Lithium-ion battery pack with integral switching regulator using cutoff transistor
First Claim
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1. A battery pack subsystem, comprising:
- one or more battery cells in a lithium-based technology, jointly connected to first and second internal connections;
a pair of external terminals which provide power input to said battery cells during charging, and power output from said battery cells during discharging;
a switching device, interposed in series between a first one of said external terminals and an inductor;
said inductor being interposed in series between said switching device and said first internal connection of said battery cells; and
control circuitry for operating said switching device to perform voltage regulation of power applied to said battery cells;
said control circuitry, said switching device, said inductor, and battery cells all being packaged together as a single integral unit.
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Abstract
A sealed rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which includes a switching voltage regulator. The regulator uses the normal cutoff transistors as the switching devices, and also includes a discrete inductor in the battery pack. The regulator is operated with programmable voltage and current parameters, under control of a microcontroller which is also inside the sealed battery pack enclosure.
85 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A battery pack subsystem, comprising:
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one or more battery cells in a lithium-based technology, jointly connected to first and second internal connections; a pair of external terminals which provide power input to said battery cells during charging, and power output from said battery cells during discharging; a switching device, interposed in series between a first one of said external terminals and an inductor; said inductor being interposed in series between said switching device and said first internal connection of said battery cells; and control circuitry for operating said switching device to perform voltage regulation of power applied to said battery cells; said control circuitry, said switching device, said inductor, and battery cells all being packaged together as a single integral unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A battery pack subsystem, comprising:
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one or more battery cells in a lithium-based technology, jointly connected to first and second internal connections; a pair of external terminals which provide power input to said battery cells during charging, and power output from said battery cells during discharging; a switching device, interposed in series between a first one of said external terminals and a first internal node; a fuse and an inductor connected in series, and jointly interposed between said first internal node and said first internal connection of said battery cells; a diode, operatively connected between said first internal node and said second internal connection of said battery cells; said second internal connection of said battery cells also being operatively connected to a second one of said external terminals; control circuitry for operating said switching device to perform voltage regulation of power applied to said battery cells; said control circuitry, said switching device, said inductor, and battery cells all being packaged together as a single integral unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A portable electronic system, comprising:
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electronic operating circuits which perform one or more functions; an AC adaptor which has a connection to receive an AC power input from an external source, and which generates DC power from said AC power input; and a battery pack comprising one or more battery cells in a lithium-based technology, jointly connected to first and second internal connections, a pair of external terminals which provide power input to said battery cells during charging, and power output from said battery cells during discharging, a switching device, interposed in series between a first one of said external terminals and a first internal node; a fuse and an inductor connected in series, and jointly interposed between said first internal node and said first internal connection of said battery cells, a diode, operatively connected between said first internal node and said second internal connection of said battery cells, said second internal connection of said battery cells also being operatively connected to a second one of said external terminals, control circuitry for operating said switching device to perform voltage regulation of power applied to said battery cells; said operating circuits being connected to draw power from said AC adaptor and from said battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer system, comprising:
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a user input device; a microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from said input device; memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor; a video controller connected to said microprocessor; a display operatively connected to display data generated by said video controller at a first refresh rate; a power supply connected to provide power to said microprocessor, said memory, and said display; an AC adaptor which has a connection to receive an AC power input from an external source, and which generates DC power from said AC power input; and a battery pack comprising one or more battery cells in a lithium-based technology, jointly connected to first and second internal connections, a pair of external terminals which provide power input to said battery cells during charging, and power output from said battery cells during discharging, a switching device, interposed in series between a first one of said external terminals and a first internal node; a fuse and an inductor connected in series, and jointly interposed between said first internal node and said first internal connection of said battery cells, a diode, operatively connected between said first internal node and said second internal connection of said battery cells, said second internal connection of said battery cells also being operatively connected to a second one of said external terminals, control circuitry for operating said switching device to perform voltage regulation of power applied to said battery cells; said microprocessor being operatively connected to draw power from said AC adaptor and from said battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for charging a portable battery pack in a portable electronic system, comprising the steps of:
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(a.) in an AC adapter subsystem, generating a DC power supply voltage from an AC power input; (b.) applying said DC power supply voltage directly to a sealed battery pack, without any intervening voltage regulation;
wherein said sealed battery pack includes a switching voltage regulator circuit and one or more battery cells; and(c.) operating said switching voltage regulator circuit to apply a controlled voltage to said battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification