CN117691697A - Method and system for charger adaptive voltage regulation - Google Patents

Method and system for charger adaptive voltage regulation Download PDF

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Publication number
CN117691697A
CN117691697A CN202311131890.5A CN202311131890A CN117691697A CN 117691697 A CN117691697 A CN 117691697A CN 202311131890 A CN202311131890 A CN 202311131890A CN 117691697 A CN117691697 A CN 117691697A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
charger
regulated voltage
battery module
power
voltage threshold
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CN202311131890.5A
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
林成根
韩翀
陈彦模
周宪毅
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Renesas Electronics America Inc
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Renesas Electronics America Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US18/153,417 external-priority patent/US20240088690A1/en
Application filed by Renesas Electronics America Inc filed Critical Renesas Electronics America Inc
Publication of CN117691697A publication Critical patent/CN117691697A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/007—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/44—Methods for charging or discharging
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
    • H02J7/0048—Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/007—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
    • H02J7/00712—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M3/00—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output
    • H02M3/02—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac
    • H02M3/04—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters
    • H02M3/10—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
    • H02M3/145—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
    • H02M3/155—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
    • H02M3/156—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
    • H02M3/158—Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
    • H02M3/1582—Buck-boost converters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J2207/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J2207/20—Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for charger adaptive voltage regulation, and describes a system and method for adaptive voltage regulation. According to one example, a method for operating a charger may include setting, by a charger controller of the charger, a maximum regulated voltage threshold and a minimum regulated voltage threshold, the minimum regulated voltage threshold being a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%; setting, by a charger controller, a charger regulation voltage to a maximum regulation voltage threshold; determining, by a battery monitor, a state of charge of the battery module; and operating the charger at a maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged.

Description

Method and system for charger adaptive voltage regulation
Cross Reference to Related Applications
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.63/405,141, entitled "Adaptive VSYS regulation scheme preventing floating charging and acoustic noise for battery charger products," filed 9/2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods of controlling semiconductor devices, and more particularly to control of battery chargers or power converters.
Background
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The charger (e.g., battery charger) may operate in different modes depending on the amount of available power, taking into account the instantaneous load. For example, the charger may operate in a first mode, wherein the power adapter (e.g., a power supply) may apply power to the charger such that power from the power adapter may be provided by the charger to a load attached to the charger, and wherein the charger operates as a power converter to provide power from the power adapter to the load. In this case, the power from the power adapter may also be applied to charge one or more rechargeable batteries attached to the charger in the charger forward mode. The charger may operate in a second mode, wherein the charger may be disconnected from the power adapter, or the power adapter may be turned off, and a load (e.g., power or current demand) may be supplied by the charged battery through the charger in a reverse mode, wherein the charger operates as a power converter to provide power from the battery to the load. Finally, the charger may operate in a third mode, wherein the power adapter may apply power to the charger such that power from the power adapter may be provided by the charger to a load attached to the charger, and supplemental power may be provided by one or more charged batteries attached to the charger such that the overall power demand of the load may be met when the overall power demand of the load is higher than the power adapter alone can meet by the charger.
As used herein, the term forward mode refers to the direction of power flow into the battery (e.g., battery charging), and the term reverse mode refers to the direction of power flow out of the battery (e.g., battery discharging). In some cases, a mode timer may be used to activate the charger in a particular mode for a particular duration. For example, once an excessive power demand from the load is detected, the charger may enter a supplemental mode, and may remain in the supplemental mode until the timer expires by reaching the end of a predetermined time interval.
Based on the above example, if the load slightly exceeds the rated capacity of the charger, the amount of power drawn by the load (e.g., the amount of current drawn by the load) may be above a threshold amount to activate the supplemental mode. Alternatively, after the supplemental mode is activated, the load may transition from powering the load slightly above the charger rated capacity (where supplemental power from the battery is required) to powering the load at a level slightly below the charger rated capacity (where supplemental power from the battery is not required). Thus, after activating the supplemental mode and while the mode timer is running, the charger controller may determine that supplemental mode power is no longer needed, and then interrupt the supplemental mode after the timer expires. After the load transitions below the rated capacity of the charger, the charger may begin charging the battery during the remainder of the timer period. In this case, the battery may already be fully charged. This may cycle the charger between activating and deactivating the supplemental mode, between charging and discharging a fully charged battery based on the current demand and a timer.
