Multi-mode charger device

• US 9,030,155 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diodes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pericom Semiconductor Corporation (Diodes Incorporated)
• Inventors: Li, Xianxin, Hong, Hong-Leong, Raouf, Adbullah, Tam, Anna, Hui, John Chi-Hung, Choi, Tat C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/540,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/137, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/04 Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

Multi-mode charger device for charging portable devices and methods of charging portable devices are described. In an embodiment, a multi-mode charger device has mode blocks respectively associated with modes of operation which are coupled to a switch module. The switch module is for coupling a selected one of the mode blocks to a peripheral bus and to decouple the mode blocks remaining from the peripheral bus. A first mode of the modes of operation is a pass through mode. A second mode of the modes of operation is a first charging mode. A third mode of the modes of operation is a second charging mode. The first charging mode and the second charging mode are different from one another.

Claims

1. A charging device, comprising:

a mode module configured to provide a plurality of charging conditions associated with a plurality of device types and to provide a data communication mode;

wherein the plurality of charging conditions is associated with a plurality of charging modes;

a switch module coupled to the mode module for selection of either a charging mode of the plurality of charging modes or the data communication mode;

wherein the switch module includes first switches and second switches;

wherein the switch module is coupled to switch from the first switches to the second switches for the selection of either the charging mode or the data communication mode;

control circuitry coupled to provide an interruption in a distribution of power to a peripheral bus;

wherein a device type of the plurality of device types is identified by correspondence with the charging mode selected;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to re-initiate a charging mode detection loop for charging a portable device responsive to a power-down or low power state of the portable device halting the charging of the portable device; and

wherein the interruption is for a duration sufficient to cause the portable device coupled to the charging device via the peripheral bus to initiate a re-detect for switching between the plurality of charging modes.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to generate a control signal to provide the interruption of the distribution of power.

3. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bus controller coupled to the mode module for the data communication mode; and

a device detector coupled to the peripheral bus to detect presence of a physical parameter.

4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of mode blocks are for selective coupling to the peripheral bus via the switch module responsive to the charging mode selected.

5. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of charging modes use a different subset of the plurality of charging conditions to provide the charging mode selected.

6. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a power module to provide power to the peripheral bus.

7. A method for charging a portable device, comprising:

determining whether a first charging condition for a first charging mode is at least substantially matched by a charging device for the charging of the portable device;

responsive to the first charging condition not being at least substantially matched, generating a control signal to cause an interruption in distribution of power to a peripheral bus;

switching from first switches associated with the first charging mode to second switches associated with a second charging mode;

determining whether a second charging condition for the second charging mode is at least substantially matched;

wherein a mode module is configured to provide the first charging condition and the second charging condition to provide the first charging mode and the second charging mode, respectively, and configured to provide a data communication mode;

wherein a switch module is coupled to the mode module for selection of either a charging mode among a plurality of charging modes or the data communication mode;

wherein the plurality of charging modes include the first charging mode and the second charging mode for the selection of the charging mode;

responsive to the second charging condition being at least substantially matched;

identifying a device type from a plurality of device types corresponding to the second charging condition;

passing of power for charging in the second charging mode;

entering a power-down or low power state for the portable device;

wherein the power-down or low power state halts the passing of power for the charging of the portable device;

while in the power-down mode or low power state, re-initiating a charging mode detection loop to re-initiate the passing of power for the charging of the portable device; and

wherein the interruption is for a duration sufficient to cause the portable device coupled to the charging device to initiate a re-detect to accommodate switching between at least the first charging mode and the second charging mode.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising responsive to the second charging condition not being at least substantially matched, detecting the peripheral bus for presence of a physical parameter.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising responsive to the first charging condition being at least substantially matched, passing power for charging in the first charging mode.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein charging in the first charging mode or the second charging mode is maintained during a sleep mode, hibernate mode, or a powered-off mode for the power-down or low power state of the portable device having access to the charging device configured to selectively provide the first charging mode and the second charging mode.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first charging mode and the second charging mode respectively have the first charging condition and the second charging condition different from one another.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first charging mode and the second charging mode are cycled as part of the charging mode detection loop responsive to both the first charging condition and the second charging condition not being at least substantially matched.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first charging condition or the second charging condition determination includes detection of a physical parameter.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

entering the charging mode detection loop; and

in the charging mode detection loop, responsive to the second charging condition being at least substantially matched, branching out of the charging mode detection loop to initiate the passing of power for charging in the second charging mode.

15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

initiating detection for presence of a physical parameter associated with the portable device;

wherein if the physical parameter is detected, the charging mode detection loop is entered.

16. The method according to claim 7, further comprising detecting at the peripheral bus a physical parameter associated with power consumption.

17. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

ascertaining that the data communication mode is not in use; and

responsive to the data communication mode not being in use,

generating the control signal; and

determining whether either the first charging condition or the second charging condition respectively for the first charging mode or the second charging mode is at least substantially matched.

18. The method according to claim 7, wherein the peripheral bus is a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

).

19. A charging device, comprising:

a mode module configured to provide a plurality of charging conditions and to provide a data communication mode;

wherein the plurality of charging conditions are associated a plurality of charging modes;

wherein the plurality of charging modes are associated with a plurality of device types;

a switch module coupled to a peripheral bus and the mode module for selection of either a charging mode of the plurality of charging modes or the data communication mode;

wherein the switch module includes first switches and second switches;

wherein the switch module is coupled to switch from the first switches to the second switches for the selection of either the charging mode or the data communication mode;

wherein the peripheral bus is a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

);

wherein the selection of the charging mode of the plurality of charging modes is for charging during a sleep mode of a portable device;

a bus controller coupled to the mode module for the data communication mode;

control circuitry coupled to provide an interruption in a distribution of power to a peripheral bus;

wherein a device type of the plurality of device types is identified by correspondence with the charging mode selected;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to re-initiate a charging mode detection loop for the charging of the portable device responsive to the sleep mode of the portable device halting the charging of the portable device; and

wherein the interruption is for a duration sufficient to cause the portable device coupled to the charging device via the peripheral bus to initiate a re-detect for switching between the plurality of charging modes.