Control system for charging batteries and electronic apparatus using same
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the supply of power from an external power source to rechargeable batteries in an apparatus which can be powered either by the external power source or the rechargeable batteries, comprising:
- a first detector for detecting a difference between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries;
a second detector for detecting a maximum useable current by detecting a difference between a maximum suppliable current allowed by the external power source and the current being consumed by the apparatus;
a third detector for detecting a difference between the maximum useable current and the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; and
a controller for controlling power supplied from the external power source to the rechargeable batteries in accordance with the differences detected by the first and third detectors so that the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries does not exceed the maximum permissible charging current and does not exceed the maximum useable current.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for charging enabling efficient charging of rechargeable batteries in an electronic apparatus which charges its rechargeable batteries by using a charger circuit when driving the apparatus by using an external power source, including first detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; second detecting unit for detecting a maximum usable current by detecting a differential value between a maximum supplyable current allowed by the external power source and the current consumption of the apparatus; third detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum useable current and the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; and control unit for controlling the system in accordance with the differential values detected by the first and third detecting units so that the charger circuit generates the maximum charging current within the range where the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries does not exceed either of the permissible charging current and the maximum useable current.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the supply of power from an external power source to rechargeable batteries in an apparatus which can be powered either by the external power source or the rechargeable batteries, comprising:
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a first detector for detecting a difference between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries;
a second detector for detecting a maximum useable current by detecting a difference between a maximum suppliable current allowed by the external power source and the current being consumed by the apparatus;
a third detector for detecting a difference between the maximum useable current and the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; and
a controller for controlling power supplied from the external power source to the rechargeable batteries in accordance with the differences detected by the first and third detectors so that the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries does not exceed the maximum permissible charging current and does not exceed the maximum useable current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6)
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3. A system for controlling the supply of power from an external power source to rechargeable batteries in an apparatus which can be powered by either the external power source or the rechargeable batteries, comprising:
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a first detector for detecting a difference between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries;
a second detector for detecting a difference between a lowest permissible output voltage allowed by the external power source and an output voltage which is being output by the external power source; and
a controller for controlling power supplied from the external power source to the rechargeable batteries in accordance with the differences detected by the first and second detectors so that the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries does not exceed the maximum permissible charging current and the output voltage being output by the external power source is not less than the lowest permissible output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (4, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling the supply of power from a charger circuit to rechargeable batteries, the rechargeable batteries being used to supply power to a power supply circuit, comprising:
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a sense resistor having two ends, located between the rechargeable batteries and a connection point for the charger circuit and the power supply circuit, the sense resistor detecting current flowing into and out of the rechargeable batteries;
a current measurement device having two inputs connected respectively to the two ends of the sense resistor, the current measurement device determining which of the two inputs has a larger voltage and generating a voltage in accordance with the difference between the voltages of the two inputs to thereby measure the current flowing into or out of the rechargeable battery; and
a control circuit regulating to a constant current the current flowing into the rechargeable batteries, based on the current flowing into the rechargeable batteries detected by the sense resistor. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An electronic apparatus having an input section for inputting power from a power source and capable of charging a battery by using the power from the input section while the electronic apparatus makes a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, an output voltage of the power source being substantially a constant voltage, the output voltage of the power source falling to less than said constant voltage when the power source outputs more than a predetermined current value, the power applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a power input sensor for obtaining power-input information by sensing an input of the power from the input section;
a charger for charging the battery by using the power from the input section;
a charge control circuit for controlling the charging power the charger supplies to the battery based on the power input information obtained by the power input sensor so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the input section is substantially in a current range in which said output voltage of the power source is substantially the constant voltage; and
a charging voltage detector for detecting a charging voltage of the battery, wherein the charge control circuit controls the charging voltage so that the charging voltage detected by the charging voltage detector becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus that has an input section for inputting power from a power source and is capable of charging a battery by using the power from the input section while the electronic apparatus makes a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, an output voltage of the power source being substantially a constant voltage, the output voltage of the power source falling to less than said constant voltage when the power source outputs more than a predetermined current value, the power applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger for charging the battery by using the power from the input section;
a charge control circuit for controlling the charging power the charger supplies to the battery, based on the power input information obtained by power input sensor for obtaining the power input information by sensing an input of the power from the input section, so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the input section is substantially in a current range in which said output voltage of the power source is substantially the constant voltage, wherein the charge control circuit controls the charging current, based on a charging current detected by a charging current detector for detecting the charging current of the battery, so that the charging current becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A charge control circuit for an electronic apparatus that has an input section for inputting power from a power source and a charger for charging a battery by using the power from the input section while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, an output voltage of the power source being substantially a constant voltage, the output voltage of the power source falling to less than said constant voltage when the power source outputs more than a predetermined current value, the power applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
