Phone energy management for low battery voltages

• US 7,245,888 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sointula, Erkka
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US10/869,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/343.6, 323/267, 323/268, 323/273, 323/274, 363/60, 363/63, 363/97, 363/34, 363/37, 363/89, 320/128, 320/150, 320/134, 320/149
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/005 using Cuk converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a power supply arrangement with a DC-to-DC converter (10) for providing at least one supply voltage to a load (20, 30, 40) from an energy source (11). The converter comprises means for inputting (4) a battery voltage from the energy source to output a voltage in a predetermined battery voltage range and a transfer circuit (8) connected to said means for inputting, to convert the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage will be opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage will be the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage. The arrangement also comprises means for controlling (2), connected to the means for inputting, to control the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range. The advantage of the arrangement is to supply continuously and ripple-free to the load the supply voltage range independent from but opposite in polarity to the battery voltage.

Claims

1. A power supply arrangement comprising:

an energy source configured to provide at least one supply voltage to at least one load as a battery voltage,

a switching device configured to output the battery voltage from the energy source in a predetermined battery voltage range,

a converter, connected to the switching device, for converting the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage, and

a control circuit, connected to the switching device, for controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range.

2. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises at least one switch for changing a polarity of the energy source in accordance with a control signal received by the control circuit.

3. The power supply arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the switching device comprises a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a first load and a second switch arranged to switch a second supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a second load.

4. The power supply arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the first supply voltage is arranged to have a different value but the same polarity than the second supply voltage.

5. The power supply arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the switching device comprises

a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage to a power amplifier in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter and a second switch arranged to switch

a second supply voltage to a baseband portion and regulators in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

6. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the power supply arrangement is arranged to output continuously the supply voltage independent of a charge level of the energy source.

7. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the converter comprises a switched mode power supply.

8. The power supply arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the switch of the switching device is integrated into the control circuit.

9. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-down converting mode for the supply voltage range.

10. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-up converting mode for the supply voltage range.

11. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from the modulation portion.

12. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from an amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

13. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage range is arranged to overlap the absolute value of the predetermined battery voltage range.

14. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is in the predetermined battery voltage range.

15. The power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is outside of the predetermined battery voltage range.

16. A method for providing at least one supply voltage to a load from an energy source in a portable communication device comprising at least one load, wherein the method comprises:

outputting a voltage from the energy source in a predetermined battery voltage range as a battery voltage,

converting the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage,

converting the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage so that the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage, and

controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises changing the polarity of the energy source in accordance with a control signal received.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises converting a first supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a first load and a second supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a second load in accordance with the control signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first supply voltage has a different value but the same polarity than the second supply voltage.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the control signal is a modulated radio frequency signal received from an amplitude modulation chain in the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter and the first load is a power amplifier and the second load is a baseband portion and regulators.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises outputting continuously the supply voltage independent of a charge level of the energy source.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage uses a step-down converting mode for the supply voltage range.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage uses a step-up converting mode for the supply voltage range.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the control signal is a modulated radio frequency signal received from a transmitter.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the control signal is a modulated radio frequency signal received from an amplitude modulation chain in the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage range overlaps the absolute value of the predetermined battery voltage range.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is in the predetermined battery voltage range.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is outside of the predetermined battery voltage range.

29. A system comprising:

an energy source configured to provide at least one supply voltage to at least one load in a portable communication device as a battery voltage,

a switching device configured to output the battery voltage from the energy source in a predetermined battery voltage range,

a converter, connected to the switching device, for converting the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage,

a control circuit, connected to the switching device, for controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range, and

the load connected to the output of the converter to receive continuously the supply voltage.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the switching device comprises at least one switch for changing a polarity of the energy source in accordance with a control signal received by the control circuit.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the switching device comprises a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a first load and a second switch arranged to switch a second supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a second load.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the first supply voltage is arranged to have a different value but the same polarity than the second supply voltage.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein the switching device comprises a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage to a power amplifier in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter and a second switch arranged to switch a second supply voltage to a baseband portion and regulators in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein the system is arranged to output continuously the supply voltage independent of a charge level of the energy source.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the converter comprises a switched mode power supply.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the switch of the switching device is integrated into the control circuit.

37. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-down converting mode for the supply voltage range.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-up converting mode for the supply voltage range.