Charging a fully charged battery may reduce battery capacity, shorten battery life, or may cause other problems. Furthermore, repeated charging and discharging of the battery may result in acoustic noise generated based on repeated, abrupt power application to various components, such as capacitors and inductors, thereby generating sounds that may be undesirable to the user or bystanders. What is needed is a solution to these problems and others.
Disclosure of Invention
According to one example, a semiconductor device is generally described. The semiconductor device may include a charger including a charger controller and a power stage having a power stage first side configured to receive electrical power from the power adapter and a power stage second side configured to provide electrical power to the load, the power stage second side configured to connect to a battery module including one or more rechargeable battery cells, the battery module configured to receive electrical power from the power stage second side to charge the battery module at a regulated voltage, the battery module configured to provide supplemental electrical power to the load based on the charger controller; and a battery monitor connected to the charger controller and the battery module, the battery monitor configured to determine a state of charge of the battery module, the state of charge including one of a maximum charge, at least a minimum charge, and less than the minimum charge, wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage based on the amount of power received from the power adapter and the state of charge, and wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged.
According to this example, in the semiconductor device, when the battery module is maximally charged, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold, which is a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%. In the semiconductor device, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is at less than a minimum charge. The semiconductor device further includes a switching element to connect the battery module with the power stage second side, the charger controller configured to enable the switching element to provide supplemental power from the battery module to the load in a charger reverse mode, the charger controller configured to disable the switching element to charge the battery module at the regulated voltage in a charger forward mode. In a semiconductor device, a charger controller includes a pulse width modulator control module configured to control at least one pulse width modulator signal configured to drive a power stage when enabled. In the semiconductor device, the power stage comprises a buck-boost power stage, and wherein the charger comprises a buck-boost charger.
According to another example, a semiconductor system is generally described. A semiconductor system may include a charger including a charger controller and a power stage having a power stage first side configured to receive electrical power from a power adapter and a power stage second side configured to provide electrical power to a load; a battery module including one or more rechargeable battery cells connected to the second side of the power stage, the battery module configured to receive electrical power from the second side of the power stage to charge the battery module at a regulated voltage, the battery module configured to provide supplemental power to the load based on the charger controller; and a battery monitor connected to the charger controller and the battery module, the battery monitor configured to determine a state of charge of the battery module, the state of charge including one of a maximum charge, at least a minimum charge, and less than the minimum charge, wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage based on the amount of power received from the power adapter and the state of charge, and wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged.
According to this example, in the semiconductor system, when the battery module is maximally charged, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold that is a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%. In the semiconductor system, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is minimally charged. In the semiconductor system, the one or more batteries of the battery module include at least one of lithium ion batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, and nickel cadmium batteries arranged in one of a series configuration, a parallel configuration, or a series-parallel configuration. In the semiconductor system, the charger controller further comprises a loop control module configured to set the regulated voltage and a pulse width modulator control module configured to control at least one pulse width modulator signal connected to the power stage and configured to drive the power stage when enabled. In a semiconductor system, the power stage comprises a buck-boost power stage, and wherein the charger comprises a buck-boost charger. The semiconductor system further includes a switching element to connect the battery module with the power stage second side, the charger controller configured to enable the switching element to provide supplemental power from the battery module to the load in a charger reverse mode, the charger controller configured to disable the switching element to charge the battery module at the regulated voltage in a charger forward mode. In the semiconductor system, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is maximally charged, at least one of reducing acoustic noise from the charger and reducing float charging of the battery module.
According to yet another example, a method for operating a charger may include: setting, by a charger controller of the charger, a maximum regulated voltage threshold and a minimum regulated voltage threshold, the minimum regulated voltage threshold being a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%; setting, by a charger controller, a charger regulation voltage to a maximum regulation voltage threshold; determining, by a battery monitor, a state of charge of the battery module; and operating the charger at the maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged.
According to this example, in the method, operating the charger at the maximum regulated voltage threshold further comprises: charging the battery module by the charger controller at a maximum regulated voltage threshold; and operating the charger as a power converter while maximally charging the battery module. The method further comprises the steps of: the charger regulation voltage is set by the charger controller to a minimum regulation voltage threshold when the battery module is maximally charged. The method further comprises the steps of: determining, by a battery monitor, a state of charge (SOC) of the battery module; and operating the charger at a minimum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is at least minimally charged. In the method, operating the charger at the minimum regulated voltage threshold further comprises: charging the battery module by a charger at a minimum regulated voltage threshold; and operating the charger as a power converter while minimally charging the battery module. The method further comprises the steps of: the charger regulation voltage is set to a maximum regulation voltage threshold by the charger controller when the battery module is not at least minimally charged.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
Drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an electronic system that may implement adaptive system voltage regulation for a charger according to various examples of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a loop control module for a charger controller according to various examples of the present disclosure.
Fig. 3 illustrates a battery monitor state of charge (SOC) according to various examples of the present disclosure.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a charger according to various examples.
Detailed Description
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific structures, components, materials, dimensions, processing steps and techniques, in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments of the present application. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments of the present application may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures or processing steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present application.
As will be described in more detail below, charger adaptive voltage regulation may be achieved by the systems and methods described in accordance with the present disclosure. The system may provide adaptive voltage regulation for a charger in a relatively compact solution, allowing the adaptive voltage regulation techniques described herein to be adapted for applications having limited size, weight, and cost. The described solution recognizes that in some applications damage may be caused by charging a fully charged battery and damage caused by increased acoustic noise conditions. Thus, the described solution solves these and other problems. Furthermore, the systems and methods may provide effective voltage regulation techniques for various consumer electronic devices.
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an electronic system in which an adaptive voltage regulation solution according to various examples of the present disclosure may be implemented. The electronic system 100 may include two or more electronic devices or components. The electronic system 100 may be generally implemented as a semiconductor system 100 that may include an electronic device 102, which electronic device 102 may be generally implemented as a semiconductor device 102 along with one or more semiconductor circuits, semiconductor chips, memory elements, discrete components, and the like.
According to an example, the semiconductor device 102 may include a charger 110, the charger 110 further including a charger controller 114 and a power stage 116, the power stage 116 having a power stage first side 118 and a power stage second side 120. The power stage first side 118 may be configured to receive electrical power from the power adapter 140 at an adapter voltage 142 (v_adp) and an adapter current 144 (i_adp). The power adapter 140 may be connected to the power stage first side 118 by a releasable electrical connector 148 (e.g., a plug) of a suitable type. The power stage second side 120 may be configured to provide electrical power from the power adapter 140 through the power stage 116 to the load 150 at a system voltage 152 (v_sys) and a system current 154 (i_sys) based on the charger controller signal 122 applied to the power stage first side 118 and the charger controller signal 124 applied to the power stage second side 120. The power stage second side 120 may be connected to the load 150 by a releasable electrical connector 158 of a suitable type. The power stage second side 120 may be configured to be connected to a battery module 160, the battery module 160 including one or more rechargeable battery cells 162. As shown, power stage 116 may be implemented as a buck-boost power stage (e.g., a buck-boost converter) such that charger 110 comprises a buck-boost charger. Advantages of utilizing buck-boost power stages include the ability to provide an output voltage higher than the input voltage. Alternatively, the power stage 116 may be implemented as a buck power stage having a switching device corresponding to the power stage second side 120, such that the charger 110 may be a buck charger. Advantages of utilizing buck power stages include lower cost and complexity compared to utilizing buck-boost power stages.
The charger controller 114 may include a loop control module 126, the loop control module 126 being configured to determine an operational mode of the charger 110. The charger controller 114 may also include a pulse width modulator control module 128, the pulse width modulator control module 128 having a plurality of Pulse Width Modulators (PWM) to control the flow of power through the power stage 116, charge and discharge the battery module 160, and apply supplemental power from the battery module 160 to the load 150 by varying the on/off characteristics of the control signal. Specifically, a separate pulse width modulator signal (e.g., output) may be connected to each of the charger controller signal 122 applied to the control element (e.g., power transistor) of the first side 118 of the power stage and the charger controller signal 124 applied to the control element of the second side 120 of the power stage. The charger controller 114 may also include a regulated voltage module 130 to set the output voltage 152 (v_sys) to the regulator output.
The battery modules 160 may be configured to receive electrical power from the power stage second side 120 to charge one or more rechargeable battery cells 162 in the battery modules 160 at the charger regulated voltage 130. The battery module 160 may be configured to provide supplemental power to the load 150 based on the charger controller 114. In this way, the charger controller 114 may drive the power stage 116 to provide power from the power adapter 140 to the load 150 along with supplemental power from the battery module 160. As used herein, the term forward mode refers to the direction of power flow into the battery 162 (e.g., battery charging), and the term reverse mode refers to the direction of power flow out of the battery 162 (e.g., battery discharging).
