TWI527339B - Charge device - Google Patents

Description

Charging device

The present invention relates to a charging device, and more particularly to a charging device that provides two different charging currents.

With the advancement of technology, there are more and more types of electronic devices. Many electronic devices have a portable function for convenience. In portable electronic devices, there is typically a rechargeable battery for providing the power required by the electronic device. When the rechargeable battery is low, the electronic device will not operate normally. Therefore, it is necessary to charge the electronic device in time to ensure that the electronic device operates normally.

The present invention provides a charging device coupled to an external device and includes a connection port, a battery unit, a conversion unit, and a detection control unit. The port is coupled to the external device and has a first pin and a second pin. The battery unit has a battery voltage. The conversion unit converts the battery voltage to supply an external device. When the battery voltage is greater than a threshold, the detection control unit couples the first and second pins to a first charging unit. When the battery voltage is not greater than the threshold, the detection control unit couples the first and second pins to a second charging unit. When the first and second pins are coupled to the first charging unit, the port outputs a first charging current to the external device. When the first and second pins are coupled to the second charging unit, the port outputs a second charging current to the external device. The first charging current is greater than the second charging current.

In order to make the features and advantages of the present invention more obvious, the following is a special The preferred embodiment, together with the drawings, is described in detail as follows:

100‧‧‧Charging system

102‧‧‧Charging device

104‧‧‧External devices

I ₁ , I ₂ ‧‧‧Charging current

112‧‧‧ battery unit

114‧‧‧Conversion unit

116‧‧‧Detection Control Unit

118‧‧‧Connector

122, 402‧‧‧Detection module

124, 404‧‧‧ control module

VBUS, D+, D-, GND‧‧‧ pins

V _B , V _T , V _G V ₁ ~V ₄ ‧‧‧ voltage

S _C1 , S _C2 ‧‧‧ control signals

R ₁ ~R ₇ ‧‧‧resistance

126, 240‧‧‧ switch module

S ₁ ~S ₆ ‧‧‧Control ingredients

510, 512, 514‧‧

Vref‧‧‧ threshold

V _LM ‧‧‧limit value

128, 130, 200, 220, 230, 412, 414, 422, 424 ‧ ‧ charging unit

202, 204, 226, 228, 241~244, SW ₁ ~ SW ₆ ‧ ‧ switch

222, 224, 231~233, 416, 418‧‧‧ charging modules

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a charging system of the present invention.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show possible embodiments of the charging unit.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of one of the charging units of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a possible internal architecture of one of the detection control units of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing changes in battery voltage of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a charging system of the present invention. As shown, the charging system 100 includes a charging device 102 and an external device 104. The charging device 102 outputs a first or second charging current according to the voltage of its own internal battery for charging the external device 104. In a possible embodiment, the charging device 102 is a mobile power source.

When the battery inside the charging device 102 has a sufficient voltage, the charging device 102 outputs a large charging current. When the battery inside the charging device 102 does not have a sufficient voltage, the charging device 102 outputs a smaller charging current. For example, when the battery voltage inside the charging device 102 is greater than a threshold, the charging device 102 outputs a first charging current I ₁ ; when the voltage of the battery is less than a threshold, the charging device 102 outputs a second charging current I ₂ , The first charging current I _{1 is} greater than the second charging current I ₂ .

In this embodiment, the charging device 102 includes a battery unit 112, a conversion unit 114, a detection control unit 116, and a port 118. The port 118 is for connecting to the external device 104 and has a plurality of pins. In this embodiment, the port 118 is a USB port and has pins VBUS, D+, D- and GND. The pins VBUS and GND respectively transmit the charging voltage V _T and the ground voltage V _G . The invention does not limit the type of port 118. Any connection device capable of transmitting power to the external device 104 can be used as the port 118.

Battery unit 112 provides a battery voltage V _B . The present invention does not limit the internal architecture of the battery unit 112. In a possible embodiment, the battery unit 112 is constructed of at least one rechargeable battery. The rechargeable batteries may be connected in series or in parallel. The invention does not limit the type of rechargeable battery. As long as the device capable of storing and discharging the electric charge can be used as the battery unit 112.

The converting unit 114 converts the battery voltage V _B for generating a charging voltage V _T and supplies it to the external device 104 through the pin VBUS of the port 118. In a possible embodiment, the conversion unit 114 functions as a boost circuit or a buck circuit. In the present embodiment, the conversion unit 114 performs voltage conversion according to a control signal S _C1 . For example, when the control signal S _C1 is enabled, the conversion unit 114 converts the battery voltage V _B . When the control signal S _{C1 is} disabled, the conversion unit 114 stops switching the battery voltage V _B .

The detection control unit 116 controls the connection state of the pins D+ and D- of the port 118 in accordance with the battery voltage V _B . In this embodiment, the detection control unit 116 includes a detection module 122, a control module 124, a switch module 126, and charging units 128 and 130.

The detection module 122 detects the battery voltage V _B . The invention does not limit the internal circuit architecture of the detection module 122. Any circuit with a detection voltage function can be used as the detection module 122. In a possible embodiment, the detection module 122 is a voltage detector. In another possible embodiment, the detection module 122 is a voltage comparator for determining whether the battery voltage V _B is greater than a threshold.

The control module 124 generates control signals S _C1 and S _C2 according to the detection result of the detection module 122. In a possible embodiment, if the detection module 122 is only a voltage detector, the control module 124 has a comparison function for determining whether the detection result of the voltage detector is greater than a threshold. In another possible embodiment, if the detection module 122 is a voltage comparator, the control module 124 can directly generate the control signals S _C1 and S _C2 according to the comparison result of the voltage comparator.

In a possible embodiment, when the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the control module 124 enables the control signal S _C1 for causing the conversion unit 114 to convert the battery voltage V _B . In another possible embodiment, when the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the threshold, the control module 124 continues to enable the control signal S _C1 , or temporarily disables the control signal S _C1 and then enables the control signal S _C1 . In other embodiments, when the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than a threshold and less than a limit value, indicating that the battery unit 112 has reached a minimum value, the control module 124 disables the control signal S _C1 to stop switching the battery. Voltage V _B .

In the present embodiment, the control module 124 changes the connection state of the pins D+ and D- of the port 118 according to the battery voltage V _B . The external device 104 operates in a fast charge mode or a slow charge mode according to the connection state of the pins D+ and D-. In the fast charge mode, the external device 104 draws a larger charging current. In the slow charge mode, the external device 104 draws a smaller charging current.

The switch module 126 couples the pins D+ and D- to the charging unit 128 or 130 according to the control signal S _C2 . In this embodiment, when the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the switch module 126 couples the pins D+ and D- to the charging unit 128. Therefore, the external device 104 operates in a fast charge mode in accordance with the levels of the pins D+ and D-. When the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the threshold, the switch module 126 couples the pins D+ and D- to the charging unit 130. Therefore, the external device 104 operates in a slow charge mode according to the levels of the pins D+ and D-.

In one possible embodiment, when the pins D + and D- is coupled to the charging unit 128, the port 118 outputs a charging current I _1; when the pins D + and D- is coupled to the charging unit 130, the port 118 outputs a charging current I ₂ . In the present embodiment, the charging current I _{2 is} smaller than the charging current I ₁ .

Figure 2A is a possible embodiment of one of the charging units. As shown, the charging unit 200 is a resistor R ₁ . Resistor R _{1 is} used to short the pins D+ and D- together. In the present embodiment, the switch module 126 includes switches 202 and 204. When the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the switches 202 and 204 are turned on to short the pins D+ and D-. When the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the threshold, the switches 202 and 204 are not conducting to stop the shorting pins D+ and D-. In one possible embodiment, the opening or closing of switches 202 and 204 is controlled by control module 124.

Figure 2B is another possible embodiment of a charging unit. As shown, the charging unit 220 includes charging modules 222 and 224. The charging module 222 performs a first process on the charging voltage V _T for generating the voltage V ₁ . The charging module 224 performs a second process on the charging voltage V _T for generating the voltage V ₂ . In the present embodiment, the charging modules 222 and 224 process the charging voltage V _T to different degrees, and therefore, the voltage V _{1 is} different from the voltage V ₂ . In other embodiments, the charging modules 222 and 224 process the battery voltage V _B to different degrees to generate two different processing results.

In this embodiment, the charging module 222 includes resistors R ₂ and R ₃ . The resistors R ₂ and R _{3 are} connected in series between the charging voltage V _T and the ground voltage V _G for dividing the charging voltage V _T . In other embodiments, the charging module 222 may be a voltage source for providing a voltage (e.g. V ₁₎ to the pins D +.

In addition, the charging module 224 includes resistors R ₄ and R ₅ . The resistors R ₄ and R _{5 are} also connected in series between the charging voltage V _T and the ground voltage V _G for voltage division processing of the charging voltage V _T . In other embodiments, the charging module 224 can be another voltage source for providing a voltage (eg, V ₂ ) to the pin D-.

When the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the control module 124 turns on the switches 226 and 228 for supplying the voltages V ₁ and V ₂ to the pins D+ and D-, respectively. When the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the threshold, the control module 124 does not turn on the switches 226 and 228 to stop providing the voltages V ₁ and V ₂ to the pins D+ and D-.

In this embodiment, since the port 118 is a USB port, two voltages (such as V ₁ and V ₂ ) are provided to the two pins (such as D+ and D-). In another possible embodiment, if the port 118 is a different type of port, it is only necessary to generate a voltage (such as V ₁ or V ₂ ) to connect a pin of the port 118. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to generate more than three voltages to the multiple pins of the port 118.

Figure 2C is another possible embodiment of the charging unit of the present invention. As shown, the charging unit 230 includes charging modules 231-233. In addition, the switch module 240 includes switches 241 to 244. The charging module 231 processes the charging voltage V _T for generating the voltage V ₁ . The charging module 232 processes the charging voltage V _T for generating a voltage V ₂ . The charging module 233 is used to short the pins D+ and D-. In other embodiments, the charging modules 231 and 232 are configured to process the battery voltage V _B .

When the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the control module 124 controls the switches 241 244 244 according to the levels of the pins D+ and D-. In a possible embodiment, the control module 124 turns on the switches 241 and 244 to provide voltages V ₁ and V ₂ to the pins D+ and D-, and determines whether the levels of the pins D+ and D- change.

When the external device 104 is coupled to the port 118, and the pin D+ is not changed When the level of D- is normal, it indicates that the levels of pins D+ and D- conform to a preset state. Therefore, the control module 124 continuously turns on the switches 241 and 244 such that the pins D+ and D- are coupled to the charging modules 231 and 232. When the levels of the pins D+ and D- are changed and do not conform to the preset state, the control module 124 changes the conduction switches 242 and 243 for shorting the pins D+ and D-.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of one of the charging units of the present invention. In this embodiment, the charging unit 310 has charging modules 312 and 314 that respectively supply voltages V ₃ and V ₄ . In this embodiment, the charging module 312 is a resistor R ₆ that receives the ground voltage V _G for generating the voltage V ₃ . In addition, the charging module 314 is a resistor R ₇ that receives the ground voltage V _G for generating the voltage V ₄ . In a possible embodiment, the voltages V ₃ and V ₄ have the same level, and are all between 0V and 5V.

When the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than a threshold, the control module 124 turns on the switches 322 and 324 to provide voltages V ₃ and V ₄ to the pins D+ and D-. The external device 104 operates in a slow charge mode according to the levels of the pins D+ and D-. In this mode, charging device 102 provides a smaller charging current (e.g., I ₂ ) to external device 104.

However, when the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than the threshold, the control module 124 does not turn on the switches 322 and 324. In a possible embodiment, the control module 124 turns on the switches 202 and 204 or 226 and 228 in the 2A or 2B diagram, and thus, the external device 104 operates in a fast charge mode. In this mode, charging device 102 provides a large charging current (e.g., I ₁ ).

Figure 4 is a possible internal architecture of one of the detection control units of the present invention. In this embodiment, the detection control unit 400 includes a detection module 402, a control module 404, charging units 412, 414, 422, and 424 and switches SW ₁ to SW ₆ . The charging unit 412 has charging modules 416 and 418. Since the characteristics of the detection module 402 are the same as those of the detection module 122 of FIG. 1, they are not described again.

The control module 404 generates a control signal S _C2 according to the detection result of the detection module 402. In the present embodiment, the control signal S _C2 has control components S ₁ -S _{6 for} controlling the switches SW ₁ -SW ₆ , respectively. The invention does not limit the number of control components. In a possible embodiment, the number of control components is related to the type of switches SW ₁ -SW ₆ . For example, if the switches SW ₁ and SW ₃ are respectively composed of N-type and P-type transistors, the control module 404 only needs to turn on the switch SW ₁ or SW ₃ by using a single control component. If the switches SW ₁ and SW ₃ are both N-type and P-type transistors, the control module 404 needs to use two control components to control the switches SW ₁ and SW ₃ .

When the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than a threshold, the control module 404 does not turn on the switches SW ₃ -SW ₆ but controls the switches SW ₁ and SW ₂ by controlling the components S ₁ -S ₆ . Therefore, charging modules 416 and 418 provide voltages V ₁ and V _{2 , respectively} . Since the pins D + and D- and receives the voltage V ₁ is V _2, so that the external device 104 to enter a fast charge mode. At this time, the detection module 402 detects the levels of the pins D+ and D-. The control module 404 determines whether to continue to turn on the switches SW ₁ and SW ₂ according to the detection result of the detection module 402.

In one possible embodiment, when the D + and D- pins in the state satisfies a predetermined level, the control module 404 continues to conduct out switch SW ₁ and SW _2, and continues to provide voltage V ₁ is V _2. Therefore, the external device 104 continues to operate in the fast charge mode. However, when the D + and D- pins in the level does not meet the preset condition, the control module 404 to change the switch SW ₃ is turned on and SW _4, for short-circuiting pins D + and D-.

When the battery voltage V _B is not greater than the threshold value, the control module 404 by the control component S ₁ ~ S _6, the switch SW ₅ is turned on and SW _6, but does not turn on the switch SW ₁ ~ SW _4. Therefore, charging units 422 and 424 provide voltages V ₃ and V _{4 , respectively} . Since the D + and D- pins received voltages V ₃ and V _4, so that the external device 104 enters a slow charge mode, capture a relatively small charging current to the charging device 102. Therefore, the battery voltage V _B of the battery cells inside the charging device 102 is slowly reduced.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing changes in battery voltage of the present invention. Please cooperate with FIG. 1 . During the period 510 , since the battery voltage V _{B is} greater than the threshold value Vref, the control module 124 couples the pins D+ and D- to the charging unit 128. The external device 104 operates in a fast charge mode according to the state of the pins D+ and D- for drawing a large charging current (such as I ₁ ) to the charging device 102.

During the period 512, the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the threshold value Vref, so the control module 124 couples the pins D+ and D- to the charging unit 130. The external device 104 operates in a slow charging mode according to the state of the pins D+ and D-, and draws a smaller charging current (such as I ₂ ) to the charging device 102.

During the period 514, the battery voltage V _{B is} not greater than the limit value V _LM , so the control module 124 disables the control signal S _C1 to stop providing the charging voltage V _T to the external device 104.

Since the charging device 102 can provide an appropriate charging current to the external device 104 according to the internal battery voltage V _B , when the battery voltage V _{B is} low, the pin state of the port 108 can be changed to provide a smaller charging current. Therefore, the battery voltage V _{B is} effectively utilized.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are used in the ordinary meaning Moreover, unless expressly stated, the definition of a vocabulary in a general dictionary should be interpreted as consistent with the meaning of an article in its related art, and should not be interpreted as an ideal state or an overly formal voice.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art In the spirit and scope of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Charging system

102‧‧‧Charging device

104‧‧‧External devices

I ₁ , I ₂ ‧‧‧Charging current

112‧‧‧ battery unit

114‧‧‧Conversion unit

116‧‧‧Detection Control Unit

118‧‧‧Connector

122‧‧‧Detection module

124‧‧‧Control Module

126‧‧‧Switch Module

128, 130‧‧‧Charging unit

VBUS, D+, D-, GND‧‧‧ pins

V _B , V _T , V _G ‧‧‧ voltage

S _C1 , S _C2 ‧‧‧ control signals

Claims (10)

A charging device coupled to an external device and comprising: a connecting port for coupling the external device and having a first pin and a second pin; a battery unit having a battery voltage; a conversion a unit that converts the battery voltage for supplying the external device; and a detection control unit that couples the first pin and the second pin to the first charging unit when the battery voltage is greater than a threshold When the battery voltage is not greater than the threshold, the first pin and the second pin are coupled to a second charging unit; wherein, when the first pin is coupled to the second pin a charging unit outputs a first charging current to the external device. When the first pin and the second pin are coupled to the second charging unit, the port outputs a second charging current. The external device, the first charging current is greater than the second charging current. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the first charging unit shorts the first and second pins together. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the first charging unit performs a first operation on the battery voltage to generate a first voltage to the first pin and generate a second voltage to The second pin. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the first charging list The first charging module includes: a first charging module for shorting the first and second pins; and a second charging module for processing the battery voltage for generating a first voltage and a second voltage, wherein The detection control unit couples the first pin to the second charging module, and detects the level of the first pin, when the level of the first pin meets a preset state, and the battery When the voltage is greater than the threshold, the detection control unit causes the first and second pins to continue to be coupled to the second charging module; when the level of the first pin does not meet the preset state, and the battery When the voltage is less than the threshold, the detection control unit couples the first and second pins to the first charging module. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the second charging unit provides a third voltage to the first pin and a fourth voltage to the second pin. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the second voltage is between 0V and 5V. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the second charging unit is a resistor, and the second voltage is generated according to a ground voltage. The charging device of claim 1, wherein when the battery voltage is not greater than the threshold, the detection control unit disables the conversion unit to enable the conversion unit again, when the conversion unit is disabled At the time, the conversion of the battery voltage is stopped. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the detecting control unit disables the converting unit to stop converting the battery voltage when the battery voltage is not greater than the threshold value and a limit value. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the connection port is a USB port.