Electronic devices with multiple energy storage device charging circuits and corresponding methods

A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

• opening a switch coupled between a first energy storage device and an electrical conductor coupling the switch to a second energy storage device when a difference between a voltage of the first energy storage device and a voltage of the second energy storage device exceeds a predefined voltage difference threshold, thereby allowing a first charging current to flow from a charging node to the first energy storage device through the electrical conductor and a second charging current to flow from the charging node to the second energy storage device through another electrical conductor;
• and
• closing the switch when the difference between the voltage of the first energy storage device and the voltage of the second energy storage device is within the predefined voltage difference threshold to electrically couple the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device with the electrical conductor;
• further comprising:
• coupling a current limiting conductor in parallel with the switch while the difference between the voltage of the first energy storage device and the voltage of the second energy storage device exceeds the predefined voltage difference threshold and the switch is open;
• the coupling comprising closing another switch serially coupled with a resistor, with the another switch and the resistor defining the current limiting conductor.

An electronic device, comprising:

• a first device housing coupled to a second device housing by a hinge;
• a first energy storage device situated in the first device housing and a second energy storage device situated in the second device housing and electrically coupled to the first energy storage device by a conductor spanning the hinge;
• a charging node at the first device housing and electrically coupled to the first energy storage device, wherein the charging node is electrically coupled to the second energy storage device by the conductor spanning the hinge;
• another conductor spanning the hinge and also coupling the charging node to the second energy storage device;
• a switch electrically coupled between the conductor spanning the hinge and the second energy storage device;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the switch, the control circuit opening the switch, thereby allowing a first charging current to flow from the charging node to the first energy storage device through the conductor and a second charging current to flow from the charging node to the second energy storage device through the another conductor, and closing the switch when a difference between a voltage of the first energy storage device and a voltage of the second energy storage device is within a predefined voltage difference threshold.