BATTERY CHARGING MANAGEMENT

• US 20120139482A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: ZHANG, Tao, ZHANG, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/371,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery

Abstract

A battery charging management apparatus includes an information obtaining unit and a controlling unit coupled to the information obtaining unit. The information obtaining unit obtains parameter information for temperature of a battery during a charging process performed by a charger for the battery. The controlling unit controls the charger to charge the battery based on the parameter information of the battery, so that operation of the charger conforms to a charging rule corresponding to the charging process. The controlling unit decreases a charging signal of the charger by a predetermined decrement if the temperature of the battery increases by a predefined increment.

Claims

1. A method for managing charging of a battery, said method comprising:

obtaining parameter information for temperature of said battery during a charging process performed by a charger for said battery; and

controlling said charger to charge said battery based on said parameter information, so that operation of said charger conforms to a charging rule corresponding to said charging process, wherein said controlling comprises decreasing a charging signal of said charger by a predetermined decrement if said temperature increases by a predefined increment.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging signal comprises a charging voltage of said charger.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging signal comprises a charging current of said charger.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling further comprises:

controlling said charger to terminate charging said battery if said temperature of said battery is greater than a predetermined maximum charging temperature; and

decreasing said charging signal of said charger by said predetermined decrement in response to said predefined increment if said temperature of said battery is less than said predetermined maximum charging temperature.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an output current of said charger; and

controlling a charging voltage of said charger based on said output current.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controlling said charging voltage comprises:

adjusting a charging voltage of said charger if said output current of said charger is in an abnormal condition, so that said output current of said charger conforms to said charging rule.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said abnormal condition comprises an increase of said output current when said charger operates in a constant-voltage charging stage.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said adjusting comprises decreasing said charging voltage.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining amount of charge stored in said battery;

setting a maximum charging time interval of said charger corresponding to a first charging stage in said charging process based on said amount of charge stored in said battery; and

controlling said charger to enter a second charging stage following said first charging stage if a charging time of said battery in said first charging stage reaches said maximum charging time interval corresponding to said first charging stage.

10. A battery charging management apparatus comprising:

an information obtaining unit that obtains parameter information for temperature of a battery during a charging process performed by a charger for said battery; and

a controlling unit, coupled to said information obtaining unit, that controls said charger to charge said battery based on said parameter information of said battery, so that operation of said charger conforms to a charging rule corresponding to said charging process, wherein said controlling unit decreases a charging signal of said charger by a predetermined decrement if said temperature increases by a predefined increment.

11. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said charging signal comprises a charging voltage of said charger.

12. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said charging signal comprises a charging current of said charger.

13. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said controlling unit controls said charger to terminate charging said battery if said temperature of said battery is greater than a predetermined maximum charging temperature, and wherein said controlling unit decreases said charging signal of said charger by said predetermined decrement in response to said predefined increment if said temperature of said battery is less than said predetermined maximum charging temperature.

14. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said controlling unit monitors an output current of said charger and controls a charging voltage of said charger based on said output current.

15. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said controlling unit decreases said charging voltage if said output current of said charger is in an abnormal condition, so that said output current of said charger conforms to said charging rule.

16. The battery charging management apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said information obtaining unit obtains amount of charge stored in said battery, wherein said controlling unit sets a maximum charging time interval of said charger corresponding to a first charging stage in said charging process, and wherein said controlling unit controls said charger to enter a second charging stage following said first charging stage if a charging time of said battery in said first charging stage reaches said maximum charging time interval corresponding to said first charging stage.

17. A charger for charging a battery, said charger comprising:

an apparatus that controls operation of said charger to be conformed to a charging rule of said charger, said apparatus comprising;

an information obtaining unit that obtains information for temperature of said battery; and

a controlling unit, coupled to said information obtaining unit, that controls said operation of said charger to be conformed to said charging rule by controlling said charger to charge said battery based on said information of said battery, wherein said controlling unit decreases a charging signal of said charger by a predetermined decrement if said temperature increases by a predefined increment.

18. The charger as claimed in claim 17, wherein during a first charging stage, if said temperature of said battery is less than a predetermined maximum charging temperature, then said controlling unit decreases a charging current of said charger if said temperature of said battery increases, and wherein said charging signal comprises said charging current.

19. The charger as claimed in claim 18, wherein during a second charging stage, if said temperature of said battery is less than said predetermined maximum charging temperature, said controlling unit decreases a charging voltage of said charger if said temperature of said battery increases, and increases said charging voltage of said charger if said temperature of said battery decreases, and wherein said charging signal comprises said charging voltage.

20. The charger as claimed in claim 19, wherein during said first and second charging stages, if said temperature of said battery is greater than said predetermined maximum charging temperature, said controlling unit controls said charger to terminate charging of said battery.