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
  • H02J7/0071—Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage with a programmable schedule
• • 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
  • H02J7/0042—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction
• • 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
  • H02J7/0068—Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply

Definitions

• the portable power industry has traditionally been using charge rates between 0.7C and 1C when charging electronic devices, which is the rate used for laptop computers.
• This current allows the notebook computer's battery pack to be charged at currents that are 70% to 100% of the value of rated capacity of the cells. For example, in a battery pack containing 18650 cells, rated at 2.2Ah, in a 2p3s configuration (two cells in parallel, three cells in series), a charging current of 1C would be equivalent to a charging current of 4.4 A for the pack.
• This charging current is allowed until a maximum voltage (V max ) is reached, which is typically set at about 4.2V.
• V max the current is lowered by control circuitry to disallow, in this example, any of the three blocks of two parallel cells to reach voltage levels higher than 4.2V.
• the charging rate is even slower once V ma ⁇ has been reached.
• Electronic circuits managing this type of functionality are known in the art and have been implemented in battery packs for notebook computers. For a notebook computer, typical charging times are of several hours to reach a fully charged battery.
• Li-ion batteries may locally display overcharging, which may deposit lithium onto the carbon anode. This lithium deposit lowers safety of the battery, which may more easily go into thermal runaway, increase its internal gas pressure, and eventually explode.
• Another problem with fast charging is the rapid change of electrode dimensions, such as thickness variation. Mechanical degradation of the electrode structure is faster during this relatively fast charge than what would be the case for slower charging.
• An embodiment of the disclosure includes an apparatus for and a corresponding method of charging a charge storage power supply in an electronic device.
• an electronic device with multiple charge rates comprises the following: a device housing, a charge storage power supply, electronics in the device housing, a charging circuit, and a manually actuated mode switch.
• the aforementioned charge storage power supply may be coupled to the device housing.
• the apparatus and method may allow the electronics in the device housing to be powered by said charge storage power supply.
• the previously mentioned charging circuit may have plural modes of operation to charge the charge storage power supply from an external power source at different charging rates, for example, fast or slow mode charging.
• the apparatus and method may also allow the manually actuated mode switch to change the charging rate of the charging circuit.
• the apparatus for and method of charging a charge storage power supply in an electronic device may also include a single storage cell that serves as the charge storage power supply.
• the charge storage supply may be comprised of multiple cells, preferably in series with no cells in parallel.
• the mode switch may be located on the battery pack housing of the charge storage power supply.
• the mode switch may also be implemented in software.
• the charging circuit may be located in a battery pack housing, which houses the charge storage power supply.
• Another embodiment of the disclosure may include an apparatus for a battery pack with multiple charge rates comprising the following: a battery pack housing; a charge storage power supply within the battery pack housing; a charging circuit within the battery pack housing having plural modes of operation to charge the charge storage power supply from an external power source at different charging rates; and a manually actuated mode switch to change charging rate of the charging circuit.
• the charge storage power supply may include a single storage cell or multiple cells in series with no cells in parallel.
• the apparatus for a battery pack with multiple charge rates may also include normal charge rate and plural fast charge rates.
• the mode switch may be on the battery pack housing.
• the battery pack may be coupled to an electronic device, which may be a notebook computer.
• the mode switch of battery pack coupled to an electronic device may be implemented in software on the electronic device.
• embodiments of the present invention allow for fast charging of a charge storage power supply that may be coupled to the housing of an electronic device or within the battery pack housing. Additionally, in accordance with the disclosure, an electronic device may be used to more effectively implement a fast charge mode in existing chipsets.
• Fig. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the electronic circuitry upon which the present embodiment may be implemented.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a process flow diagram of an exemplary fast charge process.
• Fig. 3 A illustrates a fast charge button and display on a battery pack upon which the state-of-charge of a battery pack may also be shown.
• Fig. 3 B provides a close-up view of the aforementioned fast charge button and display on the battery pack of a portable device.
• Fig. 4A illustrates a notebook computer with a "FAST CHARGE” button located on the keyboard.
• Fig. 4B shows a close-up view of the "FAST CHARGE” button located on a notebook computer keyboard.
• Fig. 4C shows an exemplary user interface display window that may appear to present a user with the option to initiate software that will perform the "fast charge” option of the portable device battery pack.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of the electronic circuitry 100 in a battery pack as used in current practice upon which the present embodiment may be implemented.
• a multiple cell battery 101 may be connected to an independent overvoltage protection integrated circuit (OVP) 102, an Analog Front End protection integrated circuit (AFE) 104, and a battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller (microcontroller) 106.
• OVP overvoltage protection integrated circuit
• AFE Analog Front End protection integrated circuit
• microcontroller battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller
• the OVP 102 may allow for monitoring of each cell of the battery pack by comparing each value to an internal reference voltage. By doing so, the OVP 102 may be able to initiate a protection mechanism if cell voltages perform in an undesired manner, e.g., voltages exceeding optimal levels.
• the OVP 102 is designed to trigger the non-resetting fuse 110 if the preset overvoltage value (i.e., 4.35V, 4.40V, 4.45V, and 4.65V) is exceeded for a preset period of time and provides a third level of safety protection.
• the preset overvoltage value i.e., 4.35V, 4.40V, 4.45V, and 4.65V
• the OVP 102 may monitor each individual cell of the multiple cell battery 101 across the Cell 4, Cell 3 , Cell 2, and Cell 1 terminals (which are ordered from the most positive cell to most negative cell, respectively).
• the OVP 102 is powered by multiple cell battery 101 and may be configured to permit cell control for any individual cell of the multiple cell battery 101.
• the AFE 104 may be used by the system host controller to monitor battery pack conditions, provide charge and discharge control via charge FET 118 and discharge FET 116 respectively, and to provide updates of the battery status to the system.
• the AFE 104 communicates with the microcontroller 106 to enhance efficiency and safeness.
• the AFE 104 may provide power via the VCC connection to the microcontroller 106 using input from a power source (e.g., the multiple cell battery 101), which would eliminate the need for peripheral regulation circuitry.
• Both the AFE 104 and the microcontroller 106 may have terminals, which may be connected to a series resistor 112 that may allow for monitoring of battery charge and discharge.
• the AFE 104 may output a voltage value for an individual cell of the multiple cell battery 101 to the VIN terminal of the battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller 106.
• the microcontroller 106 communicates with the AFE 104 via the SCLK (clock) and SDATA (data) terminals.
• the microcontroller 106 may be used to monitor the charge and discharge for the multiple cell battery 101.
• the microcontroller 106 may monitor the charge and discharge activity using the series resistor 112 placed between the negative cell of the multiple cell battery 101 and the negative terminal of the battery pack.
• the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the microcontroller 106 may be used to measure the charge and discharge flow by monitoring the series resistor 112 terminals.
• the ADC of the microcontroller 106 may be used to produce control signals to initiate optimal or appropriate safety precautions for the multiple cell battery 101. If the microcontroller 106 detects abnormal or unsafe conditions it will disable the battery pack by triggering the non-resetting fuse 110.
• the microcontroller 106 may be able to monitor each cell of the multiple cell battery 101 using the CELL terminal of the AFE 104.
• the ADC may use a counter to permit the integration of signals received over time.
• the integrating converter may allow for continuous sampling to measure and monitor the battery charge and discharge current by comparing each cell of the multiple cell battery 101 to an internal reference voltage.
• the display terminal of the microcontroller 106 may be used to run the LED display 108 of the multiple cell battery 101. The display may be initiated by closing a switch 114.
• the microcontroller 106 may be used to monitor the multiple cell battery 101 conditions and to report such information to the host system controller across a serial communication bus (SMBus).
• the SMBus communication terminals (SMBC and SMBD) may allow a system host controller, SMBus compatible device, or similar device (hereinafter called "processor") to communicate with the microcontroller 106.
• a processor may be used to initiate communication with the microcontroller 106 using the SMBC and SMBD pins, which may allow the system to efficiently monitor and manage the multiple cell battery 101.
• the processor may be the microcontroller 106 itself and may contain internal data flash memory, which can be programmed to include information, such as capacity, internal reference voltage, or other similar programmable information.
• the AFE 104 and microcontroller 106 provide the primary and secondary means of safety protection in addition to charge and discharge control.
• Examples of current practice primary safety measures include battery cell and pack voltage protection, charge and discharge overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and temperature protection.
• Examples of currently used secondary safety measures include monitoring voltage, battery cell(s), current, and temperature.
• the continuous sampling of the multiple cell battery 101 may allow the electronic circuitry to monitor or calculate characteristics of a multiple cell battery 101, such as state-of-charge, temperature, charge, or the like.
• One of the parameters that is controlled by the electronic circuitry 100 is the allowed charging current (ACC).
• ACC allowed charging current
• An aspect of the disclosed embodiments is to allow the user of a portable device to have the option to control this parameter by selecting a fast or slow charging mode. When selecting the mode of charging, the ACC parameter changes in addition to other parameters necessary to control the charging of the battery within safe limits. This allows a battery to be optionally charged faster than what would have been traditionally available.
• the user of the portable device may also control the charge mode by allowing the user to adjust the fast charge mode in steps (e.g., normal, fast, super fast, ultra fast, etc.) or on a continuous scale (e.g., Ix, 2x, 3x, 4x, etc.).
• steps e.g., normal, fast, super fast, ultra fast, etc.
• continuous scale e.g., Ix, 2x, 3x, 4x, etc.
• a user may prefer to have more control over the fast charge mode parameter because such allows the user to balance performance (i.e., battery cycle life) against charge tradeoffs.
• the program stored for the battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller 106 may be modified to implement the fast charge indications described herein.
• the electronic circuit in Fig. 1 could be programmed with parameters suitable for the respective battery used in the battery 101. Each battery manufacturer has unique chemistry and interpretation of how the battery may be used in best mode to provide long cycle life, high capacity, and high safety.
• a microcontroller used in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the design of Fig. 1.
• the cells in a multiple cell battery 101 be in series due to different impedances of the cells. Impedance imbalance may result from temperature gradients within the pack and manufacturing variability from cell to cell. Two cells having different impedances may have approximately the same capacity when charged slowly. It may be seen that the cell having the higher impedance reaches its upper voltage limit (V ma ⁇ ) in a measurement set (e.g., 4.2V) earlier than the other cell. If these two cells were in parallel in a battery pack, the charging current would therefore be limited to one cell's performance, which prematurely interrupts the charging for the other cell in parallel. This degrades both pack capacity as well as pack charging rate.
• V ma ⁇ voltage limit
• Fig. 2 illustrates a process flow diagram of an exemplary fast charge process
• Step 200 where a user is presented with the option of choosing the normal charge mode (Step 202) of the portable device battery pack. If the user opts to use the fast charge mode (Step 204), the user can do so via one of three mediums: a switch on the portable device (Step 206), a switch on the battery pack (Step 207), or an icon on the portable device display control panel or menu (Step 208), any one ore more of which may be available. From either of the three mediums, the user can initiate the fast charge function (Step 210). The initiation of the fast charge function (Step 210) can be done either by an alternate firmware setting in the charging battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller 106 (Step 212) or the logic and charging circuits for fast charging (Step 214).
• the alternate firmware setting in charging the battery monitor integrated circuit microcontroller 106 uses the logic and charging circuits for fast charging (Step 214).
• the process will display the charge status to the user (Step 216), which can occur in one of the following mediums: an icon on the portable device control panel or menu (Step 218), an indicator on the portable device (i.e., LED display 108) (Step 220), or an indicator on the portable device battery pack (Step 222).
• the fast charge process 200 is complete (Step 224).
• the portable device battery pack may return to normal charge mode (Step 202).
• Fig. 3A illustrates a fast charge button 300 on a battery pack upon which the fast charge status of a battery pack may also be displayed.
• This button 300 when pushed, closes switch 114 (see Fig. 1) and triggers the activation of fast charging, which allows the battery to be charged quicker than would normally be allowed. Select numbers of presses of the button may distinguish different functions controlled through switch 114.
• the fast charge button 300 could also be implemented through software allowing, for example, the use of a mouse click (see Fig. 4C).
• the fast charge status of the portable device battery pack may be displayed using a display of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 202.
• Fig. 3B provides a close-up view of the aforementioned fast charge button 300 and LED display 302 on a portable device battery pack in accordance with the disclosure.
• Fig. 4A illustrates a model laptop have a "FAST CHARGE” button located on the keyboard.
• Fig. 4B shows a close-up view of the "FAST CHARGE” button located on the model laptop keyboard.
• Fig. 4C shows an exemplary pop-up window that may appear to present a user with the option of initiating software that will perform the "fast charge” option of the battery.
• the user may be presented with the option of charging the portable device battery pack via standard mode or the fast charge mode.
• the display could show the approximate times either mode may take.
• the function button brings awareness to electronic device users of the availability of the option of fast charge — compared to the regular charge cycle offered.
• This button may sit on the face, side or bottom of the laptop device to allow the user to select fast charge.
• the first step in the process of using the function button is to select the fast charge protocol for a battery pack.
• the user should select an "activation mode" of circuitry that activates parameters in the electronic circuit having settings suitable for fast charging.
• the function button may be positioned directly on said battery pack, on the device, in the software, or any combination thereof.
• the function button may be implemented with multiple portable power type devices, such as laptop computer, cell phone, DVD player, or camcorder.
• the purpose of the function button is to allow the user to "fast charge” to a charge that is less than 100% in reduced time.
• the function button may also be connected to a display that displays parametric values, such as percentage (%) of State of Charge (SOC), time to 100% SOC, estimated charge to partial % SOC, and other parameters related to the user's ability to judge when it is appropriate to prematurely (meaning before 100% SOC) interrupt charging sequence.
• switch includes buttons, physical and display based switches, and can be in the form of knobs, toggles, and the like.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
• Secondary Cells (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (4)

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• 2007
  • 2007-06-26 TW TW096123030A patent/TWI426678B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-06-27 US US11/823,479 patent/US7825636B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-06-27 WO PCT/US2007/014905 patent/WO2008002607A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-06-27 JP JP2009518246A patent/JP2009543531A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-06-27 KR KR1020097001812A patent/KR20090035552A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2007-06-27 EP EP07809936A patent/EP2038981A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-06-27 CN CN2007800323612A patent/CN101512868B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-10-18 US US12/906,676 patent/US8138726B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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