39. The system according to claim 29, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from the modulation portion.

40. The system according to claim 29, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from an amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

41. The system according to claim 29, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage range is arranged to overlap the absolute value of the predetermined battery voltage range.

42. The system according to claim 29, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is in the predetermined battery voltage range.

43. The system according to claim 29, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is outside of the predetermined battery voltage range.

44. The system according to claim 29, wherein the energy source is a lithium based battery.

45. The system according to claim 29, wherein the energy source is a fuel cell.

46. A mobile communication device comprising:

an energy source configured to provide at least one supply voltage to at least on load of the mobile communication device as a battery voltage,

a switching device configured to output the battery voltage from the energy source in a predetermined battery voltage range,

a converter, connected to the switching device, for converting the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage,

a control circuit, connected to the switching device, for controlling the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range, and

the load connected to the output of the converter to receive continuously the supply voltage.

47. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the switching device comprises at least one switch for changing a polarity of the energy source in accordance with a control signal received by the control circuit.

48. The mobile communication device according to claim 47, wherein the switching device comprises a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a first load and a second switch arranged to switch a second supply voltage opposite in polarity to the battery voltage to a second load.

49. The mobile communication device according to claim 48, wherein the first supply voltage is arranged to have a different value but the same polarity than the second supply voltage.

50. The mobile communication device according to claim 47, wherein the switching device comprises a first switch arranged to switch a first supply voltage to a power amplifier in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter and a second switch arranged to switch a second supply voltage to a baseband portion and regulators in accordance with the modulated radio frequency signal from the amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

51. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the supply voltage is arranged to be output continuously independent of a charge level of the energy source.

52. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the converter comprises a switched mode power supply.

53. The mobile communication device according to claim 52, wherein the switch of the switching device is integrated into the control circuit.

54. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-down converting mode for the supply voltage range.

55. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the supply voltage using a step-up converting mode for the supply voltage range.

56. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from the modulation portion.

57. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein an input of the control circuit is connected to a modulation portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter arranged to receive a modulated radio frequency signal from an amplitude modulator of the modulator portion of the envelope elimination and restoration transmitter.

58. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage range is arranged to overlap the absolute value of the predetermined battery voltage range.

59. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is in the predetermined battery voltage range.

60. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the absolute value of the supply voltage is outside of the predetermined battery voltage range.

61. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the energy source is a lithium based battery.

62. The mobile communication device according to claim 61, wherein the energy source is a lithium based battery outputting within a predetermined battery voltage range of 1.2 to 4.5 volts.

63. The mobile communication device according to claim 46, wherein the energy source is a fuel cell.

64. A power supply arrangement, comprising:

an energy source, configured to provide at least one supply voltage to at least one load as a batter voltage,

means for inputting the battery voltage from the energy source in a predetermined battery voltage range,

means for converting, connected to said means for inputting, arranged to convert the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage, and

means for controlling, connected to the means for inputting, arranged to control the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range.

65. The power supply arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the means for inputting comprises at least one switch for changing a polarity of the energy source in accordance with a control signal received by the means for controlling.

66. The power supply arrangement according to claim 64, wherein the power supply arrangement is arranged to output continuously the supply voltage independent of a charge level of the energy source.

67. A system for providing at least one supply voltage to a load from an energy source connected to the load in a portable communication device comprising at least one load, wherein the system comprises:

the energy source, arranged to output voltage in a predetermined battery voltage range as a battery voltage,

means for inputting the battery voltage from the energy source, arranged to output voltage in a predetermined battery voltage range,

means for converting, connected to the means for inputting, arranged to convert the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage,

means for controlling, connected to the means for inputting, arranged to control the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range, and

the load, connected to the output of the means for converting, arranged to receive continuously the supply voltage.

68. A mobile communication device, comprising:

an energy source, arranged to output voltage in a predetermined battery voltage range as a battery voltage,

means for inputting the battery voltage from the energy source, arranged to output voltage in a predetermined battery voltage range,

means for converting, connected to the means for inputting, arranged to convert the battery voltage to at least one supply voltage in such a way that the supply voltage is opposite in polarity to the battery voltage and the absolute value of the supply voltage is the same or close to the absolute value of the battery voltage,

means for controlling, connected to the means for inputting, arranged to control the supply voltage independent from the battery voltage using a single converting mode for the supply voltage range, and

the load, connected to the output of the means for converting, arranged to receive continuously the supply voltage.