The battery monitor 170 may be connected to the charger controller 114 and the battery module 160. The battery monitor 170 may be configured to determine a state of charge 172 (SOC) of the battery module. As will be described more fully below, the state of charge 172 of the battery module 160 may be one of a maximum charge (e.g., fully charged), at least a minimum charge (e.g., at or above a minimum charge level), and less than a minimum charge (e.g., below a minimum charge level). The battery module 160 may have a battery voltage 164 (v_bat) applied to the charger controller 114 and the battery monitor 170. In this manner, the battery monitor 170 may measure various aspects of one or more rechargeable batteries to calculate the state of charge 172 of the battery module 160, including measuring battery voltage, current measurements, current integration, temperature measurements, to serve as a "fuel gauge" for the battery module 160. The charger controller 114 may be configured to set the regulated voltage 130 based on the amount of power received from the power adapter 140, the power stored in the battery module 160 based on the state of charge 172, and the amount of power drawn by the load 150. The control and status signal 178 may be asserted between the battery monitor 170 and the charger controller 114 to provide configuration control of the battery monitor 170 and to provide status regarding the state of charge 172 based on the threshold 220 described above, such that the loop control module 126 may determine the mode of operation of the charger 110 (e.g., state S1 or state S2 of fig. 4 and transitions therebetween).
Connected between the battery module 160 and the power stage second side 126 may be a semiconductor switching element 166, the semiconductor switching element 166 configured to selectively connect an output (v_bat) of the battery module 160 to the power stage second side 120 to provide supplemental power from the battery module 160 to the load 150 when a switching signal 168 from the charger controller 114 is enabled. The switch signal 168 may be generated by the pulse width modulator control module 128 to carefully control the amount of supplemental power from the battery module 160. Conversely, when the switch signal 168 is disabled, the battery module 160 may be charged from the power stage second side 120. In this manner, the charger controller 114 may be configured to enable the switching element 166 to provide supplemental power from the battery module 160 to the load 150 in the charger reverse mode. Conversely, the charger controller 114 may be configured to disable the switching element 166 to charge the battery module 160 at the regulated voltage 130 in the charger forward mode. The semiconductor switching element 166 may be an n-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (n-MOSFET) or other suitable component.
The host computer 180 may interface with the charger 110 to provide instructions and configuration information to the charger 110 and receive status information from the charger 110 regarding system performance, possible faults, and other information. Host computer 180 may include a processor 182, such as a microprocessor configured to read program instructions 184 (e.g., computer-implemented code) from a non-transitory computer-readable medium 186, such as Read Only Memory (ROM), random Access Memory (RAM), programmable Logic Devices (PLD), flash drives, memory cards/sticks, solid state storage devices, etc. Program instructions 184 read by processor 182 and/or a dedicated controller as a processor device from computer readable medium 186 may cause processor 182 to provide configuration settings and information to charger 110 to perform operations corresponding to the functions, processes, and methods described herein, as will be discussed more fully below. The computer readable medium 186 may be removable, replaceable or rewritable such that the program instructions 184 in the computer readable medium 186 may be modified, upgraded or replaced.
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a loop control module 126 for the charger controller 114 (and more generally for the charger 110) according to various examples of the present disclosure. According to an example, the loop control module 126 may include various thresholds 220, including a maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 and a minimum regulated voltage threshold 224. These values may be stored in the charger regulating voltage module 130 to determine the system voltage output to the load 150, as briefly described with reference to fig. 1. Loop control module 126 may include a processor 210, such as a microprocessor or Microcontroller (MCU), processor 210 being configured to read program instructions 212 (e.g., computer-implemented code) from a non-transitory computer-readable medium 214, such as read-only memory (ROM), random Access Memory (RAM), programmable Logic Device (PLD), flash drive, memory card/stick, solid state storage device, etc. Program instructions 212 read from computer-readable medium 214 by processor 210 and/or a dedicated controller as a processor apparatus may cause processor 210 to perform operations corresponding to the functions, procedures, and methods described herein. The computer readable medium 214 may be removable, replaceable or rewritable such that the program instructions 212 in the computer readable medium 214 may be modified, upgraded or replaced. The loop control module 126 may also include various Arithmetic and Logic Units (ALUs) to perform the computation and comparison operations described herein. The charger controller 114 (more generally, the charger 110) may receive control signals through the control and status interface 188 and provide status signals to the host computer 180.
Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the charger controller 114 may initially be configured to set the regulated voltage 130 to the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 until the battery module 160 is maximally charged. Thereafter, when the battery module 160 is maximally charged, the charger controller 114 may set the regulated voltage to the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224. By reducing the system output voltage to the load 150 once the battery module 160 is fully charged or nearly fully charged, the system may avoid "floating charging" one or more batteries 162 in the battery module 160 during the remainder of the supplemental supply of power to the load 150 and the system may avoid repeated activation of the charging and discharging of the battery module 160 when the demand level changes from just above the capacity of the charger 110 to just below the capacity of the charger 110. Each abrupt activation of the charge and discharge of the battery module 160 may cause physical stress to various components such as ceramic capacitors attached to a printed circuit board, so that the physical stress may cause acoustic noise to be emitted based on these physical changes. The amount of acoustic noise generated by such activation may also be reduced by reducing the frequency of activation of the charge and discharge cycles, or by limiting activation of the charge and discharge when the battery module 170 is fully charged or nearly fully charged. In other words, when the battery module 160 is maximally charged, the charger controller 114 sets the regulated voltage 130 to the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224, which may reduce acoustic noise from the charger and/or reduce float charging of the battery module 160. In this way, the voltage regulation of the charger 110 may be adapted to the state of charge 172 of the battery module 160.
As discussed herein, the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 and the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 may be assigned to the regulated voltage 130 and may correspond to the system voltage 152 (v_sys) output to the load 150. In other words, the regulated voltage 130 may correspond to a regulator voltage output, or to an output voltage level that the charger 110 requires when acting as a power converter or power regulator and applying power to the load 150 (e.g., when driving the load 150). For example, when the battery module 170 includes three battery cells arranged in series and the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 is set to 12.576 volts, then the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 may be set to 11.947 volts (e.g., about-629 mV lower), which 11.947 volts is about 95% of the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 as a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222. Other predetermined percentage values for the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 may be in the range of, for example, between about-400 mV to about-600 mV for the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222, or between about 90% to about 98% of the maximum regulated voltage 222, inclusive, and may preferably be about 95%. As used herein, the term "about" is a relative term used to allow for variations in component values, component settings, and system performance over time, and may include variations up to 1%, such that the predetermined minimum regulated voltage threshold 224, which is set to 95%, may be as low as 94% and as high as 96%. Similarly, the predetermined minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 is set to any value between about 90% and 98%, and may be as low as 89% and as high as 99%. After that, the charger controller 114 may set the regulated voltage 130 to the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 when the battery module is at less than the minimum charge. Other thresholds and other relationships between thresholds may be selected based on the performance of a particular system under particular conditions.
Fig. 3 illustrates a battery monitor state of charge 172 (SOC) according to various examples of the present disclosure. The battery module 160 may be implemented as one or more batteries 162 of various technologies, including nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), or lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries of various voltage and current capacities. The battery module 160 may include two or more batteries connected and arranged in series, arranged in parallel, or arranged in a series-parallel configuration, etc.
The state of charge 172 of the battery module 160 may be one of a maximum charge 302 (e.g., fully charged), at least a minimum charge 306 (e.g., at or above a minimum charge level), and less than a minimum charge 310 (e.g., below a minimum charge level). The maximum charge 302 corresponds to an area in which the battery module 160 is fully charged based on the expected demand distribution of the load 150 and based on the ratings of the one or more battery cells 162 and how they are arranged in the battery module 160. The battery voltage 164 may be used alone or in combination with other measurements to reflect the state of charge 172, where the battery voltage 164 may be compared to a predetermined minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 to determine a transition point between less than the minimum charge 310 and at least the minimum charge 306. The arrangement of battery cells 162 may be communicated to charger controller 114 using pin settings, writing configuration information to registers or associated control logic within processor 210, or writing configuration information to locations in memory 214, etc. As used herein, the term "set" may refer to any of these actions.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a charger according to various examples. The method 400 (e.g., the process 400) may be implemented on hardware such as the electronic system 100 or the electronic device 102 described with reference to fig. 1-3. Example processes may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 402 through 456 of fig. 4. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, the various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, eliminated, performed in a different order, or performed in parallel when not disabled, depending on the desired implementation.
