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
  • H02J7/0047—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
  • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
  • H02J7/342—The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R19/00—Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
  • G01R19/165—Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
  • G01R31/382—Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
  • G01R31/3842—Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC combining voltage and current measurements
• • 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
  • H02J7/0029—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits
  • H02J7/0031—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits using battery or load disconnect circuits

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a portable charger, and more particularly, to a portable charger that can charge a battery of a portable device using a built-in battery and a charging method using the charger.
• conventional portable chargers generally charger the portable devices using a common alternating current source or by a voltage applied from external source voltage such as an automotive source voltage and a universal serial bus (USB) source voltage.
• external source voltage such as an automotive source voltage and a universal serial bus (USB) source voltage.
• USB universal serial bus
• a built-in battery type portable charger that can use a built-in battery was developed.
• a conventional portable charger 10 having a built-in battery includes a built-in battery 11, a voltage booster 13, a portable device charge controller 14, and a switch 12.
• the built-in battery serves as a power source for charging a portable device 20.
• the voltage booster 13 receives a source voltage of the built-in battery 11 to maintain the voltage for charging.
• the switch 12 electrically connects or disconnects the built-in battery 11 to the voltage booster 13.
• the switch 12 For charging the portable device 20 using the conventional portable charger, the switch 12 is turned on to electrically connect the built-in battery 11 to the voltage booster 13.
• the voltage booster 13 boosts the source voltage of the built-in battery 11 to a constant voltage. Thereafter, a current flows into the portable device charge controller 14 to charge the portable device 20.
• the switch 12 When the charging of the portable device 20 is completed, the switch 12 is turned off. However, when the switch 12 is not turned off, the current is unnecessarily consumed by the voltage booster 13 even if the portable device 20 is completely charged or not connected to the portable charger, thereby reducing a built-in battery's life.
• the conventional portable charger consumes the source voltage of the built-in battery by a self-consumption current even if the portable device is not charged in a state where the switch is turned on.
• the con- ventional portable charger must be turned on.
• the switch must be turned off.
• a charging state of the battery must be confirmed to operate the switch in the conventional portable charger whenever the portable device is charged.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a portable charger that can automatically interrupt a voltage applied to a voltage booster when a portable device is completely charged or not charged to avoid inconvenience that a user must frequently confirm a state of a switch and a charging method using the portable charger.
• a portable charger for charging a portable device using a built-in battery including: a multifunction switch inputting a manipulation; a remaining battery capacity monitor detecting a remaining capacity of the built-in battery; a remaining battery capacity display displaying a remaining capacity state of the built-in battery according to a control signal; a portable device charge controller connected to the portable device, the portable device charge controller charging the portable device; a voltage booster receiving a source voltage from the built-in battery to boost the received voltage and transmit a charging voltage for charging to the portable device charge controller; a current controller electrically connecting or disconnecting the built-in battery to the voltage booster according to a control signal; a current detector detecting a current outputted from the voltage booster; and a MICOM, wherein, when the multi-function switch is turned on, the controller detects the remaining capacity of the built-in battery through the remaining battery capacity monitor, controls the current controller to supply the
• the portable charger having the built-in battery further may include a built-in battery charge controller charging the built-in battery.
• the remaining battery capacity display may include one of a light emitting diode (LED), a 7-segment, and a liquid crystal display (LCD).
• a charging method of a portable charger charging a portable device using a built-in battery includes: checking a remaining capacity of the built-in battery when a multi-function switch is turned on; displaying the checked remaining capacity of the built-in battery; charging the portable device using a source voltage of the built-in battery; detecting a charging current of the portable device; and interrupting the source voltage of the built-in battery to finish the charging of the portable device when the charging current of the portable device is less than a predetermined reference current.
• the portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention can checks and display the remaining capacity of the built-in battery before charging to provide convenient for use.
• the portable charger having the built-in battery can previously grasp the expected current characteristic during the use of the device and determine the current characteristic according to a capacity of the current to prevent the source voltage of the built-in battery from being unnecessarily consumed when the battery is fully charged or not charged. That is, the portable charger having the built-in battery can determine whether the portable device is fully charged or not charged to automatically interrupt the source voltage of the built-in battery without requiring a separate switch manipulation of the user or confirming the charging state after the charging of the portable device starts, thereby providing convenient for use.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional portable charger having a built-in battery.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an LED type portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating a charging control process of an LED type portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a 7-segment type portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a remaining battery capacity measuring process illustrated in
• FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a charging current characteristic of a portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention.
