Computer system with charging unit and control method thereof

• US 8,384,357 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jeong-gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/789,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 320/170, 320/112, 320/114, 320/150, 320/153
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A computer system include: a system unit; a charging unit which outputs a charging current to a battery unit for supplying electric power to the system unit; and a first temperature compensating unit which selectively adjusts the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a battery unit;

a charging unit which outputs a charging current to the battery unit; and

a first temperature compensating unit which selectively adjusts the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially within a predetermined range, wherein the charging unit comprises;

a switching part electrically coupled to the battery unit; and

a switching controller which controls the switching part so that a voltage of the battery unit reaches a predetermined target value.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature compensating unit comprises a thermistor which is varied in a resistance value thereof according to the temperature of the switching part.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second temperature compensating unit which decreases the charging current by a predetermined amount if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value.

4. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the second temperature compensating unit stops the output of the charging current after the charging current is decreased.

5. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the second temperature compensating unit comprises:

a resistor;

a switch connected in series with the resistor; and

a microprocessor which turns on the switch if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the first predetermined value.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a system unit and a third temperature compensating unit which decreases power consumption of the system unit if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the third temperature compensating unit comprises:

a comparator which compares the temperature of the battery unit with the second predetermined value; and

an offset setting part which offsets a power management threshold value for the system unit on the basis of the comparison result of the comparator.

8. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the third temperature compensating unit comprises:

a microprocessor which receives a signal indicating the temperature of the battery unit and offsets the power management threshold value for the system unit.

9. A method for controlling power in a computer system, comprising:

outputting a charging current to a battery unit for supplying electric power to a system unit; and

adjusting the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range, wherein the outputting comprises imposing a predetermined limit on a flow of charging current so that a voltage of the battery unit reaches a predetermined target value.

10. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising:

decreasing the charging current if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value.

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the decreasing comprises stopping the output of the charging current after the decreasing the charging current.

12. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising decreasing power consumption of the system unit if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the decreasing comprises offsetting a power management threshold value for the system unit by a predetermined amount if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value.

14. A non-transitory storage medium comprising memory containing executable instructions such that when processed by one or more processors causes at least one processor to:

control a flow of charging current from a charging unit to a battery unit, by selectively adjusting the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range, wherein the processor further;

decrease the charging current by a predetermined amount if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value.

15. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the processor further:

halt the flow of the charging current after decreasing the charging current.

16. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the processor further:

decrease power consumption of a system unit if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

17. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the processor further:

offset a power management threshold value for the system unit by a predetermined amount if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value.

18. A computer system comprising:

a battery unit;

a charging unit which outputs a charging current to the battery unit, wherein the charging unit includes a switching part electrically coupled to the battery unit;

a first temperature compensating unit which selectively adjusts the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially within a predetermined range;

a second temperature compensating unit which decreases the charging current by a predetermined amount if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value; and

a system unit; and

a third temperature compensating unit which decreases power consumption of the system unit if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

19. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the switching part includes a switching controller which controls the switching part so that a voltage of the battery unit reaches a predetermined target value.

20. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the first temperature compensating unit comprises a thermistor which is varied in a resistance value thereof according to the temperature of the switching part.

21. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the second temperature compensating unit stops the output of the charging current after the charging current is decreased.

22. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the second temperature compensating unit comprises:

a resistor;

a switch connected in series with the resistor; and

a microprocessor which turns on the switch if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the first predetermined value.

23. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the third temperature compensating unit comprises:

a comparator which compares the temperature of the battery unit with the second predetermined value; and

an offset setting part which offsets a power management threshold value for the system unit on the basis of the comparison result of the comparator.

24. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein the third temperature compensating unit comprises:

a microprocessor which receives a signal indicating the temperature of the battery unit and offsets the power management threshold value for the system unit.

26. The control method according to claim 24, wherein the outputting comprises imposing a predetermined limit on a flow of charging current so that a voltage of the battery unit reaches a predetermined target value.

27. control method according to claim 24, wherein the second temperature compensating unit is a charging current temperature sensor of the battery unit.

28. The control method according to claim 24, wherein the decreasing comprises stopping the output of the charging current after the decreasing the charging current.

29. The control method according to claim 24, wherein the third temperature compensating unit is a power consumption temperature sensor of the battery unit.

30. The control method according to claim 28, wherein the decreasing comprises offsetting a power management threshold value for the system unit by a predetermined amount if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value.

32. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the processor further:

halt the flow of the charging current after decreasing the charging current.

33. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the processor further:

offset a power management threshold value for the system unit by a predetermined amount if the temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value.

25. A method for controlling power in a computer system, comprising:

outputting a charging current from a charging unit to a battery unit for supplying electric power to a system unit, wherein the charging unit includes a switching part electrically coupled to the battery unit;

adjusting the level of the charging current so that the temperature of a first or a second temperature compensating unit of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range; and

decreasing power consumption of the system unit if the temperature of a third temperature compensating unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

31. A non-transitory storage medium comprising memory containing executable instructions such that when processed by one or more processors causes at least one processor to:

control a flow of charging current from a charging unit to a battery unit, by using a switching part electrically coupled to the battery unit and selectively adjusting the level of the charging current so that the temperature of the charging unit is substantially maintained within a predetermined range;

decrease the charging current by a predetermined amount if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value; and

decrease power consumption of a system unit if temperature of the battery unit is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.