and current at the charging interface into an output voltage and current for charging a battery;

a controller comprising a processor and one or more analog-to-digital converters configured to monitor the input voltage and current, wherein the controller is configured to control the voltage and current ratio converter so that the output current for charging the battery is higher than the input current at the charging interface;

the controller further comprising a power supply adjuster for adjusting the intake power from the external power supply by adjusting properties of the external power supply, the power supply adjuster being configured to adjust the properties of the external power supply by signaling on the power line by one or more of the following;

analog modulation, digital data modulation, current modulation, added or subtracted voltage modulation, load interrupt sequencing, RF, magnetic field variation or inductions.

2. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the input current at the charging interface and control the converter so that the input current does not exceed a maximum input current.

3. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the input voltage and the input current, and control the converter to maximise the input power.

4. A telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the input voltage and the input current, and control the converter to maximise the input power.

5. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the converter such that the input current is gradually increased to the point where the input voltage starts to drop to allow the maximum input voltage to be maintained.

6. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the output current of the converter and control the converter to maximize the output current.

7. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the converter is a buck converter.

8. A telecommunications device according to claim 7, wherein the controller controls the duty cycle of the buck converter.

9. A telecommunication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the input current at the charging interface and the output voltage to the battery and control the converter so that the input current does not exceed a predetermined input current, so that the output voltage to the battery is maintained at a required charging voltage and so that the input power is maximized.

10. A portable telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply adjuster is configured to adjust the intake power from the external power supply by adjusting the output voltage of the external power supply.

11. A method comprising:

providing an input voltage and current from a power supply to a charging interface of a portable telecommunications device;

monitoring the input voltage and current using a processor and one or more analog-to-digital converters;

converting the input voltage and current at the charging interface into an output voltage and current for charging a battery according to a conversion ratio;

controlling the conversion ratio, wherein controlling the conversion ratio comprises controlling the conversion ratio so that the output current for charging the battery is higher than the input current to the charging interface; and

adjusting an intake power from the external power supply by adjusting properties of the external power supply by signaling on the power line by analog modulation, digital data modulation, current modulation, added or subtracted voltage modulation, load interrupt sequencing, RF, magnetic field variations or inductions.

12. A method according to claim 11, comprising monitoring the input current at the charging interface and controlling the conversion ratio so that the input current does not exceed a maximum input current.

13. A method according to claim 11, comprising monitoring the input voltage and the input current, and controlling the conversion ratio to maximise the input power.

14. A method according to claim 12, comprising monitoring the input voltage and the input current, and controlling the conversion ratio to maximise the input power.

15. A method according to claim 11, comprising controlling conversion ratio such that the input current is gradually increased to the point where the input voltage starts to drop to allow the maximum input voltage to be maintained.

16. A method according to claim 11, comprising monitoring the output current of the converter and controlling the conversion ratio to maximise the output current.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling the conversion ratio comprises controlling a duty cycle of a buck converter.

18. A method according to claim 11 further comprising monitoring the input current at the charging interface and the output voltage to the battery and controlling the conversion ratio so that the input current does not exceed a predetermined input current, so that the output voltage is maintained at a required charging voltage and to maximize the input power.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting properties of the external power supply comprises adjusting the output voltage of the external power supply.

20. A portable telecommunications device comprising:

a charging interface for connection to an external power supply;

a voltage and current ratio converter configured to convert an input voltage and current at the charging interface into an output voltage and current for charging a battery;

a controller configured to control the voltage and current ratio converter, wherein the controller is configured to control the converter so that the output current for charging the battery is higher than the input current at the charging interface; and

the controller further comprising a power supply adjuster for adjusting the output voltage of the external power supply, by signaling on a power line to the external power supply, so as to adjust the intake power from the external power supply, the power supply adjuster being configured to signal on the power line by one or more of the following ;

analog modulation, digital data modulation, current modulation, added or subtracted voltage modulation, load interrupt sequencing, RF, magnetic field variations or inductions.

21. A portable telecommunications device comprising:

a charging interface for connection to an external power supply;

a voltage and current ratio converter configured to convert an input voltage and current at the charging interface into an output voltage and current for charging a battery;

a controller configured to monitor at least the input current at the charging interface and the output voltage for charging the battery and configured to control the voltage and current ratio converter so that the input current does not exceed a maximum input current that can be handled by the charging interface and so that the output voltage for charging the battery is maintained at a level corresponding to a fixed charging voltage for the battery, while controlling the converter so that the output current for charging the battery is higher than the input current at the charging interface to increase the charging power to the battery,

wherein the controller further comprises a power supply adjuster configured to adjust properties of an external power supply by signaling on a power line by one or more of the following;

analog modulation, digital data modulation, current modulation, added or subtracted voltage modulation, load interrupt sequencing, RF, magnetic field variation or inductions.