Master slave charging architecture with communication between chargers

• US 10,396,582 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yi, Guoying, Kurniawan, Rudy, Zhang, Yayue, Ha, Sungil, Hu, Haitao, Zhang, Guang, Hu, John, Huam, Chin Boon, Hu, Jia
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John T
• Application Number:
  US15/198,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 320106
• 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 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00718 in response to charge current gradient
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007184 in response to battery voltage gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charging system includes a master charger that receives a supply voltage, outputs a master charging current based on the supply voltage, and selectively outputs a slave charger control signal. At least one slave charger receives the slave charger control signal from the master charger, receives the supply voltage, and selectively outputs a slave charging current based on the slave charger control signal and the supply voltage.

Claims

1. A battery charging system for charging a battery, the battery charging system comprising:

a master charger that receives a supply voltage, outputs a master charging current to charge the battery based on the supply voltage, and selectively outputs a slave charger control signal; and

at least one slave charger that receives the slave charger control signal from the master charger, receives the supply voltage, and selectively outputs a slave charging current to charge the battery based on the slave charger control signal and the supply voltage,

wherein the master charger is configured to

(i) selectively adjust the master charging current, and

(ii) based on a state of charge of the battery, cause the at least one slave charger to adjust the slave charging current to a selected one of a plurality of non-zero current values in accordance with the adjustment to the master charging current, wherein, in response to the state of charge of the battery increasing, at least one of the master charging current and the slave charging current is decreased to decrease a total charging current provided to the battery.

2. The battery charging system of claim 1, wherein the master charger outputs the slave charger control signal using a single pin interface.

3. The battery charging system of claim 1, wherein the master charger outputs the slave charger control signal using a bi-directional interface.

4. The battery charging system of claim 1, further comprising a sense resistor connected in series with the battery, wherein the master charger receives feedback from the sense resistor indicative of the master charging current and the slave charging current.

5. The battery charging system of claim 1, wherein the master charger receives feedback indicative of the master charging current and the slave charging current provided to a battery.

6. The battery charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the master charger and the at least one slave charger are arranged to charge a same cell of the battery.

7. The battery charging system of claim 1, wherein the master charger selectively enables, disables, and adjusts the slave charging current using the slave charger control signal.

8. The battery charging system of claim 7, wherein the master charger selectively enables and disables the slave charging current based on an operating mode of the battery charging system.

9. A method for operating a battery charging system to charge a battery, the method comprising:

using a master charger,

receiving a supply voltage,

outputting a master charging current to charge the battery based on the supply voltage, and

selectively outputting a slave charger control signal;

using at least one slave charger,

receiving the slave charger control signal from the master charger;

receiving the supply voltage, and

selectively outputting a slave charging current to charge the battery based on the slave charger control signal and the supply voltage;

selectively adjusting the master charging current; and

based on a state of charge of the battery, causing the at least one slave charger to adjust the slave charging current to a selected one of a plurality of non-zero current values in accordance with the adjustment to the master charging current, wherein, in response to the state of charge of the battery increasing, at least one of the master charging current and the slave charging current is decreased to decrease a total charging current provided to the battery.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting the slave charger control signal using a single pin interface.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting the slave charger control signal using a bi-directional interface.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting a sense resistor in series with the battery and providing feedback from the sense resistor indicative of the master charging current and the slave charging current.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving feedback indicative of the master charging current and the slave charging current provided to a battery.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the master charging current and the slave charging current are provided to charge a same cell of the battery.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising selectively enabling, disabling, and adjusting the slave charging current using the slave charger control signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively enabling and disabling the slave charging current based on an operating mode of the battery charging system.