# US 10,320,217 B2 · Charging system and method, and power adapter

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,320,217 B2
- Document ID: US10320217B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/657,377
- Filed: 2017-07-24
- Published: 2018-02-15
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-05
- Assignees: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
- Applicants: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jialiang Zhang; Chen Tian; Jun Zhang; Shebiao Chen; Shiming Wan; Jiada Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320217B2

## CPC

- H04M 19/00: Current supply arrangements for telephone systems (for selecting-equipment H04Q1/28)
- G01R 31/2874: {related to temperature}
- H01F 27/425: {for voltage transformers}
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J 7/02: for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
- H02J 7/04: Regulation of charging current or voltage
- H02J 7/06: using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices
- H02J 7/1492: {by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery}
- H02J 7/2434: {with pulse modulation}
- H02J 7/44: between battery management systems and power sources
- H02J 7/448: {using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode}
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction
- H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)}
- H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries}
- H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements
- H02J 7/92: with prioritisation of loads or sources
- H02J 7/927: {with introduction of pulses during the charging process}
- H02J 7/933: {the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters}
- H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage
- H02J 7/975: {in response to temperature}
- H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
- H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)}
- H02M 3/33515: {with digital control}
- H02M 3/33523: {with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop}
- H02M 3/33546: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current (H02M3/33561 takes precedence)}
- H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
- H01F 27/408: {Association with diode or rectifier}
- H01M 10/4257: {Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries}
- H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- H02J 7/825: {Detection of fully charged condition}
- H02J 7/94: in response to battery current
- H02J 2207/10: Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
- H02J 2207/20: Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
- H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter}
- H02M 1/0048: {Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses (using snubbers H02M1/34)}
- H02M 5/458: using semiconductor devices only
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a charging system and method, and a power adapter. The system includes a power adapter and a terminal. The power adapter includes a first rectifier, a switch unit, a transformer, a compositing unit, a sampling unit, and a control unit. The control unit outputs a control signal to the switch unit, and adjusts a duty ratio of the control signal according to a current sampling value and/or a voltage sampling value, such that a second alternating current outputted by the compositing unit meets a charging requirement. The terminal includes a battery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power adapter, comprising:
a first rectifier, configured to rectify an input first alternating current and output a first voltage with a first ripple waveform;
a switch unit, configured to modulate the first voltage according to a control signal and output a modulated first voltage;
a transformer, having a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings, and an auxiliary winding, wherein the transformer is configured to output a plurality of voltages with ripple waveforms via the plurality of secondary windings according to the modulated first voltage, and to couple the modulated first voltage via the auxiliary winding;
a compositing unit, configured to composite the plurality of voltages to output a second alternating current, wherein for each cycle of the second alternating current, an absolute value of a peak voltage of a positive half of the second alternating current is greater than that of a trough voltage of a negative half of the second alternating current, wherein the second alternating current is configured to be introduced into a terminal to charge a battery of the terminal when the power adapter is coupled to the terminal;
a sampling unit, configured to sample voltage and/or current at the auxiliary winding to obtain a voltage sampling value and/or a current sampling value; and
a control unit, coupled to the sampling unit and the switch unit respectively, and configured to output the control signal to the switch unit, and to adjust a duty ratio of the control signal according to the current sampling value and/or the voltage sampling value, such that the second alternating current meets a charging requirement of the terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary windings comprises a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, a first end of the primary winding is coupled to a first output end of the first rectifier, a second end of the primary winding is coupled to the switch unit, the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are coupled to the compositing unit respectively, and the transformer is configured to output a second voltage with a second ripple waveform via the first secondary winding according to the modulated first voltage, and to output a third voltage with a third ripple waveform via the second secondary winding according to the modulated first voltage, and the compositing unit is configured to composite the second voltage and the third voltage to output the second alternating current.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust a frequency of the control signal according to the voltage sampling value and/or the current sampling value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to communicate with the terminal so as to obtain status information of the terminal, and the control unit is further configured to adjust the duty ratio of the control signal according to the status information of the terminal, and the voltage sampling value and/or the current sampling value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:
a driving unit, coupled between the switch unit and the control unit, and configured to drive the switch unit to switch on or off according to the control signal, and/or
an isolation unit, coupled between the driving unit and the control unit; and/or
a power supply unit, coupled to the auxiliary winding, wherein the auxiliary winding is configured to output a fourth voltage with a fourth ripple waveform, and the power supply unit is configured to convert the fourth voltage and to output a first direct current, so as to supply power to the driving unit and/or the control unit respectively.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the sampling unit comprises:
a first current sampling circuit, configured to sample the current at the auxiliary winding so as to obtain the current sampling value; and
a first voltage sampling circuit, configured to sample the voltage at the auxiliary winding so as to obtain the voltage sampling value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second voltage sampling circuit, configured to sample the first voltage, and coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the switch unit to switch on for a first predetermined time period for discharging when a voltage value sampled by the second voltage sampling circuit is greater than a first predetermined voltage value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first charging interface, wherein the first charging interface comprises: a power wire, configured to charge the battery; and a data wire, configured to communicate with the terminal;
wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with the terminal via the first charging interface to determine a charging mode, in which the charging mode comprises a first charging mode and a second charging mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The power adapter according to claim 8, further comprising:
a rectifying and filtering unit, configured to perform a rectifying and filtering on one of the plurality of voltages to output a second direct current; and
a controllable switch, configured to control an operation of the rectifying and filtering unit;
