KR20080036412A - Apparatus and method for controlling charging of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling the charging of a battery are provided to protect the battery by breaking a charging current supplied to the battery by comparing a detected charging current level with a predetermined rapid charging maximum current. An apparatus for controlling the charging of a battery includes a power supply unit(100), a charging current controlling unit(110), a current detecting unit(120), a battery(130), a voltage detecting unit(140), a display unit(150), a memory(160), and a charging controlling unit(190). The power supply unit supplies power. The charging current controlling unit outputs a current supplied to the power supply unit by adjusting the current in a predetermined level, and breaks or supplies the outputted charging current according to a charging control signal. The current detecting unit detects a level of the charging current outputted from the charging current controlling unit. The voltage detecting unit detects a voltage level of the battery. The display displays a charging state of the battery. The charging controlling unit controls the constituent components.

Description

Apparatus and Method for controlling charging of battery}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charge control device of a typical battery.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charge control device for a battery of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart showing a charging control method of a battery of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: power supply unit 110: charging current control unit

120: current detector 130: battery

140: voltage detection unit 150: display unit

160: memory 170: timer

180: alarm unit 190: charge control unit

The present invention relates to a charging control device and a control method of a battery.

Due to the development of various electronic and communication industries, portable wireless terminals are widely used, and the functions of portable wireless terminals are gradually diversified to meet the needs of users, while the size is becoming smaller and lighter. to be.

Here, the portable wireless terminal is carried by an individual such as a personal communication system (PCS), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a next generation mobile communication terminal (IMT-2000), a wireless LAN terminal, and the like. While talking wireless terminal.

In addition to a simple call function, the portable wireless terminal may download and listen to a music file, receive a video on demand (VOD) file, watch a video, or photograph a predetermined subject and store it as an album. Are being added.

In addition, in terms of hardware, various peripheral devices that can be attached or added to the portable wireless terminal have been developed. For example, a digital camera module which is detachable or built-in, airwave broadcasting TV receiving module for watching TV, MP3 player module for playing MP3 files, high performance speaker module, and the like.

As such, battery usage is increasing as various functions are added to the portable wireless terminal, and users need to charge the battery more frequently than before.

To this end, recent portable wireless terminals have internally implemented a circuit for charging so that the battery can be charged by simply connecting an external power source.

That is, when a suitable external power is applied to the power supply unit of the portable wireless terminal, the charging is automatically performed, so that the bulky charger does not need to be carried separately.

A commonly used method for such charging is to use a Travel Adapter (TA), which includes an interface that can be connected to a communication port of a portable wireless terminal and means for converting commercial power into charging power. .

In addition, the portable wireless terminal uses a charge / discharge battery that can be reused by repeatedly charging and discharging as an operating power source, and charges the charge / discharge battery using the travel adapter.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charging control device of a typical portable wireless terminal.

As shown therein, a power supply unit 10 for supplying power, a charging current controller 20 for adjusting a current supplied from the power supply unit 10 to a predetermined level according to a charging control signal, and the charging current The battery 30 charged by the charging current output from the controller 20, the voltage detector 40 detecting the charge voltage level of the battery 30, and the battery detected by the voltage detector 40 ( A display unit 50 for displaying the state of charge of the battery 30 in accordance with the voltage level of 30, and the charge control unit 60 for controlling the charge current adjusting unit 20, the voltage detector 40 and the display unit 50 Is made of.

In the charging device of a general portable wireless terminal configured as described above, the power supply unit 10 supplies power to the charging current control unit 20, the charging current control unit 20 is the power supplied from the power supply unit 10 Outputs a certain level of charging current.

The battery 30 is charged by the charging current output from the charging current controller 20, and the voltage detector 40 detects the voltage level of the battery 30 being charged and transfers the voltage to the charging controller 60. .

When the voltage level of the battery 30 is lower than the preset voltage level, the charging controller 60 notifies the user of charging through the display unit 50.

When the voltage level of the battery 30 is equal to or higher than the preset voltage level, the charging control unit 60 notifies the user that the charging of the battery 30 is completed through the display unit 50.

In this case, the display unit 50 may be formed of a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED). A red LED may indicate a charging state and a green LED may indicate a charging completion state.

That is, the charging controller 60 turns on the red LED of the display unit 50 when the voltage level of the battery 30 is lower than the preset voltage level, and the voltage level of the battery 30 is equal to or higher than the preset voltage level. In this case, the green LED of the display unit 50 is turned on.

When the voltage level of the battery 30 is greater than or equal to a preset voltage level, the charging control unit 60 notifies that the charging of the battery 30 is completed through the display unit 50, and at the same time, the charging current adjusting unit 20. Outputs a charging completion control signal.

When the charging completion control signal is output from the charging control unit 60, the charging current adjusting unit 20 cuts off the supply of the charging current to the battery 30.

In the early stages of the development of rechargeable batteries, it took several hours to charge the batteries. However, in recent years, as portable devices such as mobile phones and notebook computers have been widely used, it is desired to shorten the charging time of the batteries used in them. A fast charge was developed in which the charge was completed in minutes.

In general charging mode, the battery is charged with a current of 1A or less to prevent battery stability and performance deterioration, but in the fast charging mode, the battery is charged with a larger capacity.

However, in the related art, when the quick charge mode is set, the mobile wireless terminal itself does not provide a function for detecting and controlling an overcurrent, and as a result, the battery life is shortened as the battery is exposed to the overcurrent for a long time.

In addition, there is a problem that a risk of fire may occur due to a breakdown or leakage of the portable wireless terminal due to an overcurrent.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to charge in the fast charging mode by detecting the level of the charging current supplied to the battery and cutting off the charging current supplied to the battery when the detected charging current level is equal to or greater than the preset rapid charging maximum current level. An object of the present invention is to provide a charging control device and a control method of a battery that can detect and cut off overcurrent.

According to a preferred embodiment of the battery charging control device of the present invention, a charging current adjusting unit for adjusting the charging current level supplied from the power supply unit to the battery according to the charging control signal, and the charging current supplied to the battery A current detecting unit for detecting a level, a memory for storing a predetermined rapid charging maximum current level, generating a charging control signal to control a charging current level supplied by the charging current adjusting unit to a battery, and detecting the current detecting unit And a charging control unit configured to generate a charge blocking control signal when the charging current level is equal to or greater than the maximum charging current level stored in the memory to control the charging current control unit not to supply the charging current to the battery.

The apparatus may further include a timer that counts a time according to the control of the charging control unit, wherein the charging control unit controls the charging current control unit to perform a rapid charging when the battery starts to be charged. When the timer counts a preset time, the charging current controller controls the normal charging.

The display device may further include a voltage detector configured to detect a charged voltage of the battery, and a display configured to display a state of charge of the battery. Characterized in that the control to display the state of charge.

The apparatus may further include an alarm unit configured to display a charging error of the battery, wherein the charging controller controls the alarm unit to display a charging error when the charging current level of the battery is greater than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level stored in the memory. It is characterized by.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method for controlling a charge of a battery of the present invention, the charging current adjusting unit rapidly charges a current in the battery under the control of the charging control unit, and the current detecting unit detects the charging current level supplied to the battery. And when the detected charge current level is equal to or greater than a preset rapid charge maximum current level, the charging current adjusting unit not supplying the charging current to the battery under the control of the charging controller.

Herein, a timer counts a time for rapid charging of the battery according to the control of the charging control unit, and when the counting time is equal to or greater than a preset time, the charging current adjusting unit controls the battery according to the control of the charging control unit. And further comprising charging the current normally.

The method may further include detecting a charging voltage of the battery, and displaying a charging state of the battery by controlling the display unit according to the detected level of the charging voltage.

In addition, when the detected charge current level is greater than or equal to a predetermined fast charging maximum current level, the alarm unit further comprises the step of alerting the charging error under the control of the charging control unit.

