Charger circuit with battery protection mechanism

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery power contact of the battery pack and the charger circuit further comprises a voltage sensing circuit arranged to measure a voltage level on the battery power contact to generate an over-voltage detection signal, the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-voltage detection signal indicates the over-voltage condition.

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery identification contact of the battery pack, and the battery pack has a detection circuit that is arranged to generate an over-voltage detection signal at the battery identification contact by detecting whether a voltage level of a positive electrode of the battery cell is higher than a predetermined reference voltage level, and the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-voltage detection signal indicates the over-voltage condition.

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery temperature contact of the battery pack, and the battery pack has a detection circuit that is arranged to generate an over-voltage detection signal at the battery temperature contact by detecting whether a voltage level of a positive electrode of the battery cell is higher than a predetermined reference voltage level, and the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-voltage detection signal indicates the over-voltage condition.

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery temperature contact of the battery pack, and the battery pack has a detection circuit that is arranged to generate an over-temperature detection signal at the battery temperature contact by detecting whether a temperature in the battery pack is higher than a predetermined value, and the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-temperature detection signal indicates the over-temperature condition.

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the at least one connection terminal is arranged to function as a battery communication line (BCL) of Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) battery interface (BIF), and the charger circuit further comprises a BIF module, the control unit obtains information regarding a voltage level or a temperature of the battery cell from the BCL module, the control unit determines to turn off the charge control switch and control the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the information from the BCL module indicates the over-voltage or the over-temperature condition;

• wherein the BIF module of the charger circuit is coupled to the BIF module of the battery pack through the BCL.

The charger circuit of claim 16, wherein the discharging circuit comprises a switch that is controlled by the control unit and a current source that is connected to a reference level, and when the discharging circuit is coupled to the power output terminal through the switch, the discharging circuit provides a current path from the battery cell through the power output terminal to the reference level.

The power system of claim 17, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery power contact of the battery pack and the charger circuit further comprises a voltage sensing circuit arranged to measure a voltage level on the battery power contact to generate an over-voltage detection signal, the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-voltage detection signal indicates the over-voltage condition.

The power system of claim 17, wherein battery pack further comprises:

• a comparing device, having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, the first input terminal being coupled to a positive electrode of the battery cell and the second input terminal being coupled to a reference voltage level, arranged to compare a voltage level on the positive electrode of the battery cell with the reference voltage level and generate a driving current when the voltage level on the positive electrode of the battery cell is higher than the reference voltage level;
• and
• a resistive circuit, coupled to an output terminal of the comparing device, arranged to generate an over-voltage detection signal when the driving current passing therethrough.

The power system of claim 17, wherein the connection terminal is coupled to a battery temperature contact of the battery pack, and the battery pack has a detection circuit that is arranged to generate an over-temperature detection signal at the battery temperature contact by detecting whether a temperature in the battery pack is higher than a predetermined reference voltage level, and the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the over-temperature detection signal indicates the over-temperature condition.

The power system of claim 17, wherein the at least one connection terminal is arranged to function as a battery communication line (BCL) of Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) battery interface (BIF), and the charger circuit further comprises a BIF module, the control unit obtains information regarding a voltage level or a temperature of the battery cell from the BCL module, the control unit turns off the charge control switch and controls the discharging circuit to couple to the power output terminal if the information from the BCL module indicates the over-voltage or the over-temperature condition;

• wherein the BIF module of the charger circuit is coupled to the BIF module of the battery pack through the BCL.

The power system of claim 17, wherein the discharging circuit comprises a switch that is controlled by the control unit and a current source that is connected to a reference level, and when the discharging circuit is coupled to the power output terminal through the switch, the discharging circuit provides a current path from the battery cell through the power output terminal to the reference level.