Methods and apparatus for a battery
AssigneeSemiconductor Components Industries, LLC
InventorsAtsushi Kamei, Yasuaki Hayashi, Katsumi Yamamoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A battery apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a power source, such as a battery. The battery apparatus may include a protection IC, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The power source may be selectively coupled to the battery apparatus at the second and third terminals. The power source may be capable of providing a current through the battery apparatus via one of a first current loop and a second current loop.
Claims20
A battery apparatus having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, comprising:
- an integrated circuit connected to the first, second, and third terminals;
- a first current path from the first terminal, across the integrated circuit, through a resistor, and to the second terminal;
- a second current path from the first terminal, across the integrated circuit, and to the third terminal, wherein the second current path bypasses the resistor;
- and
- a switch selectively connected to the second and third terminals.
A method for operating a battery system having a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a power supply, comprising:
- generating a first current through a first current loop, wherein the first current flows:
- from a positive terminal of the power supply to the first terminal;
- from the first terminal, across a resistor, and to the second terminal;
- and
- from the second terminal to a negative terminal of the power supply;
- generating a second current through a second current loop, wherein the second current flows:
- from the positive terminal of the power supply to the first terminal;
- from the first terminal to the third terminal;
- and
- from the third terminal to the negative terminal of the power supply;
- wherein the second current loop bypasses the resistor.
A system, comprising:
- a power supply comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
- a control circuit, connected to the power supply, comprising:
- a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal;
- a protection circuit connected to the first, second, and third terminals;
- a resistor connected to the second and third terminals;
- wherein the control circuit is:
- connected to the positive terminal of the power supply via the first terminal;
- and
- selectively connected to the negative terminal of the power supply via one of:
- the second terminal and the third terminal;
- a first current loop comprising:
- the power supply, the first terminal, the protection circuit, the resistor, and the second terminal;
- and
- a second current loop comprising:
- the power supply, the first terminal, the protection circuit, and the third terminal, wherein the second current loop bypasses the resistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.