Power supply circuit and method for providing output voltage to charge a battery
First Claim
1. A charging device for charging a rechargeable battery, wherein the charging device comprises:
- a current source coupled to a power source and configured to provide a charging current to the rechargeable battery; and
a controller configured to indirectly determine a charging state of the rechargeable battery by either varying an amplitude of the charging current provided by the current source selected from a maximum of two current amplitudes, measuring an output voltage at an output node of the current source and comparing the measured voltage to a voltage threshold selected from a maximum of two voltage thresholds, or by varying an amplitude of the output voltage at the output node of the current source selected from a maximum of two voltage amplitudes, measuring the charging current provided by the current source, and comparing the measured current to a single current threshold, and the controller is further configured to control the current source to provide the charging current with an amplitude that is less than the charging current required by the rechargeable battery in the determined charging state to bring the output voltage of the current source towards a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery.
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Abstract
Various embodiments are described herein for a charging device and an associated charging method for charging a rechargeable battery. The charging device generally includes a current source that is coupled to a power source and configured to provide a charging current to the rechargeable battery. The charging device further includes a controller that is configured to control the current source to provide the charging current with an amplitude that is less than the charging current required by the rechargeable battery in a given charging state to bring an output voltage of the current source towards the voltage of the rechargeable battery.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A charging device for charging a rechargeable battery, wherein the charging device comprises:
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a current source coupled to a power source and configured to provide a charging current to the rechargeable battery; and a controller configured to indirectly determine a charging state of the rechargeable battery by either varying an amplitude of the charging current provided by the current source selected from a maximum of two current amplitudes, measuring an output voltage at an output node of the current source and comparing the measured voltage to a voltage threshold selected from a maximum of two voltage thresholds, or by varying an amplitude of the output voltage at the output node of the current source selected from a maximum of two voltage amplitudes, measuring the charging current provided by the current source, and comparing the measured current to a single current threshold, and the controller is further configured to control the current source to provide the charging current with an amplitude that is less than the charging current required by the rechargeable battery in the determined charging state to bring the output voltage of the current source towards a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for charging a rechargeable battery, wherein the method comprises:
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indirectly determining a charging state of the rechargeable battery by either varying an amplitude of a charging current provided by a current source selected from a maximum of two current amplitudes, measuring an output voltage at an output node of the current source and comparing the measured voltage to a voltage threshold selected from a maximum of two voltage thresholds, or by varying an amplitude of the output voltage at the output node of the current source selected from a maximum of two voltage amplitudes, measuring the charging current provided by the current source and comparing the measured current to a single current threshold; configuring the current source to provide the charging current with an amplitude that is less than the charging current required by the rechargeable battery in the determined charging state; and providing the charging current from the current source to the rechargeable battery at the lesser amplitude to bring the output voltage of the current source towards a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying program code means executable by a processor of a charging device for executing a method of charging a rechargeable battery, wherein the method comprises:
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indirectly determining a charging state of the rechargeable battery by either varying an amplitude of a charging current provided by a current source selected from a maximum of two current amplitudes, measuring an output voltage at an output node of the current source and comparing the measured voltage to a voltage threshold selected from a maximum of two voltage thresholds, or by varying an amplitude of the output voltage at the output node of the current source selected from a maximum of two voltage amplitudes, measuring the charging current provided by the current source and comparing the measured current to a single current threshold; configuring the current source to provide the charging current with an amplitude that is less than the charging current required by the rechargeable battery in the determined charging state; and providing the charging current from the current source to the rechargeable battery at the lesser amplitude to bring the output voltage of the current source towards a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery.
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Specification