Referring to fig. 1-4, the method 400 begins at step 402 and proceeds to set the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 and the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224 at step 408. The method 400 proceeds to step 414 to set the charger regulation voltage 130 to the maximum regulation voltage threshold 222. The method 400 proceeds to determine the state of charge 172 of the battery module 160 by the battery monitor 170 at step 420 and proceeds to operate the charger 110 at the maximum regulated voltage threshold 222 at step 426 until the battery module 160 is maximally charged (e.g., fully charged). When the battery module is not fully charged, the method 400 remains in step 432 by operating the charger 110 as a power converter while maximizing charging of the battery module 160 (corresponding to state S1). In this manner, the process requires that the battery module 160 be maximally charged (e.g., fully charged) prior to implementing the adaptive voltage regulation described herein.
Once the battery module 160 is fully charged, the method 400 proceeds to set the charger regulation voltage 130 to the minimum regulation voltage threshold 224 by the charger controller 114 at step 438. The method 400 proceeds to determine the state of charge 172 (SOC) of the battery module 160 by the battery monitor 170 at step 444 and proceeds to operate the charger 110 at the minimum regulated voltage threshold 130 when the battery module 160 is at least minimally charged at step 450. Operating the charger 110 at the minimum regulated voltage threshold 222 in method step 450 further includes charging the battery module 160 by the charger 110 at the minimum regulated voltage threshold 224, and in step 456, the method includes: the charger 110 is operated as a power converter while the battery module is minimally charged (corresponding to state S2). While operating in state S2, if the state of charge 172 of the battery module 160 drops below a level corresponding to at least the minimum charge 306 and enters a level corresponding to less than the minimum charge 310, the method 400 proceeds to set the charger regulation voltage 130 to the maximum regulation voltage threshold 222 (again) by the charger controller 114 at step 414. In this manner, the process of method 400 is intended to continue.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including" when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements, if any, in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The various embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims (20)

1.一种半导体装置，包括：1. A semiconductor device, comprising: 充电器，所述充电器包括充电器控制器和功率级，所述功率级具有功率级第一侧和功率级第二侧，所述功率级第一侧被配置为从电源适配器接收电功率，所述功率级第二侧被配置为向负载提供电功率，所述功率级第二侧被配置为连接到包括一个或多个可再充电电池单元的电池模块，所述电池模块被配置为从所述功率级第二侧接收电功率以在调节电压下对所述电池模块进行充电，所述电池模块被配置为基于所述充电器控制器向所述负载提供补充功率；以及A charger including a charger controller and a power stage having a first side of the power stage and a second side of the power stage, the first side of the power stage being configured to receive electrical power from a power adapter, The power stage second side is configured to provide electrical power to a load, the power stage second side is configured to be connected to a battery module including one or more rechargeable battery cells, the battery module is configured to receive from the A second side of the power stage receives electrical power to charge the battery module at a regulated voltage, the battery module configured to provide supplemental power to the load based on the charger controller; and 电池监测器，所述电池监测器连接到所述充电器控制器和所述电池模块，所述电池监测器被配置为确定电池模块的充电状态，所述充电状态包括最大充电、至少最小充电和小于最小充电中的一种，A battery monitor connected to the charger controller and the battery module, the battery monitor configured to determine a state of charge of the battery module, the state of charge including a maximum charge, at least a minimum charge, and less than one of the minimum charges, 其中所述充电器控制器被配置为基于从所述电源适配器接收的功率量和所述充电状态来设置所述调节电压，并且wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage based on an amount of power received from the power adapter and the state of charge, and 其中所述充电器控制器被配置为将所述调节电压设置为最大调节电压阈值，直到所述电池模块被最大程度地充电。Wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is charged to a maximum extent. 2.根据权利要求1所述的半导体装置，其中当所述电池模块被最大程度地充电时，所述充电器控制器将所述调节电压设置为最小调节电压阈值，所述最小调节电压阈值是所述最大调节电压阈值的预定百分比，所述预定百分比在约90％与约98％之间的范围内。2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein when the battery module is charged to a maximum extent, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold, the minimum regulated voltage threshold being A predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%. 