Circuits and methods for controlling a current flowing through a battery
AssigneeO2Micro, Inc.
InventorGuoxing LI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit for controlling a current flowing through a battery includes a driver and a filter coupled to the driver. The driver can generate a pulse signal in a first operating mode and generate a first signal in a second operating mode to control the current through the battery. The filter can filter the pulse signal to provide a filtered DC signal to adjust an on-resistance of a switch in series with the battery based on a duty cycle of the pulse signal in the first operating mode. The filter can receive the first signal and provide a second signal to drive the switch in a linear region in the second operating mode.
Claims23
A circuit for energy efficient controlling of a current flowing through a battery comprising a rechargeable multi-cell battery pack, said circuit comprising:
- a driver operable for generating a pulse signal in a first operating mode and for generating a first signal in a second operating mode, wherein said driver controls said current through said battery;
- and
- a filter coupled to said driver and operable for filtering said pulse signal to provide a filtered DC signal to adjust an on-resistance of a first switch in series with said battery based on a duty cycle of said pulse signal in said first operating mode, and operable for receiving said first signal and for providing a second signal to drive said first switch in a linear region in said second operating mode.
10-11. (canceled)
A battery system with energy efficient controlling of a current flowing through a battery comprising a rechargeable multi-cell battery pack, comprising:
- a switch coupled in series with said battery;
- and
- a circuit coupled to said battery and said switch and operable for selectively operating in a first operating mode and a second operating mode to drive said switch to operate in a saturation region and a linear region respectively so as to adjust a current flowing through said battery, said circuit comprising:
- a driver operable for generating a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal in said first operating mode;
- and
- a filter coupled to said driver and operable for receiving said first PWM signal and generating a substantially constant DC signal to control said switch in said saturation region.
(canceled)
A method for energy efficient controlling of a current flowing through a battery comprising a rechargeable multi-cell battery pack, said method comprising:
- generating a pulse signal in a first operating mode;
- filtering said pulse signal to provide a filtered DC signal having a substantially constant level determined by a duty cycle of said pulse signal;
- adjusting an on-resistance of a switch in series with said battery by said filtered DC signal in said first operating mode;
- and
- driving said switch in a linear region in a second operating mode.
24-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.