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a control circuit for controlling the charging power the charger supplies to the battery, based on power input information obtained by a power input sensor for obtaining the power input information by sensing an input of the power from the input section, so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the input section is substantially in a current range in which said output voltage of the power source is substantially the constant voltage, wherein the control circuit controls the charging voltage so that a voltage detected by a charging voltage detector for detecting the charging voltage of the battery becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An electronic apparatus having a charger for outputting a charging current to charge a battery by using power of a power source and supplying the power from the battery to a load to make the load operate, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a sense resistor provided between a connection point between the power source and the charger and the battery, for detecting a charging current flowing into the battery and for detecting a current flowing out from the battery; and
a controller for controlling the charging current from the charger based on a current value measured by using the sense resistor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An electronic apparatus having a charger for supplying a charging current to a battery by using power of a power source to make a load operate based on the power supplied from the battery, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a sense resistor disposed between the battery and a connection point between the power source and the charger, for detecting a charging current flowing into the battery in order to control the charging current of the charger; and
a detector for detecting a discharging current by the sense resistor when the power from the battery is supplied to the load.
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25. An electronic apparatus having an input section for inputting power from a power source and capable of charging a battery by using the power from the input section while making a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, a current applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a power input sensor which obtains power-input information by sensing an input of the power from the input section;
a charger which charges the battery by using a current from the input section;
a charge control circuit which controls the charger to change a current charged to the battery by determining whether an input current from the power source reaches a predetermined value or not in accordance with the power-input information sensed by the power input sensor, so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery from the input section does not exceed the predetermined value; and
a charging voltage detector which detects a charging voltage of the battery, wherein the charge control circuit controls the charging voltage so that the charging voltage detected by the charging voltage detector becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus that has an input section for inputting power from a power source and is capable of charging a battery by using the power from the input section while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, a current applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger which charges the battery by using the power from the input section;
a charge control circuit which controls the charger to change a current charged to the battery by determining whether an input current from the power source reaches a predetermined value or not in accordance with the power-input information sensed by a power input sensor which obtains the power input information by sensing an input of power from the input section, so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery from the input section does not exceed the predetermined value, wherein the charge control circuit further controls the charging voltage so that a voltage detected by a charging voltage detector for detecting the charging voltage of the battery becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A charge control circuit for an electronic apparatus that has an input section for inputting power from a power source and a charger for charging a battery by using the power from the input section and while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, a current applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
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a charge control circuit which controls the charger to change a current charged to the battery by determining whether an input current from the power source reaches a predetermined value or not in accordance with the power-input information sensed by a power input sensor which obtains the power input information by sensing an input of power from the input section, so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery from the input section does not exceed the predetermined value, wherein the control circuit controls the charging voltage so that a voltage detected by a charging voltage detector for detecting the charging voltage of the battery becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. An electronic apparatus connected to an AC adapter which supplies DC power, capable of charging a battery by using power from the AC adapter while making a load operate by using the DC power supplied from the AC adapter, the power given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a connector which receives the DC power from the AC adapter;
a charger, connected to the battery, which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the connector; and
a charge control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A charging apparatus for charging a battery for an electronic apparatus that is connected to an AC adapter and that is capable of charging the battery by using power from the AC adapter while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using DC power supplied from the AC adapter, the power given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger, connected to the battery, which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from a connector that is connected to the AC adapter to receive the DC power from the AC adapter; and
a charge control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A charge control circuit for controlling a charger in an electronic apparatus having a connector connected to an AC adapter to receive DC power from the AC adapter, the charger being connected to a battery and supplying charging power to the battery by using the power from the connector, the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using the DC power supplied from the AC adapter, the power given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
a control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging power the charge supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source while making a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source;
a detector which detects the power applied to the load;
a charging current detector detects a charging current to the battery; and
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load that has been detected becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging current based on the detected charging current so that the charging current to the battery becomes equal to or lower than a charging current value assigned in advance to the battery.
