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US 2014/0210268 A1Published application
Batery charging with dynamic current limiting
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorBernhard Lewis Haberland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for dynamic current limiting control the charge current for charging a battery of a device by determining the difference between the maximum supply current of an external supply source and the device current of the device in operation as it varies over time. Accordingly, the battery may be charged faster, using a charge current that, combined with the device current of the device in operation, does not exceed the maximum supply current of the external supply source.
Claims15
A system configured to charge a battery of a device while the device is operating, the system comprising:
- an input connector configured to electrically couple the system with an external supply source to receive a supply voltage and a supply current, wherein the external supply source has a maximum supply current, and wherein the external supply source is a separate and discrete device from the system;
- a device connector configured to electrically couple the system with a device to receive a device current, wherein the device draws power received through the device connector from the external supply source, wherein the device current has an amount that varies over time with operating conditions of the device;
- a first sink circuit configured to draw a sink current from the supply current received through the input connector, wherein first sink circuit is configured such that an amount of the sink current indicates an amount of the supply current of the external supply source received through the input connector;
- a second sink circuit configured to draw a bias current from the supply current received through the input connector, wherein the second sink circuit is configured such that an amount of the bias current indicates an amount of the maximum supply current of the external supply source;
- a sampling circuit that is electrically coupled with the first sink circuit and the second sink circuit, such that a voltage drop across the sampling circuit is based on the sink current and the bias current;
- and
- a charge control circuit configured to sample the voltage drop across the sampling circuit and to control a charge current to charge a battery from the supply current based on the sampled voltage drop, the charge current being received through the input connector, wherein the charge control circuit is configured such that an amount of the charge current combined with the varying amount of the device current of the device is maintained below the maximum supply current.
4 more elements
A method for charging a battery of a device while the device is operating, the method comprising:
- electrically coupling a system configured to charge a battery with an external supply source to receive a supply voltage and a supply current from the external supply source, wherein the external supply source has a maximum supply current;
- electrically coupling the system configured to charge the battery with a device to receive a device current from the external supply source, wherein an amount of the device current varies with operating conditions of the device;
- automatically determining the supply current received from the external supply source;
- determining the maximum supply current of the external supply source;
- electrically coupling a sampling circuit with the first sink circuit and the second sink circuit, such that a voltage drop across the sampling circuit is based on the sink current and the bias current;
- sampling the voltage drop across the sampling circuit;
- automatically controlling a charge current received from the external supply source based on the sampled voltage drop such that an amount of the charge current combined with the varying amount of the device current is maintained below the maximum supply current;
- and
- charging the battery with the controlled charge current.
6 more elements
A system configured for charging a battery of a device while the device is operating, the system comprising:
- means for electrically coupling a system configured to charge a battery with an external supply source to receive a supply voltage and a supply current from the external supply source, wherein the external supply source has a maximum supply current;
- means for electrically coupling a system configured to charge a battery with a device to receive a device current from the external supply source, wherein an amount of the device current varies with operating conditions of the device;
- means for automatically determining the supply current received from the external supply source;
- means for determining the maximum supply current of the external supply source;
- means for establishing a voltage difference, wherein the means for establishing a voltage difference is electrically coupled with the means for determining the supply current and the means for determining the maximum supply current, such that the voltage difference is based on the sink current and the bias current;
- means for same the voltage drop across the means for establishing the voltage difference;
- means for automatically controlling a charge current received from the external supply source based on the sampled voltage drop such that an amount of the charge current combined with the varying amount of device current is maintained below the maximum supply current;
- and
- means for charging a battery with the controlled charge current.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.