Method for Detecting Removal of a Battery from a Battery Charger
AssigneeAdvanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas Li, John S.K. So, David Yen Wai Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting removal of a battery from a battery charger includes 1) incrementing an event counter and resetting an interval counter each time the voltage present at the output node exceeds a predetermined voltage; 2) resetting the event counter each time the interval counter exceeds a predetermined maximum time between events; and 3) asserting a signal indicating the absence of a battery connected between the positive and negative output nodes each time event counter exceeds a predetermined number of events.
Claims8
A method for detecting removal of a battery from a battery charger, where the battery charger includes a positive output node, a negative output node and a capacitor connected between the positive and negative output nodes, the method comprising:
- incrementing an event counter and resetting an interval counter each time an event occurs where an event is defined to have occurred whenever the voltage at the output node exceeds a predetermined voltage;
- resetting the event counter each time the interval counter exceeds a predetermined maximum time between events;
- and
- asserting a signal indicating the absence of a battery connected between the positive and negative output nodes each time event counter exceeds a predetermined number of events.
An apparatus for detecting removal of a battery from a battery charger, where the battery charger includes a positive output node, a negative output node and a capacitor connected between the positive and negative output nodes, the method comprising:
- an event counter;
- an interval counter;
- a first circuit configured to increment the event counter and resetting the interval counter each time an event occurs where an event is defined to have occurred whenever the voltage at the output node exceeds a predetermined voltage;
- a second circuit configured to reset the event counter each time the interval counter exceeds a predetermined maximum time between events;
- and
- a third circuit configured to assert a signal indicating the absence of a battery connected between the positive and negative output nodes each time event counter exceeds a predetermined number of events.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.