Control circuit operable to charge a battery at multiple charge rates
First Claim
1. A control circuit operable to charge a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
- a power source having a power source voltage;
a voltage regulator configured to produce a charging voltage in response to the power source voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold;
a digital potentiometer configured to provide a feedback voltage to the voltage regulator such that the digital potentiometer is operable to dynamically adjust the charging voltage and a corresponding charging rate of the charging voltage;
a charge enable circuit operable to enable and disable a charging current of the charging voltage from charging a battery; and
a microcontroller operable to control the charge enable circuit and the digital potentiometer, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine a type of power source and a desired charging voltage and corresponding charging rate in response to the type of power source and a voltage of the battery, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to command the digital potentiometer to adjust an instantaneous charging voltage to correspond to the desired charging voltage such that a difference between the instantaneous charging voltage and a voltage of the battery may be varied to alter a charging rate of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of charging a battery at multiple charges rates includes determining a type of power source connected to a charging circuit and determining a voltage of a battery to be charged by the power source. A desired charging voltage is determined in response to the power source type and the battery voltage. A difference between the desired charging voltage and the battery voltage is determined. A digital potentiometer is selectively commanded to adjust the desired charging voltage to vary the difference and alter a charging rate of the battery, such that the difference is increased to increase the charging rate or is decreased to decrease the charging rate.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A control circuit operable to charge a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
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a power source having a power source voltage; a voltage regulator configured to produce a charging voltage in response to the power source voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold; a digital potentiometer configured to provide a feedback voltage to the voltage regulator such that the digital potentiometer is operable to dynamically adjust the charging voltage and a corresponding charging rate of the charging voltage; a charge enable circuit operable to enable and disable a charging current of the charging voltage from charging a battery; and a microcontroller operable to control the charge enable circuit and the digital potentiometer, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine a type of power source and a desired charging voltage and corresponding charging rate in response to the type of power source and a voltage of the battery, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to command the digital potentiometer to adjust an instantaneous charging voltage to correspond to the desired charging voltage such that a difference between the instantaneous charging voltage and a voltage of the battery may be varied to alter a charging rate of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification