BATTERY PACK AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING CHARGING OF BATTERY PACK

• US 20110156636A1
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Bong-Young
• Application Number:
  US12/954,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A battery pack and a method of controlling charging of the battery pack, the battery pack including a chargeable battery cell, a first charging circuit wirelessly charging the battery cell, a terminal part connecting the battery cell to an external device, a second charging circuit charging the battery cell by using power from an external power source connected to the terminal part, and a control circuit controlling charging performed by the first charging circuit and the second charging circuit, thereby allowing wireless and wired charging of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a chargeable battery cell;

a first charging circuit wirelessly charging the battery cell;

a terminal part connecting the battery cell to an external device;

a second charging circuit charging the battery cell by using power from an external power source connected to the terminal part; and

a control circuit controlling charging performed by the first charging circuit and the second charging circuit.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery cell is simultaneously charged via the first charging circuit and the second charging circuit.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first charging circuit comprises:

a current inducing circuit generating a current induced by an external magnetic field; and

a rectifier circuit rectifying the induced current.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first charging circuit comprises a diode preventing a reverse flow of current from the battery cell.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first charging circuit comprises a first control switch preventing over-charging of the battery cell.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the second charging circuit comprises a second control switch controlling charging of the battery cell.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the control circuit applies control signals to the first control switch and to the second control switch, wherein the control signals are the same.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first charging circuit induces a current from a signal having a frequency of 13.56 MHz.

9. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein an antenna installed in the external device is shared with the first charging circuit.

10. A method of controlling charging of a battery pack having a chargeable battery cell and a terminal part connected in parallel to the battery cell, the method comprising:

wirelessly charging the battery cell by using power induced by an external magnetic field; and

charging the battery cell via a wired connection by using an external power source applied to the terminal part.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging and the wired charging are simultaneously performed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, when only the wired charging is performed, a reverse flow of current from the battery cell to an element for the wireless charging is prevented.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein, when the battery cell is over-charged, the wired charging and the wireless charging of the battery cell are simultaneously terminated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging of the battery cell comprises:

inducing a current via an external magnetic field;

rectifying the induced current;

and charging the battery cell by using the rectified current.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, in the wireless charging of the battery cell, a signal having a frequency of 13.56 MHz is used.

16. A method of charging a battery pack having a rechargeable battery cell, a wireless charger, a wired charger and a terminal part connected in parallel to the battery cell, the method comprising:

determining whether the wired charger is connected to the battery pack;

determining whether the wireless charger is connected to the battery pack;

charging the battery cell of the battery pack according to the determining whether the wired charger is connected to the battery pack and the determining whether the wireless charging is connected to the battery pack;

determining whether the battery cell of the battery pack is fully charged; and

terminating the charging upon the determining that the battery pack is fully charged.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the charging of the battery cell comprises charging the battery cell using the wired charger and the wireless charger simultaneously if it is determined that the wired charger and the wireless charger are connected to the battery pack.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the charging of the battery cell comprises:

charging the battery cell using only the wired charger if it is determined that only the wired charger is connected to the battery pack; and

blocking a reverse flow of current from the battery cell to an element for the wireless charging.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the charging of the battery cell comprises charging the battery cell using only the wireless charger if it is determined that only the wireless charger is connected to the battery pack.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein if the charging of the battery cell includes a wireless charging of the battery cell using the wireless charger, the wireless charging comprises:

inducing a current via an external magnetic field;

rectifying the induced current; and

charging the battery cell by using the rectified current.