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50. An electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source while making a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source;
a detector which detects the power applied to the load;
a charging voltage detector which detects a charging voltage to the battery; and
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load that has been detected becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging voltage based on the detected charging voltage so that the charging voltage becomes within a voltage value assigned in advance to the battery.
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51. An electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source having a prescribed maximum permissible supply power while making a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source;
a detector which detects the power applied to the load; and
a control circuit which controls the charger to adjust the charger to supply the charging power so that the charging power is the prescribed maximum permissible supply power minus the detected power applied to the load.
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52. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source while the electronic apparatus makes a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source; and
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging current, based on a charging current value detected by a charging current detector which detects the charging current to the battery, so that the charging current to the battery becomes equal to or lower than a charging current value assigned in advance to the battery.
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53. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source; and
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging voltage, based on a charging voltage detected by a charging voltage detector which detects the charging voltage of the battery, so that the charging voltage becomes within a voltage value assigned in advance to the battery.
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54. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source having a prescribed maximum permissible supply power while the electronic apparatus makes a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source; and
a control circuit which controls the charger so that the charger supplies the charging power so that the charging power is the maximum permissible supply power minus the power applied to the load that has been detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load.
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55. A charge control circuit for controlling a charger for an electronic apparatus that makes a load operate by using power supplied from a power source and that has the charger for supplying charging power to a battery by using the power from the power source, the charge control circuit comprising:
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls a charging current, based on a charging current detected by a charging current detector which detects the charging current to the battery, so that the charging current supplied to the battery becomes equal to or lower than a charging current value assigned in advance to the battery.
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56. A charge control circuit for controlling a charger for an electronic apparatus that makes a load operate by using power supplied from a power source and that has the charger for supplying charging power to a battery by using the power from the power source, the charge control circuit comprising:
a control circuit which controls the charger to generate the charging power so that a sum of the charging power supplied to the battery and the power applied to the load detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging voltage, based on a charging voltage detected by a charging voltage detector which detects the charging voltage to the battery, so that the charging voltage becomes within a voltage value assigned in advance to the battery.
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57. A charge control circuit for controlling a charger for an electronic apparatus that makes a load operate by using power supplied from a power source having a prescribed maximum permissible supply power and that has the charger for supplying charging power to a battery by using the power from the power source, the charge control circuit comprising:
a control circuit which controls the charger so that the charger supplies the charging power which is the prescribed maximum permissible supply power minus the power applied to the load detected by a detector which detects the power applied to the load.