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the rectifying and filtering unit to work and control the compositing unit to stop working by controlling the controllable switch when determining the charging mode is the first charging mode, such that the rectifying and filtering unit outputs the second direct current to charge the battery; and to control the rectifying and filtering unit to stop working and control the compositing unit to work by controlling the controllable switch when determining the charging mode as the second charging mode, such that the second alternating current is applied to the battery.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The power adapter according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is further configured to obtain a charging current and/or a charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode according to status information of the terminal and to adjust the duty ratio of the control signal according to the charging current and/or the charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode, when determining the charging mode as the second charging mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The power adapter according to claim 10, wherein the status information of the terminal comprises a temperature of the battery, wherein when the temperature of the battery is greater than a first predetermined temperature threshold or the temperature of the battery is less than a second predetermined temperature threshold, the second charging mode is switched to the first charging mode when a current charging mode is the second charging mode, in which the first predetermined temperature threshold is greater than the second predetermined temperature threshold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The power adapter according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the switch unit to switch off when the temperature of the battery is greater than a predetermined high temperature protection threshold, or
the control unit is further configured to control the switch unit to switch off when the voltage sampling value is greater than a second predetermined voltage value, or
the control unit is further configured to control the switch unit to switch off when the current sampling value is greater than a predetermined current value.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The power adapter according to claim 8, wherein when performing the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to determine to charge the terminal in the second charging mode,
the control unit is configured to send a first instruction to the terminal, in which the first instruction is configured to query the terminal whether to start the second charging mode; and
the control unit is configured to receive a first reply instruction from the terminal, in which the first reply instruction is configured to indicate that the terminal agrees to start the second charging mode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The power adapter according to claim 13, wherein, the control unit is configured to send the first instruction to the terminal when determining that a charging duration of the first charging mode is greater than a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The power adapter according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the power adapter to adjust a charging current to a charging current corresponding to the second charging mode by controlling the switch unit, and before the power adapter charges the terminal with the charging current corresponding to the second charging mode, the control unit is configured to perform the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to determine a charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode, and to control the power adapter to adjust a charging voltage to the charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The power adapter according to claim 15, wherein when performing the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to determine the charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode,
the control unit is configured to send a second instruction to the terminal, in which the second instruction is configured to query whether a current output voltage of the power adapter is suitable for being used as the charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode;
the control unit is configured to receive a second reply instruction sent from the terminal, in which the second reply instruction is configured to indicate that the current output voltage of the power adapter is suitable, high or low; and
the control unit is configured to determine the charging voltage corresponding to the second charging mode according to the second reply instruction.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The power adapter according to claim 15, wherein, before controlling the power adapter to adjust the charging current to the charging current corresponding to the second charging mode, the control unit is further configured to perform the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to determine the charging current corresponding to the second charging mode,
wherein, when performing the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to determines the charging current corresponding to the second charging mode,
the control unit is configured to send a third instruction to the terminal, in which the third terminal is configured to query a maximum charging current supported by the terminal;
the control unit is configured to receive a third reply instruction sent from the terminal, in which the third reply instruction is configured to indicate the maximum charging current supported by the terminal; and
the control unit is configured to determine the charging current corresponding to the second charging mode according to the third reply instruction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The power adapter according to claim 13, wherein during a process that the power adapter charges the terminal in the second charging mode, the control unit is further configured to perform the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface, so as to continuously adjust a charging current outputted to the battery from the power adapter by controlling the switch unit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The power adapter according to claim 18, wherein, when performing the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface to continuously adjust the charging current outputted to the battery from the power adapter by controlling the switch unit,
the control unit is configured to send a fourth instruction to the terminal, in which the fourth instruction is configured to query a current voltage of the battery in the terminal;
the control unit is configured to receive a fourth reply instruction sent by the terminal, in which the fourth reply instruction is configured to indicate the current voltage of the battery in the terminal; and
the control unit is configured to adjust the charging current by controlling the switch unit according to the current voltage of the battery.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The power adapter according to claim 19, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the charging current outputted to the battery from the power adapter to a charging current value corresponding to the current voltage of the battery by controlling the switch unit according to the current voltage of the battery and a predetermined correspondence between battery voltage values and charging current values.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The power adapter according to claim 18, wherein, during the process that the power adapter charges the terminal in the second charging mode, the control unit is further configured to determine whether there is a poor contact between the first charging interface and the second charging interface by performing the bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data wire of the first charging interface,
wherein, when determining that there is the poor contact between the first charging interface and the second charging interface, the control unit is configured to control the power adapter to quit the second charging mode.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The power adapter according to claim 20, wherein, before determining whether there is a poor contact between the first charging interface and the second charging interface, the control unit is further configured to receive information indicating a path impedance of the terminal from the terminal, wherein
the control unit is configured to send a fourth instruction to the terminal, in which the fourth instruction is configured to query a current voltage of the battery in the terminal;
the control unit is configured to receive a fourth reply instruction sent by the terminal, in which the fourth reply instruction is configured to indicate the current voltage of the battery in the terminal;
the control unit is configured to determine a path impedance from the power adapter to the battery according to an output voltage of the power adapter and the current voltage of the battery; and
the control unit is configured to determine whether there is the poor contact between the first charging interface and the second charging interface according to the path impedance from the power adapter to the battery, the path impedance of the terminal, and a path impedance of a charging wire between the power adapter and the terminal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The power adapter according to claim 22, wherein, before the power adapter quits the second charging mode, the control unit is further configured to send a fifth instruction to the terminal, in which the fifth instruction is configured to indicate that there is the poor contact between the first charging interface and the second charging interface.

