Bidirectional power management techniques

• US 9,018,918 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Don J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US13/715,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 320/138, 320/134, 320/136, 320/135, 320/151, 320/162, 320/140, 320/128, 320/144, 307/43
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007188 the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters

Abstract

Power management techniques are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a bidirectional voltage converter circuit, and a control module that selectively operates the bidirectional voltage converter circuit in a charging mode and a delivery mode. The charging mode converts a voltage provided by an interface (e.g., a USB interface) into a charging voltage employed by an energy storage module (e.g., a rechargeable battery). Conversely, the delivery mode converts a voltage provided by the energy storage module into a voltage employed by the interface. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a control module to

receive information from an interface module communicatively coupled to an attached device, the interface module to allow for an exchange of information between the apparatus and the attached device and a flow of power between the apparatus and the attached device, the exchange of information being independent of the flow of power, the information to include an indication received from the attached device of whether the attached device provides power or needs power; and

based on the received information, selectively operate a bidirectional voltage converter in a charging mode or a delivery mode, the charging mode to convert a voltage supplied by the attached device into a charging voltage, the charging voltage to at least charge a battery and cause power to flow from the attached device to the battery through the interface module, and the delivery mode to convert a voltage provided by the battery into a voltage to at least be used by the attached device and cause power to flow from the battery to the attached device through the interface module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is received from the attached device on a control signal line.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attached device comprises a voltage adapter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attached device comprises a device compliant with one or more Universal Serial Bus standards.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter control module further comprises a diode, the diode to switch between to allow a first current to flow from the attached device to the battery in charging mode and to allow a second current to flow from the battery to the attached device in delivery mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, the diode to switch at a particular frequency.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the voltage converter control module further comprises an inductance placed on a power delivery line coupling the battery and the diode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter control module to operate in the charging mode when the attached device provides charging power for the battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter control module to operate in the delivery mode when the attached device requires operational power from the battery.