Combo buck boost battery charger architecture with reverse boost mode
AssigneeRenesas Electronics America Inc.
InventorsShahriar Nibir, Sungkeun Lim
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Abstract
The present embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for operating a battery charger in computing systems having certain system load requirements, battery configurations and external device power supply support. According to some aspects, the present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for providing a reverse boost mode of operation when the battery charger is providing system power from a battery, such as when an adapter is not connected. The reverse boost mode of operation according to embodiments provides a regulated output voltage, thereby allowing a load such as a CPU to operate at maximum performance, even when the battery has discharged below a threshold discharge level.
Claims11
A method for operating a battery charger in a battery only mode when a battery is being used to provide power to a load, the method comprising:
- receiving a first indication of the battery only mode;
- causing, responsive to the first indication, a voltage from the battery to be provided to the load via a pair of battery control transistors;
- receiving a second indication that the battery has discharged below a threshold level;
- and
- causing, responsive to the second indication, a regulated voltage to be provided to the load from the battery using a plurality of switching transistors coupled in a buck-boost configuration, by operating the battery charger in a reverse boost mode, the switching transistors different than the pair of battery control transistors and at least a pair of bypass transistors,
- wherein the reverse boost mode comprises maintaining an NGATE FET of the pair of battery control transistors in an OFF state and the pair of bypass transistors in an ON state.
A battery charger having a battery only mode when a battery is being used to provide power to a load, comprising:
- a normal mode module that is configured to cause a voltage from the battery to be provided to the load via a pair of battery control transistors;
- and
- a reverse boost module that is configured to, in response an indication that the battery has discharged below a threshold level, cause a regulated voltage to be provided to the load from the battery using a plurality of switching transistors coupled in a buck-boost configuration, by operating the battery charger in a reverse boost mode, the switching transistors different than the pair of battery control transistors and at least a pair of bypass transistors,
- wherein the reverse boost mode comprises maintaining an NGATE FET of the pair of battery control transistors in an OFF state and the pair of bypass transistors in an ON state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.