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58. An electronic apparatus capable of charging a battery by using power from a power source while making a load operate by using the power supplied from the power source, the power applied to the load from the power source varying based on the state of the load, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source;
a charging current detector which detects a charging current of the battery;
a charge control circuit which controls the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the power source becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging current based on the charging current detected by the charging current detector so that the charging current becomes a limit value assigned to the battery or a lower value; and
a charging voltage detector which detects a charging voltage of the battery, wherein the charge control circuit further controls the charging voltage so that the voltage detected by the charging voltage detector becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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61. A charging apparatus for an electronic apparatus that is capable of charging a battery by using power supplied from a power source while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using the power from the power source, the power applied to the load from the power source varying based on the state of the load, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger which supplies charging power to the battery by using the power from the power source; and
a charge control circuit which controls the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the power source becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging current, based on a charging current detected by a charging current detector which detects the charging current to the battery, so that the charging current becomes a value assigned to the battery or a lower value, wherein the charge control circuit further controls the charging voltage so that a charging voltage detected by a charging voltage detector which detects the voltage charged to the battery becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A charge control circuit for an electronic apparatus that makes a load operate by using power supplied from a power source and that has a charger for supplying charging power to a battery by using the power from the power source, the power applied to the load from the power source varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
a control circuit which controls the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the power source becomes a value assigned in advance, and which controls the charging current based on a charging current detected by a charging current detector which detects the charging current to the battery so that the charging current becomes a value assigned to the battery or a lower value. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. A charge control circuit for an electronic apparatus that has an input section for inputting power from a power source and a charger for charging a battery by using the power from the input section while the electronic apparatus makes a load operate by applying the power input from the input section to the load, an output voltage of the power source being substantially a constant voltage, the output voltage of the power source falling to less than said substantially constant voltage when the power source outputs more than a predetermined current value, the power applied to the load from the input section varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
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a control circuit which controls the charging power the charger supplies to the battery, based on power input information obtained by a power input sensor which obtains the power input information by sensing an input of the power from the input section, so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power charged to the battery from the input section is substantially in a current range in which said output voltage of the power source is the substantially constant voltage, wherein the control circuit controls a charging voltage the charger supplies to the battery so that the charging voltage detected by a charging voltage detector becomes a value assigned to the battery or lower, wherein the control circuit controls the charging power the charger supplies to the battery, based on sensed information on the input from the power source, so that a sum of the power applied to the load and the power from the power source charged from the power source to the battery becomes the pre-assigned value.
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69. An electronic apparatus connected to an AC adapter which supplies DC current, capable of charging a battery by using current from the AC adapter while making a load operate by using the DC current supplied from the AC adapter, the current given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the electronic apparatus comprising:
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a connector connected to the AC adapter, which receives DC current from the AC adapter;
a charger, connected to the battery, which supplies charging current to the battery by using the current from the connector;
a charger control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging current the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance; and
a charging voltage detector which detects a charging voltage supplied to the battery, whereinthe control circuit controls the charging voltage so that the charging voltage becomes equal to or lower than a value assigned to the battery, based on a value of the charging voltage to the battery detected by the charging voltage detector. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72)
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73. A charging apparatus for charging a battery for an electronic apparatus that is connected to an AC adapter and that is capable of charging the battery by using current from the AC adapter while the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using DC current supplied from the AC adapter, the current given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the charging apparatus comprising:
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a charger, connected to the battery, which supplies charging current to the battery by using the current from a connector that is connected to the AC adapter to receive the DC current from the AC adapter; and
a charger control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging power the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance, wherein the charge control circuit controls a charging voltage so that the charging voltage becomes equal to or lower than a value assigned to the battery, based on a detected value of the charging voltage to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76)
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77. A charge control circuit for controlling a charger in an electronic apparatus having a connector connected to an AC adapter to receive DC current from the AC adapter, the charger being connected to a battery and supplying charging current to the battery by using the current from the connector, the electronic apparatus making a load operate by using the DC current supplied from the AC adapter, the current given to the load varying based on the state of the load, the charge control circuit comprising:
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a control circuit which controls the charger to control the charging current the charger supplies to the battery so that a sum of the current applied to the load and the current charged to the battery becomes a value assigned in advance, wherein the control circuit controls a charging voltage based on a detected value of the charging voltage to the battery so that the charging voltage becomes equal to or lower than a value assigned to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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Specification