Arcing prevention through input voltage loop
AssigneeRenesas Electronics America Inc.
InventorsFengshuan Zhou, Yen-Mo Chen, Sungkeun Lim, Fa Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for operating a battery charger are described. A controller of a battery charger can measure an input voltage of power being provided to an input port of a battery charger. The controller can, in response to the input voltage being less than a reference voltage, operate an input voltage control loop to regulate a voltage level of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage level. The voltage difference, between the plug voltage of a power source and the receptacle voltage of a power sink, can be regulated below an arcing voltage. The controller can, in response to a lapse of a predetermined amount of time, discharging the input voltage.
Claims18
A method for operating a battery charger, the method comprising:
- measuring an input voltage of power being provided to an input port of the battery charger;
- determining the measured input voltage being less than a reference voltage;
- in response to the input voltage being less than the reference voltage, operating an input voltage control loop to regulate a voltage level of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage level;
- determining a lapse of a predetermined amount of time, wherein the predetermined amount of time is based on an arcing prevention distance between the battery charger and a power source;
- and
- in response to the lapse of the predetermined amount of time, discharging the input voltage.
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a controller configured to measure input voltage of power being provided to an input port of a battery charger;
- and
- an integrated circuit configured to, in response to the input voltage being less than a reference voltage, select an input voltage control loop,
- wherein the controller is further configured to:
- operate the selected input voltage control loop to regulate a voltage level of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage level;
- and
- in response to a lapse of a predetermined amount of time, send a signal to a discharge circuit to discharge the input voltage, wherein the predetermined amount of time is based on an arcing prevention distance between the battery charger and a power source.
An apparatus comprising:
- a battery module;
- a switching circuit configured to convert an input voltage into system voltage for charging the battery module, wherein the input voltage is received at an input port of a battery charger;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- measure the input voltage;
- in response to the input voltage being less than a reference voltage, select an input voltage control loop;
- operate the switching circuit in accordance with the selected input voltage control loop to regulate a voltage level of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage level;
- and
- in response to a lapse of a predetermined amount of time, send a signal to a discharge circuit to discharge the input voltage, wherein the predetermined amount of time is based on an arcing prevention distance between the battery charger and a power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.