3.根据权利要求2所述的半导体装置，其中当所述电池模块处于小于最小充电时，所述充电器控制器将所述调节电压设置为所述最大调节电压阈值。3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to the maximum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is less than a minimum charge. 4.根据权利要求1所述的半导体装置，还包括开关元件以将所述电池模块与所述功率级第二侧连接，所述充电器控制器被配置为在充电器反向模式中启用所述开关元件以将补充功率从所述电池模块提供到所述负载，所述充电器控制器被配置为在充电器正向模式中禁用所述开关元件以在所述调节电压下对所述电池模块进行充电。4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a switching element to connect the battery module to the power stage second side, the charger controller configured to enable the charger in a charger reverse mode. the switching element to provide supplemental power from the battery module to the load, the charger controller being configured to disable the switching element in charger forward mode to charge the battery at the regulated voltage The module is charged. 5.根据权利要求1所述的半导体装置，其中所述充电器控制器包括脉冲宽度调制器控制模块，所述脉冲宽度调制器控制模块被配置为控制至少一个脉冲宽度调制器信号，所述至少一个脉冲宽度调制器信号被配置为在被启用时驱动所述功率级。5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the charger controller includes a pulse width modulator control module configured to control at least one pulse width modulator signal, the at least A pulse width modulator signal is configured to drive the power stage when enabled. 6.根据权利要求1所述的半导体装置，其中所述功率级包括降压-升压功率级，并且其中所述充电器包括降压-升压充电器。6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the power stage includes a buck-boost power stage, and wherein the charger includes a buck-boost charger. 7.一种半导体系统，包括：7. A semiconductor system, comprising: 充电器，所述充电器包括充电器控制器和功率级，所述功率级具有功率级第一侧和功率级第二侧，所述功率级第一侧被配置为从功率适配器接收电功率，所述功率级第二侧被配置为向负载提供电功率；A charger including a charger controller and a power stage having a first side of the power stage and a second side of the power stage, the first side of the power stage being configured to receive electrical power from a power adapter, The second side of the power stage is configured to provide electrical power to the load; 电池模块，所述电池模块包括连接到所述功率级第二侧的一个或多个可再充电电池单元，所述电池模块被配置为从所述功率级第二侧接收电功率以在调节电压下对该电池模块进行充电，所述电池模块被配置为基于所述充电器控制器向所述负载提供补充功率；以及A battery module including one or more rechargeable battery cells connected to the second side of the power stage, the battery module configured to receive electrical power from the second side of the power stage to operate at a regulated voltage. charging the battery module configured to provide supplemental power to the load based on the charger controller; and 电池监测器，所述电池监测器连接到所述充电器控制器和所述电池模块，所述电池监测器被配置为确定所述电池模块的充电状态，所述充电状态包括最大充电、至少最小充电以及小于最小充电中的一种，A battery monitor connected to the charger controller and the battery module, the battery monitor configured to determine a state of charge of the battery module, the state of charge including a maximum charge, at least a minimum charge charge and one of less than the minimum charge, 其中所述充电器控制器被配置为基于从所述功率适配器接收的功率量和所述充电状态来设置所述调节电压，并且wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage based on an amount of power received from the power adapter and the state of charge, and 其中所述充电器控制器被配置为将所述调节电压设置为最大调节电压阈值，直到所述电池模块被最大程度地充电。Wherein the charger controller is configured to set the regulated voltage to a maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is charged to a maximum extent. 8.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中当所述电池模块被最大程度地充电时，所述充电器控制器将所述调节电压设置为最小调节电压阈值，所述最小调节电压阈值是所述最大调节电压阈值的预定百分比，所述预定百分比在约90％与约98％之间的范围内。8. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein when the battery module is maximally charged, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold, the minimum regulated voltage threshold being A predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being in a range between about 90% and about 98%. 9.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中当所述电池模块被最小程度地充电时，所述充电器控制器将所述调节电压设置为所述最大调节电压阈值。9. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to the maximum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is minimally charged. 10.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中所述电池模块的所述一个或多个电池包括以串联配置、并联配置或串并联配置中的一种布置的锂离子电池、镍氢电池和镍镉电池中的至少一者。10. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein the one or more batteries of the battery module include lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium-ion batteries arranged in one of a series configuration, a parallel configuration, or a series-parallel configuration. At least one of the nickel-cadmium batteries. 11.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中所述充电器控制器还包括回路控制模块和脉冲宽度调制器控制模块，所述回路控制模块被配置为设置所述调节电压，所述脉冲宽度调制器控制模块被配置为控制至少一个脉冲宽度调制器信号，所述至少一个脉冲宽度调制器信号连接到所述功率级并且被配置为在被启用时驱动所述功率级。11. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein the charger controller further comprises a loop control module and a pulse width modulator control module, the loop control module being configured to set the regulated voltage, the pulse width A modulator control module is configured to control at least one pulse width modulator signal coupled to the power stage and configured to drive the power stage when enabled. 12.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中所述功率级包括降压-升压功率级，并且其中所述充电器包括降压-升压充电器。12. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein the power stage includes a buck-boost power stage, and wherein the charger includes a buck-boost charger. 13.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，还包括开关元件以将所述电池模块与所述功率级第二侧连接，所述充电器控制器被配置为在充电器反向模式中启用所述开关元件以将补充功率从所述电池模块提供到所述负载，所述充电器控制器被配置为在充电器正向模式中禁用所述开关元件以在所述调节电压下对所述电池模块进行充电。13. The semiconductor system of claim 7, further comprising a switching element to connect the battery module to the power stage second side, the charger controller configured to enable the charger reverse mode the switching element to provide supplemental power from the battery module to the load, the charger controller being configured to disable the switching element in charger forward mode to charge the battery at the regulated voltage The module is charged. 14.根据权利要求7所述的半导体系统，其中当所述电池模块被最大程度地充电时，所述充电器控制器将所述调节电压设置为最小调节电压阈值，减少来自所述充电器的声学噪声和减少对所述电池模块的浮充电中的至少一项。14. The semiconductor system of claim 7, wherein when the battery module is charged to a maximum extent, the charger controller sets the regulated voltage to a minimum regulated voltage threshold, reducing power from the charger. At least one of acoustic noise and reducing float charge to the battery module. 15.一种用于操作充电器的方法，所述方法包括：15. A method for operating a charger, the method comprising: 由所述充电器的充电器控制器设置最大调节电压阈值和最小调节电压阈值，所述最小调节电压阈值是所述最大调节电压阈值的预定百分比，所述预定百分比在约90％与约98％之间的范围内；A maximum regulated voltage threshold and a minimum regulated voltage threshold are set by a charger controller of the charger, the minimum regulated voltage threshold being a predetermined percentage of the maximum regulated voltage threshold, the predetermined percentage being between about 90% and about 98% within the range between; 由所述充电器控制器将充电器调节电压设置为所述最大调节电压阈值；The charger controller sets the charger regulation voltage to the maximum regulation voltage threshold; 由电池监测器确定电池模块的充电状态；以及Determination of the state of charge of the battery module by a battery monitor; and 在所述最大调节电压阈值下操作所述充电器，直到所述电池模块被最大程度地充电。The charger is operated at the maximum regulated voltage threshold until the battery module is maximally charged. 16.根据权利要求15所述的方法，其中在所述最大调节电压阈值下操作所述充电器还包括：16. The method of claim 15, wherein operating the charger at the maximum regulated voltage threshold further comprises: 由所述充电器控制器在所述最大调节电压阈值下对所述电池模块进行充电；以及charging the battery module by the charger controller at the maximum regulated voltage threshold; and 将所述充电器作为功率转换器进行操作，同时对所述电池模块进行最大程度地充电。The charger operates as a power converter while maximizing charging of the battery module. 17.根据权利要求15所述的方法，还包括：17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: 当所述电池模块被最大程度地充电时，由所述充电器控制器将所述充电器调节电压设置为所述最小调节电压阈值。When the battery module is maximally charged, the charger regulated voltage is set by the charger controller to the minimum regulated voltage threshold. 18.根据权利要求17所述的方法，还包括：18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: 由所述电池监测器确定所述电池模块的充电状态(SOC)；以及Determining the state of charge (SOC) of the battery module by the battery monitor; and 当所述电池模块被至少最小程度地充电时，在所述最小调节电压阈值下操作所述充电器。The charger is operated at the minimum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is at least minimally charged. 19.根据权利要求18所述的方法，其中在所述最小调节电压阈值下操作所述充电器还包括：19. The method of claim 18, wherein operating the charger at the minimum regulated voltage threshold further comprises: 由所述充电器在所述最小调节电压阈值下对所述电池模块进行充电；以及charging the battery module by the charger at the minimum regulated voltage threshold; and 将所述充电器作为功率转换器进行操作，同时对所述电池模块进行最小程度地充电。The charger operates as a power converter while minimally charging the battery module. 20.根据权利要求19所述的方法，还包括：20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: 当所述电池模块未被至少最小程度地充电时，由所述充电器控制器将所述充电器调节电压设置为所述最大调节电压阈值。The charger regulated voltage is set by the charger controller to the maximum regulated voltage threshold when the battery module is not at least minimally charged.
CN202311131890.5A 2022-09-09 2023-09-04 Method and system for charger adaptive voltage regulation Pending CN117691697A (en)

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