Electronic device having a charging voltage regulation circuit

• US 9,991,729 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Hung, Li-Te
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharief, Mohammed J
• Application Number:
  US15/224,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20170346304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 320106, 320107, 307 21, 307 45, 307 46, 307 80
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

An electronic device includes a battery module, a first switch circuit, a connector, a voltage stabilizer and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the connector and the first switch circuit. A configuration channel is implemented between the controller circuit and the connector. When a voltage of the battery module is lower than a threshold voltage and is only connected to a first power source, the first power source provides an activating voltage to the controller circuit through the voltage stabilizer, so as to enable the controller circuit. The connector sends a first detection signal to the controller circuit through the configuration channel. The controller circuit sends a first control signal to turn on the first switch circuit according to the first detection signal, so that the first power source charges the battery module through the first switch circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a battery module;

a first switch circuit, coupled to the battery module;

a connector, coupled to the first switch circuit;

a voltage stabilizer, coupled to the connector;

a controller circuit, coupled to the voltage stabilizer, the connector, the first switch circuit and the battery module, and a configuration channel being implemented between the controller circuit and the connector;

a voltage regulating circuit, coupled to the battery module and the controller circuit; and

a second switch circuit, coupled to the voltage regulating circuit, the connector and the controller circuit;

wherein when a voltage of the battery module is lower than a threshold voltage and the connector is only connected to a first power source, the first power source provides an activating voltage to the controller circuit through the voltage stabilizer, so as to enable the controller circuit, the connector sends a first detection signal to the controller circuit through the configuration channel, and the controller circuit sends a first control signal to turn on the first switch circuit according to the first detection signal, so that the first power source charges the battery module through the first switch circuit,

wherein when the connector only connects to an external electronic device and the connector sends a second detection signal to the controller circuit, the controller circuit sends a second control signal to turn on the second switch circuit according to the second detection signal so that the battery module charges the external electronic device through the voltage regulating circuit and the second switch circuit, wherein the controller circuit comprises an embedded controller and a connector controller, the embedded controller is configured to detect a system state of the electronic device, and the embedded controller controls an operating mode of the connector controller according to the system state.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is coupled to the battery module so as to monitor electricity information of the battery module.

3. An electronic device, comprising:

a battery module;

a first switch circuit, coupled to the battery module;

a connector, coupled to the first switch circuit;

a voltage stabilizer, coupled to the connector;

a controller circuit, coupled to the voltage stabilizer, the connector, the first switch circuit and the battery module, and a configuration channel being implemented between the controller circuit and the connector;

a voltage regulating circuit;

a second power source, for powering the voltage regulating circuit; and

a boost converter, coupled to the connector and the voltage regulating circuit;

wherein when a voltage of the battery module is lower than a threshold voltage and the connector is only connected to a first power source, the first power source provides an activating voltage to the controller circuit through the voltage stabilizer, so as to enable the controller circuit, the connector sends a first detection signal to the controller circuit through the configuration channel, and the controller circuit sends a first control signal to turn on the first switch circuit according to the first detection signal, so that the first power source charges the battery module through the first switch circuit;

wherein when the connector is connected to the first power source outside of the electronic device, the boost converter transforms the first power source to a supply power, so that the supply power and the second power source cooperatively power the voltage regulating circuit, wherein the controller circuit comprises an embedded controller and a connector controller, the embedded controller is configured to detect a system state of the electronic device, and the embedded controller controls an operating mode of the connector controller according to the system state.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a short-circuit protection circuit coupled between the connector and the boost converter.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

a battery module;

a first switch circuit, coupled to the battery module;

a connector, coupled to the first switch circuit;

a voltage stabilizer, coupled to the connector;

a controller circuit, coupled to the voltage stabilizer, the connector, the first switch circuit and the battery module, and a configuration channel being implemented between the controller circuit and the connector; and

a multiplexer circuit, coupled to the connector and the controller circuit;

wherein when a voltage of the battery module is lower than a threshold voltage and the connector is only connected to a first power source, the first power source provides an activating voltage to the controller circuit through the voltage stabilizer, so as to enable the controller circuit, the connector sends a first detection signal to the controller circuit through the configuration channel, and the controller circuit sends a first control signal to turn on the first switch circuit according to the first detection signal, so that the first power source charges the battery module through the first switch circuit;

wherein the controller circuit comprises an identification database, the identification database comprises a plurality of identification data, and when the connector is connected to an external electronic device, the controller circuit receives a device identification data of the external electronic device, so as to determine whether the device identification data conforms to one of the identification data;

wherein when the device identification data does not conform to one of the identification data, the controller circuit sends a third control signal to the multiplexer circuit, so that the external electronic device is not able to transmit data to the electronic device through the multiplexer circuit, wherein the controller circuit comprises an embedded controller and a connector controller, the embedded controller is configured to detect a system state of the electronic device, and the embedded controller controls an operating mode of the connector controller according to the system state.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the device identification data conforms to one of the identification data, the controller circuit sends the third control signal to the multiplexer circuit, so that the external electronic device is able to transmit data to the electronic device through the multiplexer circuit.