Control circuit and method for a portable charging carrying case for providing uninterruptible power to charge electronic cigarette batteries

• US 9,438,049 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huizhou Kimree Technology Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Huizhou Kimree Technology Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Xiang, Zhiyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John
• Application Number:
  US14/061,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/162
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection

Abstract

A control circuit and method for use with an electronic cigarette box, the control circuit includes a charge management module, an inner battery, a control module, a voltage booster, a batter voltage detective module, a load detective module and an indicative module. According to received signals form the battery voltage detective module, the load detective module and the charge management module, the control module control the voltage booster adjusting a charge voltage supplied from the inner battery and outputting a voltage to charge a charge load, and the control module further control the indicative module displaying a charge state. The control circuit provides indications of various operation states or breakdown states, various charge interfaces, functions of detecting load and protection for inner battery and circuits.

Claims

1. A control circuit for an electronic cigarette box, comprising:

a charge management module,

an inner battery,

a control module,

a voltage booster,

a battery voltage detective module,

a charge interface module configured to separately connect to the voltage booster and a charge load,

a load detective module and

an indicative module;

wherein, the control module is separately connected to the charge management module, the inner battery, the voltage booster, the battery voltage detective module, the load detective module and the indicative module, the charge management module is connected to the voltage booster and the inner battery coupled to the battery voltage detective module;

wherein, the charge management module, inputted a voltage from an external power source, outputs a charge voltage to charge the inner battery and sends a battery charge signal to the control module;

the inner battery is configure to output a charge voltage when there is no voltage from the external power source;

wherein, the battery voltage detective module is configured to detect the inner battery voltage and transmit a battery voltage signal to the control module in real time;

wherein, the load detective module is configured to detect whether or not the charge load is connected and transmit a load detective signal to the control module in real time;

wherein, the control module, according to the battery voltage signal, the load detective signal and the battery charge signal, controls the voltage booster adjusting the charge voltage and charging the charge load, and further controls the indicative module displaying a charge state of the inner battery in real time;

wherein the load detective signal is a plugging load signal or an unplugging load signal;

the charge state includes information of the inner battery such as;

power level, in charge, full charge, low battery voltage and discharge;

wherein when the external power source is supplied, the control module receives the battery voltage signal and the battery charge signal, and calculates a power level of the inner battery and further controls the indicative module displaying the power level of the inner battery;

the control module also controls the indicative module displaying in charge or full charge according to the charge state;

the control module further controls an operation state of the voltage booster according to the plugging or unplugging load signal;

wherein when no external power source is supplied, the control module receives the battery voltage signal, calculates a power level of the inner battery according to the battery voltage signal, and further controls the indicative module displaying the power level of the inner battery;

the control module, when the battery voltage is less than a preset low voltage, further controls the voltage booster stopping operation and the indicative module displaying a low battery voltage;

the control module, when the battery voltage is greater than or equal to the preset low voltage, controls an operation state of the voltage booster and the indicative module displaying or not displaying discharge due to the plugging or unplugging load signal;

wherein, the charge interface module comprises a battery bar charge interface and a Micro-USB charge interface;

wherein the control circuit includes a battery protective module, the battery protective module is connected to the inner battery and is configured to protect the inner battery when over current occurs;

wherein the control circuit includes an current and full charge detective module, the current and full charge detective module is separately connected to the control module and the charge interface module;

the current and full charge detective module is configured to detect a charging current to the charge load which is connected to the charge interface module, the control module, according to the charging current, controls the voltage booster operative state and further adjusting the charging current, or controls the voltage booster stopping operation when it judges that the charge load is in full charge state according to the charge current;

wherein, the control module includes a microprocessor;

wherein the indicative module includes at least one first LED diode and at least one second LED diode;

the first LED is configured to display the information of charge in, charge full, low battery voltage or discharge of the inner battery;

the second LED is configured to display power level of the inner battery;

wherein, the load detective module includes a key switch and a trigger switch, an end of the key switch is connected to the ground, an end of the key switch is connected to the microprocessor;

an end of the trigger switch is connected to the negative of the charge interface, an end of the trigger switch is connected to the microprocessor;

and wherein, the key switch is configured to detect a charge load plugging or unplugging via the Micro-USB charge interface, and the trigger switch is configured to detect a charge load plugging or unplugging via the battery bar charge interface.

2. The control circuit for an electronic cigarette box of claim 1, wherein the battery voltage detective module includes a first divider resistance and a second divider resistance;

an end of the first divider resistance is connected to the inner battery, an end of the first divider resistance is connected to the microprocessor and an end of the second divider resistance, and an end of the second divider resistance is connected to the microprocessor.

3. The control circuit for an electronic cigarette box of claim 2, wherein the charge management module includes a fuse, a zener diode, a first transistor, a first MOSFET and a charger control chip, the fuse is separately connected to the external power source and a cathode of the zener diode, an anode of the zener diode is connected to a base of the first transistor via a first resistance, a collector of the first transistor is connected to a of the first MOSFET via a third resistance, a emitter of the first transistor and a source of the first MOSFET are connected to a ground, a drain of the first MOSFET is connected to the charger control chip via a fifth resistance;

the fuse is used for over current protection;

the zener diode is configured to stabilize an inputted voltage; and

when the inputted voltage exceeds a breakdown voltage of the zener diode, the first transistor will turn on, which that causes the first MOSFET turning off to cut off the external power source to protect circuits.

4. The control circuit for an electronic cigarette box of clam 3, wherein the battery protective module includes a protective control chip and a switch chip;

the protective control chip is configured to control the switch chip turning on or off according to a detected current flowing through the switch chip, and further control whether the inner battery operates.

5. The control circuit for an electronic cigarette box of claim 4, wherein the current and full charge detective modules a sampling current resistance, an end of the sampling current resistance is connected to the ground, and an end of the sampling current resistance is connected to the negative of the charge interface and connected to the microprocessor via a resistance.

6. The control circuit for an electronic cigarette box of claim 5, wherein the voltage booster includes an inductor, a booster control chip, a diode, a second transistor and a second MOSFET, a base of the second transistor is connected to the microprocessor via a resistance, a emitter of the second transistor is connected to the ground, a collector of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the second MOSFET, a source of the second MOSFET receives the charge voltage via a resistance, a drain of the second MOSFET is connected to the inductor, the booster control chip is configured to boost the charge voltage;

the microprocessor controls the second transistor to be turned on or off, and further the second MOSFET is turned on or off.