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US 7,598,711 B2Granted
Power source switchover apparatus and method
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsChristoph H. Krah, Ronil Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for switching from a first power supply to a second power supply. The embodiment may detect the charge or voltage of both the first and second power supply, and power a device from the power supply having the greatest voltage or charge. A single boost converter is used regardless of which power supply is providing power.
Claims25
A battery-switching apparatus for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
- a first battery compartment operative to house a first battery and having a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal;
- a second battery compartment operative to house a second battery and having a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal;
- a single boost converter connected to each of the first and second battery compartments;
- wherein
- the boost converter is operative to draw power from one of the first and second battery compartments having the highest voltage;
- a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor is enabled when a voltage of the first battery exceeds a voltage of the second battery;
- and
- a second capacitor, wherein the second capacitor is enabled when a voltage of the second battery exceeds a voltage of the first battery;
- the first positive terminal of the first battery compartment is connected directly to a first common node;
- the second positive terminal of the second battery compartment is connected directly to the first common node;
- the first negative terminal of the first battery compartment is connected to a first input of a comparator through a second common node;
- and
- the second negative terminal of the second battery compartment is connected to a second input of the comparator through a third common node.
10 more elements
A method for switching between at least a first battery and a second battery, comprising:
- detecting a first voltage across the first battery;
- detecting a second voltage across the second battery;
- determining which of the first voltage and second voltage is greatest, further comprising:
- enabling a first capacitor and disabling a second capacitor in the event the first voltage exceeds the second voltage, wherein the operation of disabling the second capacitor comprises:
- enabling a third capacitor;
- and
- employing an output of the third capacitor to disable the second capacitor;
- disabling the first capacitor and enabling the second capacitor in the event the second voltage exceeds the first voltage;
- and
- in response to determining which of the first voltage and second voltage is greatest, supplying power from the greatest voltage to a single boost converter.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.