### Claim 24

A charging system, comprising:
a battery;
a first rectifier, configured to rectify an input first alternating current and output a first voltage with a first ripple waveform;
a switch unit, configured to modulate the first voltage according to a control signal and output a modulated first voltage;
a transformer, having a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings, and an auxiliary winding, wherein the transformer is configured to output a plurality of voltages with ripple waveforms via the plurality of secondary windings according to the modulated first voltage, and to couple the modulated first voltage via the auxiliary winding;
a compositing unit, configured to composite the plurality of voltages to output a second alternating current, wherein for each cycle of the second alternating current, an absolute value of a peak voltage of a positive half of the second alternating current is greater than that of a trough voltage of a negative half of the second alternating current, wherein the second alternating current is configured to charge the battery;
a sampling unit, configured to sample voltage and/or current at the auxiliary winding to obtain a voltage sampling value and/or a current sampling value; and
a control unit, coupled to the sampling unit and the switch unit respectively, and configured to output the control signal to the switch unit, to adjust a duty ratio of the control signal according to the current sampling value and/or the voltage sampling value, such that the second alternating current meets a charging requirement of the battery.

### Claim 25

A charging method, comprising:
performing a first rectification on an input first alternating current to output a first voltage with a first ripple waveform;
modulating the first voltage by controlling a switch unit, and outputting a plurality of voltages with ripple waveforms by a conversion of a transformer;
compositing the plurality of voltages to output a second alternating current, wherein for each cycle of the second alternating current, an absolute value of a peak voltage of a positive half of the second alternating current is greater than that of a trough voltage of a negative half of the second alternating current;
applying the second alternating current to a battery;
coupling a primary output of the transformer via an auxiliary winding of the transformer, and sampling voltage and/or current at the auxiliary winding to obtain a voltage sampling value and/or a current sampling value; and
adjusting a duty ratio of a control signal for controlling the switch unit according to the voltage sampling value and/or the current sampling value, such that the second alternating current meets a charging requirement.