Hereinafter, a charging control device and a control method of a battery of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charge control device for a battery of the present invention.

As shown therein, the power supply unit 100 for supplying power and the current supplied from the power supply unit 100 are adjusted to a predetermined level and output according to a charge control signal, and the output is charged according to a charge control signal. Charge current controller 110 for blocking or supplying current, a current detector 120 for detecting the level of the charge current output from the charge current controller 110, and outputs from the charge current controller 110 The battery 130 is charged according to the current, the voltage detector 140 detects the voltage level of the battery 130, and the battery voltage according to the charge voltage level of the battery 30 detected by the voltage detector 140. The display unit 150 for displaying the state of charge of 30 and the other to count the fast charge time when the charge current level detected by the current detector 120 is less than or equal to the fast charge maximum current level stored in the memory 160. When the charging current level detected by the current 170 and the current detector 120 is greater than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level, the alarm unit 180 for notifying the user of the charging error, and the charging control unit for controlling each component It consists of 190.

In the battery charge control device of the present invention configured as described above, when the user sets the quick charge mode of the charging mode and starts charging, the power supply unit 100 supplies power to the charging current control unit 110.

The charging current adjusting unit 110 outputs a predetermined level of charging current to the battery 130 as the power supplied from the power supply unit 100.

The charging current adjusting unit 110 cuts off the charging current output to the battery 130 according to the charging control signal output from the charging control unit 190.

The current detector 120 detects the level of the charge current output from the charge current controller 110 and transmits the level to the charge controller 190.

The voltage detector 140 detects a voltage level of the battery 130 to be charged and transmits the detected voltage level to the charging controller 190.

The display unit 150 notifies the user of the charging state of the battery 130 according to the charging voltage level of the battery 130.

That is, the display unit 150 is formed of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED). When the voltage level of the battery 130 is lower than a preset voltage level, a red LED indicating charging is turned on, and the battery ( When the voltage level of 130 is greater than or equal to the preset voltage level, the green LED indicating completion of charging is turned on.

When the level of the charging current detected by the current detector 120 is less than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level stored in the memory 160, the timer 170 counts the time of rapid charging up to a preset time.

The alarm unit 180 repeatedly checks the level of the charging current detected by the current detector 120, and if it is determined that the detected charging current level is equal to or greater than the quick charging maximum current level stored in the memory 160, a charging error to the user. Indicates that a has occurred.

When power is supplied from the power supply unit 100, the charging control unit 190 outputs a charging start control signal to the charging current adjusting unit 110 to start supplying the charging current to the battery 130.

In addition, the charging control unit 190 repeatedly checks the level of the charging current detected by the current detector 120, and when it is determined that the detected charging current level is equal to or greater than the rapid charging maximum current level stored in the memory 160, the The charging current control unit 110 outputs a charge blocking control signal to cut off the charging current output to the battery 130, and outputs a charging error control signal to the alarm unit 180 to inform the user that a charging error has occurred.

In addition, when the level of the charging current detected by the current detector 120 is less than or equal to the fast charging maximum current level stored in the memory 160, the charging control unit 190 operates the timer 170 to rapidly operate the battery 130. The charging time is counted up to a preset time, and when the preset time is completed, the charging mode of the battery 130 is changed from the quick charging mode to the normal charging mode.

Here, the present invention may further include a switch unit (not shown) for switching the charging mode of the battery 130 from the fast charging mode to the normal charging mode when the counting time of the timer 170 corresponds to a preset time. have.

In addition, the charging controller 190 notifies the user of the state of charge of the battery 130 through the display unit 150 according to the voltage level of the battery 130 detected by the voltage detector 140.

That is, when the detected voltage level of the battery 130 is lower than the preset voltage level, the red LED of the display unit 150 turns on to indicate that the battery is being charged, and the detected voltage level of the battery 130 is equal to or greater than the preset voltage level. In this case, the green LED of the display unit 150 turns on to indicate that the charging is completed.

