High rate power source recharging

• US 20060022633A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Don J.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022633A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention can determine the type of power source that is installed in a device, and then apply the appropriate recharging rate to the power source. In one embodiment of the present invention, it may be possible to safely interchange high-rate and slow-rate power sources in the same device. In another embodiment, a device may include multiple power sources, each having any of a variety of recharge rates, and the same recharging circuitry can be used to safely recharge each power source at the appropriate rate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a power source type for a power pack installed in a device; and

selecting a recharging mode for the power pack based on the power source type.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the power source type comprises one of a slow rate type, a medium rate type, or a high rate type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the power pack comprises at least one of a super capacitor or a chemical battery.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the power source type comprises:

monitoring a rate identification signal from the power pack.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the recharging mode comprises:

sending a charge rate signal to a charger.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein sending the charge rate signal comprises:

setting the charge rate signal to a first value if the power source type is a high rate type; and

setting the charge rate signal to a second value if the power source type is a low rate type.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein sending the charge rate signal comprises:

modulating the charge rate signal to one of a plurality of average values to represent the power source type.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the recharging mode comprises:

providing one of a plurality of available reference currents to the charger.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein providing one of the plurality of available reference currents comprises:

providing a low reference current if the power source type is a low rate type; and

providing a higher reference current if the power source type is a higher rate type.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein providing one of the plurality of available reference currents comprises:

providing a low reference current if the power source type is a low rate type; and

providing a higher reference current during an initial phase, and providing a transition reference current during a transition phase, if the power source type is a higher rate type.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the transition phase initiates at a particular feedback voltage level, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting the particular feedback voltage level; and

switching from the higher reference current to the transition reference current in response to detecting the particular feedback voltage level.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the transition phase initiates after a particular time duration, and wherein the method further comprises:

waiting for the particular time duration; and

switching from the higher reference current to the transition reference current after waiting.

13. An apparatus comprising:

identification circuitry to receive a rate identification signal from a power pack, said rate identification signal to indicate a power source type for the power pack;

a control unit to select a recharging mode for the power pack based on the power source type; and

a charger coupled to the control unit to recharge the power pack in the recharging mode selected by the control unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the identification circuitry comprises:

a resistive element coupled to a source voltage at a first end and the control unit at a second end; and

an input port to couple a rate indicator port on the power pack to the second end of the resistive element, said rate indicator port being a ground path on the second end of the resistive element to indicate a first power source type and said rate indicator port being an open circuit on the second end of the resistive element to indicate a second power source type.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the identification circuitry comprises:

a plurality of ports to couple a plurality of rate indicator ports on the power pack to the control unit, said plurality of indicator ports to indicate the power source type from among a plurality of potential power source types.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the control unit comprises:

a memory element to store a plurality of potential recharging mode indicators; and

a multiplexing element to select the recharging mode from among the plurality of potential recharging modes based on the power source type indicated by the rate identification signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the control unit comprises:

a modulator to modulate a signal line to one of a plurality of potential recharging mode indicators.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the charger comprises:

a pulse-width modulator to modulate a source current to recharge the power pack.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the pulse-width modulator comprises:

an input port to receive a recharging mode indicator from the control unit, said recharging mode indicator comprising a reference current for the pulse-width modulator to use in a constant current mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the pulse-width modulator comprises:

a first input port to receive a recharging mode indicator from the control unit; and

a second input port to receive from the control unit a reference current for the pulse-width modulator to use in a constant current mode.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the pulse-width modulator comprises:

an input port to receive a recharging mode indicator from the control unit, said recharging mode indicator comprising a gain factor for a reference current used by the pulse-width modulator in a constant current mode.

22. A power pack comprising:

a power core having a recharge rate; and

an indicator to indicate the recharge rate to a device when the power pack is installed in the device.

23. The power pack of claim 22 wherein the recharge rate comprises one of a low rate, a medium rate, and a fast rate.

24. The power pack of claim 22 wherein the indicator comprises:

an output port; and

a ground path coupled to the output port.

25. The power pack of claim 22 wherein the indicator comprises:

an output port; and

a source voltage coupled to the output port.

26. The power pack of claim 22 wherein the indicator comprises:

a plurality of output ports; and

a plurality of registers to store a value for each of the plurality of output ports.

27. A machine readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the execution of which implement a method comprising:

determining a power source type for a power pack installed in a device; and

selecting a recharging mode for the power pack based on the power source type.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 27 wherein selecting the recharging mode comprises:

sending a charge rate signal to a charger.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 27 wherein selecting the recharging mode comprises:

providing one of a plurality of available reference currents to the charger.

30. A system comprising:

a notebook computer; and

a power delivery system, said power delivery system comprising

identification circuitry to receive a rate identification signal from a power pack, said rate identification signal to indicate a power source type for the power pack;

a control unit to select a recharging mode for the power pack based on the power source type; and

a charger coupled to the control unit to recharge the power pack in the recharging mode selected by the control unit.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the identification circuitry comprises:

a resistive element coupled to a source voltage at a first end and the control unit at a second end; and

an input port to couple a rate indicator port on the power pack to the second end of the resistive element, said rate indicator port being a ground path on the second end of the resistive element to indicate a first power source type and said rate indicator port being an open circuit on the second end of the resistive element to indicate a second power source type.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the control unit comprises:

a memory element to store a plurality of potential recharging mode indicators; and

a multiplexing element to select the recharging mode from among the plurality of potential recharging modes based on the power source type indicated by the rate identification signal.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the charger comprises:

a pulse-width modulator to modulate a source current to recharge the power pack.