# US 10,374,452 B2 · Power saving device

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- Number: US 10,374,452 B2
- Document ID: US10374452B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/367,676
- Filed: 2016-12-02
- Published: 2017-06-22
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-21
- Assignees: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
- Applicants: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.
- Inventors: Marinus Wilhelmus Kruiskamp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374452B2

## CPC

- H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices}
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 9/06: with automatic change-over {, e.g. UPS systems}
- H02J 7/63: against overdischarge
- Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
- Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- Y04S 20/20: End-user application control systems
- Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- Y04S 20/248: UPS systems or standby or emergency generators
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A circuit for controlling a power supply is disclosed. The circuit has a storage element for storing energy harvested from energy sources, a backup battery, and a comparator to compare a voltage of the storage element to a reference voltage. The circuit also contains a first switch for selectively connecting the storage element to an output. A second switch connects the backup battery to the output. A switch control circuit controls the first switch to disconnect the storage element from the output and the second switch to connect the backup battery to the output, if the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage. The backup battery is disconnected from the output while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage. The control circuit controls the second switch to disconnect the battery from the output while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit for controlling a power supply, comprising
a storage element for storing energy harvested from an energy source;
a backup battery;
a first switch for selectively connecting the storage element to an output;
a second switch for selectively connecting the backup battery to the output; and
a switch control circuit comprising a voltage monitor;
wherein the voltage monitor is configured to compare a voltage of the storage element to a reference voltage; and
wherein the switch control circuit is configured to:
control the first switch to disconnect the storage element from the output and the second switch to connect the backup battery to the output, if the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage;
decide whether to disconnect the backup battery from the output while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage; and
control the second switch to disconnect the backup battery from the output while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage, according to the decision, wherein the switch control circuit comprises a timer and is configured to control the second switch to disconnect the backup battery from the output if the backup battery has been connected to the output for more than a reference time duration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch control circuit comprises a terminal for receiving a signal input and is configured to decide to disconnect the backup battery from the output if the terminal receives a predetermined signal at the terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The circuit of claim 2, wherein the terminal is configured to receive the predetermined signal from a circuit that is powered by the output.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch control circuit is further configured to detect, after having disconnected the backup battery from the output, whether the storage element is being charged by the energy source, and if the storage element is being charged by the energy source, connect the backup battery to the output.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch control circuit is further configured to, if the voltage of the storage element is above a further reference value, reconnect the storage element to the output and disconnect the backup battery from the output.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage monitor is configured to determine the reference voltage based on a voltage of the backup battery.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage has a predetermined fixed value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the backup battery is a non-rechargeable battery.

### Claim 9

A method performed by a circuit, the circuit comprising a storage element, a backup battery, a voltage monitor, a first switch, a second switch, and a switch control circuit, the method comprising
storing energy harvested from an energy source by the storage element;
comparing a voltage of the storage element to a reference voltage by the voltage monitor;
in response to the voltage monitor detecting that the voltage of the storage element is below a reference voltage, controlling, by the switch control circuit, the first switch to disconnect the storage element from the output and the second switch to connect the backup battery to the output;
deciding, by the switch control circuit, whether to disconnect the backup battery while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage; and
controlling, by the switch control circuit, the second switch to disconnect the backup battery from the output while the voltage of the storage element is below the reference voltage, according to the decision,
wherein the switch control circuit comprises a timer to control the second switch to disconnect the backup battery from the output if the backup battery has been connected to the output for more than a reference time duration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the switch control circuit comprises a terminal for receiving a signal input to decide to disconnect the backup battery from the output if the terminal receives a predetermined signal at the terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the terminal receives the predetermined signal from a circuit that is powered by the output.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the switch control circuit detects, after having disconnected the backup battery from the output, whether the storage element is being charged by the energy source, and if the storage element is being charged by the energy source, connect the backup battery to the output.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the switch control circuit reconnects the storage element to the output and disconnect the backup battery from the output, if the voltage of the storage element is above a further reference value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the voltage monitor determines the reference voltage based on a voltage of the backup battery.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the reference voltage has a predetermined fixed value.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the backup battery is a non-rechargeable battery.