As described above, according to the present invention, when charging the battery in the fast charging mode, by detecting the charging current and comparing the detected charging current with a predetermined fast charging maximum current, it is possible to detect the over-current and block the battery by blocking it. Can be.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a charging control method of a battery of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the user first sets the charging mode of the battery 130 to the fast charging mode and connects the charging adapter to the charging control device, the power supply unit 100 supplies power to the charging current adjusting unit 110. Supply (step S100).

Next, when power is supplied from the power supply unit 100, the charging control unit 190 outputs a charging start control signal to the charging current adjusting unit 110 so that the charging current adjusting unit 110 has a predetermined level. The fast charging current is supplied to the battery 130 (step S 110).

Subsequently, the current detection unit 120 detects the level of the charging current output from the charging current adjusting unit 110 and transmits it to the charging control unit 190 (step S 120).

Subsequently, the charging controller 190 compares the level of the charging current detected by the current detector 120 with the rapid charging maximum current level previously stored in the memory 160 (step S 130).

In this case, the rapid charging maximum current level is set in advance and stored in the memory 160 in order to prevent the overcurrent from flowing. The fast charging maximum current level is set by referring to the type of battery or the type of portable wireless terminal.

As a result of the comparison of step S 130, when the detected level of the charging current is greater than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level, detecting the level of the charging current output from the charging current adjusting unit 110 and comparing it with the rapid charging maximum current level. The process is repeated several times (step S 140).

Next, it is checked whether the process of detecting the level of the charging current and comparing it with the rapid charging maximum current level is repeated up to a predetermined number of times (step S 150).

As a result of checking in step S 150, when the repetition process becomes more than a predetermined number of times, the charging controller 190 determines that an overcurrent is flowing, and generates a charge blocking control signal to the charging current controller 110. The charging current adjusting unit 110 cuts off the charging current supplied to the battery 130 according to the charging blocking control signal (step S 160).

Subsequently, the charging controller 190 outputs a charging error control signal to the alarm unit 180 to inform the user that a charging error has occurred (step S 170).

That is, when the charging error control signal is output, the alarm unit 180 generates an alarm sound or lights an alarm lamp to notify the user that a charging error has occurred.

In this case, when the first charging of the battery 130 is started in the quick charge mode, the overcurrent higher than the quick charge maximum current may be detected and cut off.

When the detected level of the charging current is lower than the rapid charging maximum current level as a result of the comparison in step S 130, the charging control unit 190 operates the timer 170 to count the rapid charging time (step S 180). .

Subsequently, the charging controller 190 checks whether the time counted by the timer 170 corresponds to a preset time (step S 190).

Next, as a result of checking in step S 190, when the time counted by the timer 170 corresponds to a preset time, the charging control unit 190 changes the charging mode of the battery 130 from the fast charging mode to the normal charging mode. In operation S200, a normal charging control signal is generated by the charging current adjusting unit 110.

In the fast charging mode, since the battery 130 is charged with a larger current than the normal charging mode, the temperature and internal pressure of the battery 130 are increased by the chemical action in the battery 130, and thus the battery 130 is charged. There is a risk of breakage, and deteriorates the electrical and charging characteristics of the battery 130.

That is, since the fast charging mode is to charge the battery 130 for a quick time by applying excessive force to the battery 130, it is used only for a predetermined time, after that to switch to the normal charging mode to charge.

The charging current adjusting unit 110 supplies a general charging current to the battery 130 by adjusting the level of the charging current when the normal charging control signal is transmitted (step S 210).

Subsequently, the charging controller 190 compares the charging voltage level of the battery 130 detected by the voltage detector 140 with a preset voltage level to determine whether charging is completed (step S 220).

That is, the charging controller 190 compares whether the voltage level of the battery 130 currently being charged corresponds to a preset voltage level, where the preset voltage level is set differently depending on the type of battery but is generally used. For cadmium batteries it is set to 4.2V.

As a result of the determination in step S 220, when it is determined that the charging is completed, the charging control unit 190 lights the green LED of the display unit 150 to indicate that the charging is completed, and the charging completion control signal to the charging current adjusting unit 110. ) To cut off the supply of charging current (step S 230).

