CIRCUITS, DEVICES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO SECURE POWER-UP FOR BATTERY OPERATING DEVICES EVEN WITH LOW CURRENT CHARGERS AND TO EXECUTE OTHER PERFORMANCES

• US 20130082662A1
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Palojrvi, Pasi Juha Matias, Carr, Jean-Yves
• Granted Patent: US 9,806,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic power control circuit includes a power conditioner circuit (120, 130) having a charging input line (116), a battery-related line (133) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130), and a power voltage output line (137); and an anti-crash loop mechanism (170) coupled to the battery-related line (133) and to the power voltage output line (137) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130), the anti-crash loop mechanism (170) having a control output line (172, PWGOOD) to be selectively active and inactive in response to voltage levels over time on the battery-related line (133) and on the power voltage output line (137) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130).

Claims

1. An electronic power control circuit comprising:

a power conditioner circuit having a charging input line, a battery-related line of said power conditioner circuit, and a power voltage output line; and

an anti-crash loop mechanism coupled to said battery-related line and to said power voltage output line of said power conditioner circuit, said anti-crash loop mechanism having a control output line to be selectively active and inactive in response to voltage levels over time on said battery-related line and on said power voltage output line of said power conditioner circuit.

2. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism includes a power control state machine operable to supply said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition at said power voltage output line of said power conditioner circuit.

3. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 2 further comprising a second power control state machine operable to produce control signals to effectuate at least:

off, active, and sleep, and said second power control state machine is responsive to said anti-crash loop mechanism to transition from active and sleep to off unless said control output line is active whereby to indicate a power-good condition.

4. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a first state coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition and a second state coupled to make said control output line to be inactive, and a compare circuit operable to cause a transition from the first state to the second state when the voltage of said power voltage output line is less than a first threshold, and further operable to cause a transition from the second state to the first state when (i) that voltage is greater than a second threshold and (ii) a voltage on said battery-related line is greater than a third threshold.

5. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 4 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a third state and said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said second state to said third state when that voltage at said power voltage output line is less than the second threshold for a predetermined period of time, and to cause a transition from said third state to said first state in case that voltage at said power voltage output line becomes greater than approximately the second threshold.

6. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a first state coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition and a second state and a third state each coupled to make said control output line to be inactive, and a compare circuit coupled to cause a transition from the first state to the second state when the voltage of said power voltage output line is less than a first threshold, and further operable to cause a transition from the second state to the third state when that voltage of said power voltage output line is greater than a second threshold, and to cause a transition from said third state to said first state when the voltage at said battery-related line is greater than a third threshold.

7. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 6 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a fourth state and said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said second state to said fourth state when that voltage is less than the second threshold for a predetermined period of time, and to cause a transition from said fourth state to said first state in case that voltage at said power voltage output line becomes greater than the second threshold.

8. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a first state coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition and a second state and a third state each coupled to make said control output line to be inactive, and a compare circuit to cause a transition from the first state to the second state when the voltage of said power voltage output line is less than a first threshold, and further operable to cause a transition from said second state to said third state when that voltage is less than a second, higher, threshold for a predetermined period of time, and to cause a transition from the third state to the first state in case that voltage at said power voltage output line becomes greater than approximately that second threshold.

9. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 8 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a fourth state and said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said second state when that voltage exceeds the second threshold to said fourth state, the fourth state setting a flag, followed by a transition from said fourth state to said third state when that flag is set.

10. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 9 wherein said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said third state to said first state according to a voltage condition that also depends on whether the flag is set or not.

11. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 9 wherein said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said third state to said first state according to a voltage logic in cases of:

(i) voltage at said power voltage output line becomes greater than approximately the second threshold when the flag is not set, and (ii) the voltage at said battery-related line is greater than a third threshold when the flag is set.

12. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 9 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a fifth state that is coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent the power-good condition, and said compare circuit is coupled to cause a transition from said third state selectively to a given one of said first state and said fifth state, depending on voltage conditions that also include whether the flag is set or not.

13. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism has a first state coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition, a second state coupled to cause said control output line to be inactive, and a third state coupled to make said control output line to be active to represent the power-good condition, and a compare circuit operable to cause a transition from the first state to the third state when the voltage at said battery-related line is less than a battery threshold and to transition from the third state to the second state at least upon persistence of the third state for a predetermined period of time, said compare circuit further operable to cause a transition from the second state to the first state when both the voltage at said power voltage output line is greater than a power voltage threshold, and the voltage at said battery-related line is greater than a second higher battery threshold.

14. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 13 wherein said compare circuit is operable to cause a transition from the first state to the second state when the voltage at said power voltage output line is less than a second, lower, power voltage threshold, and operable to cause a transition from the third state to the second state upon the first to occur of (i) the voltage at said power voltage output line being less than approximately that second power voltage threshold, and (ii) said persistence of the third state for a predetermined period of time.

15. The electronic power control circuit claimed in claim 1 further comprising a USB connector coupled via said charging input line with said power conditioner circuit.

16. An electronic power control circuit article comprising:

a power conditioner circuit having a charging input line, a battery-related line of said power conditioner circuit, and a power output line; and

an anti-crash loop mechanism having comparison circuitry coupled to said battery-related line and to said power output line of said power conditioner circuit to make threshold-based comparisons, said anti-crash loop mechanism having a control circuit responsive to said comparison circuitry to make a control output line of said control circuit selectively active and inactive in response to the threshold-based comparisons over time on said battery-related line and said power output line of said power conditioner circuit.

17. The electronic power control circuit article claimed in claim 16 wherein the threshold-based comparisons on said power output line include voltage comparisons.

18. The electronic power control circuit article claimed in claim 16 wherein the threshold-based comparisons include at least one comparison based on said battery-related line and selected from the group consisting of:

1) voltage,

     2) battery energy,

     3) accumulated current,

     4) fraction of full charge,

     5) accumulated voltage-current product,

     6) charging time duration.

19. The electronic power control circuit article claimed in claim 16 wherein the threshold-based comparisons include comparisons on said power output line based on at least two distinct thresholds and a comparison on said battery-related line based on another distinct threshold.

20. The electronic power control circuit article claimed in claim 16 wherein said control circuit has a first state coupled to supply said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition and a second state and a third state each coupled to cause said control output line to be inactive, and said comparison circuitry coupled with said control circuit to cause a transition from the first state to the second state when a first threshold-based comparison from said power output line indicates line low, and further operable to cause a transition from the second state to the first state when (i) a second threshold-based comparison from said power output line indicates line higher and (ii) a third threshold-based comparison on said battery-related line is exceeded.

21. An electronic control circuit for use with a rechargeable battery, the electronic control circuit comprising:

a powering circuit having an electrical input, a charging output and a voltage output;

a functional electronic circuit coupled to the voltage output of said powering circuit, said functional electronic circuit subject to operational interruption if said functional electronic circuit uses more current to usefully operate than is available from said powering circuit; and

a safe-start mechanism coupled by at least one input line from said powering circuit and by a control line to said functional electronic circuit, said safe-start mechanism operable to detect a condition indicative of such operational interruption of the functional electronic circuit and to thereafter cause said functional electronic circuit to be substantially powered-down until the charging output indicates sufficient charging to support subsequent useful operation by said functional electronic circuit and said safe-start mechanism operable thereupon to provide a signal coupled to enable such operation by said functional electronic circuit.

22. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein the condition indicative of operational interruption involves a circuit voltage less than a first threshold, and said safe-start mechanism is also operable to detect a charger-attachment event from a second condition involving the circuit voltage exceeding a second higher threshold after the circuit voltage was less than the first threshold, and upon such detection to then determine if the charging output indicates sufficient charging as aforesaid.

23. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein the condition indicative of operational interruption involves a circuit voltage less than a first threshold, and said safe-start mechanism is also operable to detect a second condition involving the circuit voltage less than a second higher threshold for a predetermined period of time after the circuit voltage was less than the first threshold, and upon such detection to go to a circuit state indicative of no-supply.

24. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein said safe-start mechanism includes a battery management state machine operable to activate said control output line to represent a power-good condition and inactive otherwise, the electronic power control circuit further comprising a power management state machine operable to produce control signals to effectuate at least the following:

off, active, and sleep for said functional electronic circuit, said battery management state machine coupled by said control output line to said power management state machine.

25. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein said safe-start mechanism is operable to supply said control output line to be active to represent a power-good condition and inactive otherwise, the electronic power control circuit further comprising a power management circuit operable to produce power control signals for said functional electronic circuit, said safe-start mechanism coupled by said control output line to said power management circuit.

26. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 25 further comprising a battery connector, and a first package enclosing said safe-start mechanism and said powering circuit, and the electronic control circuit additionally comprising at least a second physically separate package enclosing said power management circuit;

said charging output and said safe-start mechanism both coupled to said battery connector, said power management circuit coupled with said functional electronic circuit, and said functional electronic circuit and said safe-start mechanism each coupled to said voltage output from said powering circuit.

27. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein said powering circuit is coupled with a USB connector for entry of power from said USB connector via said electrical input into said powering circuit.

28. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 further comprising a battery gauge circuit coupled with said safe-start mechanism and together including a processor independent of said functional electronic circuit and coupled with a memory electronically representing battery management program instructions for said processor.

29. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 wherein said safe-start mechanism includes a bad-battery detection circuit.

30. The electronic control circuit claimed in claim 21 further comprising a serial data transfer physical layer circuit and a serial data transfer connector coupled with said physical layer circuit, said physical layer circuit coupled with said functional electronic circuit and also coupled with said safe-start mechanism.

31. A control process to use with an electronic system, said control process comprising:

using a first state to activate a control output to represent a power-good condition, and a second state to inactivate the control output;

comparing voltage at a system power voltage line with a first threshold to transition from the first state to the second state when that system line voltage is less than a first threshold; and

comparing that system line voltage with a second threshold and a battery line voltage with a third threshold to transition from the second state to the first state when the system line voltage exceeds the second threshold and the battery line voltage exceeds the third threshold.

32. The control process claimed in claim 31 further comprising using a third state to also inactivate the control output and transitioning from said second state to said third state when that system line voltage is greater than the second threshold, and transitioning from said third state to said first state when the battery line voltage is greater than the third threshold.

33. The control process claimed in claim 31 further comprising using a third state to also inactivate the control output and transitioning from said second state to said third state when that system line voltage is less than the second threshold for a predetermined period of time, and transitioning from said third state to said first state in case that system line voltage becomes greater than the second threshold.

34. The control process claimed in claim 31 further comprising using a third state to also inactivate the control output and transitioning from said second state to said third state when that system line voltage is greater than the second threshold, and transitioning from said third state to said first state when the battery line voltage is greater than the third threshold.

35. The control process claimed in claim 34 further comprising using a fourth state to also inactivate the control output and transitioning from said second state to said fourth state when that system line voltage is less than the second threshold for a predetermined period of time, and transitioning from said fourth state to said first state in case that system line voltage becomes greater than the second threshold.

36. The control process claimed in claim 31 further comprising producing control signals to effectuate at least:

off, active, and sleep, and the process further comprising transitioning from active and sleep to off unless said control output line is active whereby to indicate a power-good condition.

37. A mobile electronic device for use with a rechargeable battery and occasionally with energy from a battery charger, the device comprising:

a powering circuit having an electrical energy input, a charging output and a voltage output;

a functional electronic circuit coupled to the voltage output of said powering circuit, said functional electronic circuit subject to operational interruption if said functional electronic circuit uses more current to usefully operate than is available from said powering circuit, said functional electronic circuit having a power management circuit with a control input; and

an anti-crash loop mechanism having input sense lines coupled to said charging output and said voltage output of said powering circuit and said mechanism having a control line output to activate and inactivate said control input of said power management circuit, said mechanism operable to detect a condition indicative of such operational interruption of the functional electronic circuit from at least one of said input sense lines and free of any input from said functional electronic circuit and to consequently inactivate said control input of said power management circuit, said mechanism further operable thereafter to determine, independent of any charger detection, that a sufficient charging at the charging output has occurred and to signal a power-good determination via said control line output to said control input of said power management circuit to enable operation by said functional electronic circuit, whereby to facilitate dead-battery system start.

38. The mobile electronic device claimed in claim 37 wherein said anti-crash loop mechanism is further operable to additionally signal to said functional electronic circuit that an instance of such operational interruption is coming, and said functional electronic circuit is responsive to the additional signal to commence an orderly shutdown of its functional operations.