US 12,737,022 B2Granted

Low battery voltage protection method for microcontroller system and microcontroller system using the same

AssigneeNuvoton Technology Corporation

InventorPao-Shu Chang

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Abstract

A low battery voltage protection method for a microcontroller system and a microcontroller system using the same are provided. The low battery protection method and the microcontroller system are used to prevent continuous battery drain by setting time thresholds and a count threshold. In an embodiment, when a low-voltage power-on reset voltage is not exceeded within a first preset time, the microcontroller system is forced to enter a sleep mode to prevent power consumption by an analog block. In another embodiment, when the low-voltage power-on reset voltage is exceeded, but a reset count of the microcontroller system exceeds a preset value within a second preset time, the microcontroller system is also forced to enter the sleep mode to prevent a digital block from continuously loading data, which could lead to battery failure.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A low battery voltage protection method for a microcontroller system, adapted for a battery used to be a power supply, wherein the low battery voltage protection method comprises:

determining that the microcontroller system is activated;
sequentially performing:
comparing a battery voltage of the battery against a first voltage threshold;
determining that the battery voltage is not greater than the first voltage threshold, and, in response, keeping the microcontroller system in a reset state;
and
determining that the battery voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold, and, in response, activating a low-dropout regulator (LDO);
comparing an output voltage of the LDO against a second voltage threshold;
determining that the output voltage of the LDO is not greater than the second voltage threshold within a first preset time, and, in response, forcing the microcontroller system to enter a sleep mode;
determining that the output voltage of the LDO is greater than the second voltage within the first preset time, and, in response, checking a number of reset times of the microcontroller system within a second preset time;
and
determining that the number of reset times is greater than a preset value, and in response forcing the microcontroller system to enter the sleep mode,
wherein the second voltage threshold is lower than the first voltage threshold.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/953,539Filed 20 Nov 2024
Priority: TW 11311970228 May 2024
Published: US 2025/0370518 A14 Dec 2025
Granted: 15 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 1/26
Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00: power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
G05F 1/569
Sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage,…:…
H01M 10/425
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells: structural combination with electronic…
H01M 2010/4271
Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing: battery management systems…