If the time counted by the timer 170 does not correspond to a preset time, as a result of checking in step S 190, the process returns to step S 110.

That is, even after the charging controller 190 operates the timer 170 to count the rapid charging time, the charging controller 190 detects the level of the charging current output from the charging current controller 110, and detects the detected charging current level and the rapid charging. By comparing the maximum current level, if the level of the detected charging current is equal to or greater than the rapid charging maximum current level, the comparison process is repeated until a preset number of times.

When the detected charging current level and the rapid charging maximum current level are repeatedly compared to a predetermined number of times, when the detected charging current level is higher than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level, the charging control unit 190 overcurrent flows. In response to the determination, the charging current control unit 110 outputs the charge blocking control signal, and the alarm unit 180 outputs the charging error control signal.

If the above process is further performed, overcurrent higher than the maximum charge current may be detected and blocked even while the battery 130 is being charged in the fast charge mode.

In addition, as a result of the comparison of step S 130, when the detected level of the charging current is lower than the rapid charging maximum current level, the voltage detector 140 detects the charging voltage level of the battery 130 and transfers it to the charging controller 190. The method may further include displaying, by the charging controller 190, the charging state of the battery 130 through the display unit 150 according to the detected charging voltage level.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the embodiments described above. Will understand.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the present invention, the level of the charging current supplied to the battery during the quick mode charging is detected, and the detected charging current level is compared with the preset rapid charging maximum current, and is supplied to the battery according to the comparison result. By blocking the charge current, it can detect and cut off the overcurrent, thus protecting the battery.

Claims (9)

A charging current adjusting unit adjusting a charging current level supplied from the power supply unit to the battery according to the charging control signal; A current detector for detecting a charge current level supplied from the charge current controller to the battery; A memory in which a preset rapid charge maximum current level is stored; And The charging control signal is generated to control the charging current level supplied by the charging current controller to the battery, and when the charging current level detected by the current detector is equal to or greater than the maximum charging current level stored in the memory, the charging shutoff control signal is generated. And a charging control unit configured to control the charging current adjusting unit not to supply the charging current to the battery. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a timer for counting the time under the control of the charging control unit, The charging control unit; When the battery starts charging, the timer adjusts the charging time while controlling the charging current controller to charge the battery, and when the timer counts the preset time, the charging current controller controls the normal charging. Charge control device of the battery, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, A voltage detector detecting a charging voltage of the battery; And Further comprising a display unit for displaying the state of charge of the battery, The charging control unit; And the display unit controls to display the state of charge of the battery according to the level of the charge voltage detected by the voltage detector. The method of claim 1, An alarm unit for displaying a charging error of the battery; The charging control unit; And when the charging current level of the battery is greater than or equal to the rapid charging maximum current level stored in the memory, controlling the alarm unit to display a charging error. Fast charging the current to the battery by the charging current controller according to the control of the charging controller; Detecting a charge current level supplied to the battery by a current detector; And a charging current controller not supplying a charging current to the battery according to the control of the charging controller when the detected charging current level is equal to or greater than a preset rapid charging maximum current level. The method of claim 5, A timer counting a time for rapid charging of the battery according to the control of the charging control unit; And The charging control method of the battery, characterized in that further comprising the step of the charging current control unit charges a normal current to the battery under the control of the charging control unit when the counting time is more than a predetermined time. The method of claim 5, Detecting a charging voltage of the battery; And And controlling the display to display a charging state of the battery according to the detected level of the charging voltage. The method of claim 5, The step of not supplying a charging current to the battery; The charging control method of the battery, characterized in that the charging current is not supplied to the battery when the number of times the charge current level of the battery is greater than or equal to the predetermined rapid charge maximum current level is more than the predetermined number. The method of claim 5, When the detected charge current level is equal to or greater than a preset rapid charge maximum current level; And a warning unit for alarming a charging error according to the control of the charging control unit.

Images