Battery pack and electronic device using the same

• US 20060006841A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Byung-lae
• Application Number:
  US11/178,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack and an electronic device using the same to output a plurality of power having a different voltage level each other. The battery pack includes: a power source including a plurality of battery cells, and outputting a plurality of battery powers of different voltage levels through combinations of the battery cells; and a plurality of power output terminals connectable to the electronic device and supplying the respective battery powers to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A battery pack for an electronic device, comprising:

a power source including a plurality of battery cells, and outputting a plurality of battery powers of different voltage levels through combinations of the battery cells; and

a plurality of power output terminals connectable to the electronic device and supplying the respective battery powers to the electronic device.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the battery cells are connected in series;

and

wherein output power outputted from the power source includes power from between opposite ends of the battery cells connected in series, and power from a node between the battery cells connected in series.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the battery cells are connected in parallel.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising:

an output switch selectively connecting one of the two battery powers outputted from the power source to one of the power output terminals; and

a battery controller controlling switching of the output switch.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, further comprising:

a control signal line communicating with the electronic device, and

the battery controller controlling the output switch on the basis of a control signal received from the electronic device through the control signal line.

6. An electronic device including a plurality of electronic components, comprising:

a battery pack including a plurality of power output terminals, and a power source having a plurality of battery cells and outputting a plurality of battery powers of different voltage levels by combinations of the battery cells through the plurality of power output terminals;

a plurality of power input terminals connected to respective power output terminals; and

a system power supply changing the plurality of battery power inputted through the respective power input terminals into power for driving the respective electronic components.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein at least two or more of the battery cells are connected in series, and

output power outputted from the power source includes power between opposite ends of the battery cells connected in series, and power from at least one of nodes between the battery cells connected in series.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein at least two of the battery cells are connected in parallel.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the battery pack also includes:

an output switch selectively connecting one of two or more battery power outputted from the power source to the power output terminal; and

a battery controller controlling switching of the output switch.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a system power controller outputting a control signal to make the battery controller to control the output switch; and

a control signal line transmitting the control signal from the system power controller to the battery controller.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the system power supply includes:

a plurality of converters receiving one of the plurality of battery power inputted through the power input terminal and converting the battery power into a voltage level of power for driving the electronic components; and

an input switch selectively connecting one of at least two power input terminals to the converter according to control of the system power controller.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the battery controller supplies information about the voltage level of the battery power outputted through the power output terminal connected to at least two power input terminals selectively connected to the converter to the system power controller through the control signal line, and the system power controller controls switching of the input switch on the basis of the information received through the control signal line.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device is a computer, and the control signal line includes a system management BUS (SMBUS).

14. A battery pack, comprising:

a power source including a plurality of batteries, and outputting a plurality of different voltages through different combinations of the batteries; and

a plurality of power output terminals outputting the respective voltages, the plurality including a first output terminal connected to a first battery, a second output terminal connected to a second battery, and a third power output terminal connected to a node between the first and the second batteries,

wherein a connection of the first and second power output terminals outputs a voltage corresponding to a potential difference between the first and second batteries, and

wherein a connection of the second and third power output terminals outputs a voltage corresponding to a potential difference between the second battery and the node.

15. A battery pack, comprising:

a power source including a plurality of batteries, and outputting a plurality of different voltages through different combinations of the batteries; and

a plurality of power output terminals outputting the respective voltages, the plurality including a first output terminal connected to a first pair of batteries connected in parallel, a second output terminal connected to a second pair of batteries connected in parallel, and a third power output terminal connected to a node between the first and second pairs of batteries,

wherein the first and second pairs of batteries are connected in series, and

wherein a connection of the first and second power output terminals outputs a voltage corresponding to a potential difference between the first and second pairs of batteries, and a connection of the second and third power output terminals outputs a voltage corresponding to a potential difference between the second pair of batteries and the node.