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US 8,138,724 B2Granted
Battery pulse charging method and apparatus
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsPeter T. Li, Don J. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are some embodiments for safely charging a mobile system battery pack, even when the power source (e.g., adapter) voltage is at a relatively high level that would otherwise result in excessive charge current.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- a circuit to controllably couple a DC power source to a battery pack of a mobile system to pulse charge the battery pack, the DC power source having a controllable output voltage,
- the circuit to control the DC power source to provide power to operate the mobile system as the battery pack is charged,
- the circuit configured to monitor directly or indirectly information related to a charge current applied to the battery pack, and
- the circuit to control a pulse duty cycle to charge the battery pack based on a level of the output voltage of the DC power source to inhibit excessive charge current.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- powering a mobile system with a power source having a controllable output voltage;
- controllably coupling the power source to a battery pack of the mobile system to pulse charge the battery pack;
- controlling the power source to provide power to operate the mobile system as the battery pack is charged;
- monitoring directly or indirectly information related to a charge current applied to the battery pack;
- and
- controlling a pulse duty cycle to charge the battery pack based on a level of the output voltage of the power source to inhibit excessive charge current to the battery pack.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.