• Mode for the Invention [20] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention.
• the portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention is largely classified into a mechanical structure and an electrical structure.
• the portable charger includes an acrylic window 202, a front plate 204, an upper case 206, a multi-function switch 208, a printed circuit board (PCB) 210, a USB rubber 212, a 24-pin rubber 214, a built-in battery 216, and a lower case 218.
• An external source voltage is applied through a 24-pin port to charge the built-in battery 216.
• a portable device 20 connected to a USB port is charged using a source voltage of the built-in battery 216.
• Examples of the portable device 20 may include a PMP, an MP3 player, and a mobile phone.
• the portable charger includes a built-in battery 102, a battery protector 104, a remaining battery capacity monitor 106, a built- in battery charge controller 108, a current controller 110, a voltage booster 112, a portable device charge controller 114, a current detector 116, a MICOM 118, a multifunction switch 120, and a remaining battery capacity display 122.
• the portable device 20 can be charged using the built-in battery 102.
• a lithium- ion battery may be used as the built-in battery 102.
• the built-in battery 102 uses two cells and serves as a power source for charging the portable device 20.
• the battery protector 104 prevents the built-in battery 102 from being over-charged or over-discharged to protect the built-in battery 102.
• the remaining battery capacity monitor 106 detects a voltage or current of the built-in battery 102 to provide the detected voltage or current to the MICOM 118 in order to detect a remaining capacity of the built-in battery 102.
• the built-in battery charge controller 108 receives the external source voltage to charge the built-in battery 102.
• the current controller 110 electrically connects or disconnects the built-in battery 102 to the voltage booster 112 according to a control signal of the MICOM 118.
• the voltage booster 112 receives the source voltage of the built-in battery through the current controller 110 to boost the voltage.
• the voltage booster 112 outputs a charging current for charging through the portable device charge controller 114.
• the portable device charge controller 114 is connected to the portable device 20 to charge the portable device 20 using the current flowing from the voltage booster 112.
• the current detector 116 detects the current flowing from the voltage booster 112 to provide the detected current to the MICOM 118.
• the multi-function switch 120 transmits a user's manipulation to the MICOM 118 to start their operation.
• the remaining battery capacity display 122 displays a remaining capacity state of the built- in battery 102.
• the remaining battery capacity display 122 may be realized with an LED or a 7-segment. An LED type uses the LED, and a 7-segment type uses the 7 -segment.
• the MICOM 118 receives the voltage or current detected through the remaining battery capacity monitor 106 to determine the remaining capacity state of the built-in battery 102 and control the remaining battery capacity display 122 so that the remaining battery capacity display 122 displays the remaining capacity of the built-in battery 102.
• the current controller 110 electrically connects the built-in battery 102 to the voltage booster 112.
• the MICOM 118 compares the current detected through the current detector 116 with a predetermined reference current to determine an operation state. As the determined result, if the built-in battery 102 is in a full charge state or not charged, the MICOM 118 controls the current controller 110 to interrupt the voltage applied from the built-in battery 102 to a voltage booster 112.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an LED type portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating a charging control process of the LED type portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention.
• the LED type portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention is in a stand-by mode, i.e., a sleep mode.
• the multi-function switch 120 is turned on in operation S402
• the remaining battery capacity monitor 106 measures a voltage or current of the built-in battery 102 in operation S403.
• the remaining battery capacity display 122 including the LED displays the remaining capacity state of the built-in battery 102.
• the current controller 110 is controlled to apply the source voltage of the built-in battery 102 to the voltage booster 112.
• the current detector 116 detects the charging current of the portable device 20.
• the current controller 110 is controlled to interrupt the source voltage of the built-in battery 102 applied to the voltage booster 112 in operation S408.
• the LED type portable charger having the built-in battery is in the sleep mode.
• the built-in battery charge controller 108 performs a charge control operation in operation S504 and detects the charging current in operation 505.
• the built-in battery charge controller 108 detects the charging current while the LED of the remaining battery capacity display 122 is rolled for displaying that the battery is charging.
• the built-in battery charge controller 108 determines whether the battery is fully charged.
• the remaining battery capacity monitor 106 monitors the charging current to determine whether the battery is fully charged in operations 508 through 510.
• the remaining battery capacity display 122 displays a full charge indication in operation S511.
• a charge timer operates while the LED is rolled to display the full charge indication after delay of a predetermined time in operations S512 through S514.
• the LED type portable charger having the built-in battery has a charging function for charging the built-in battery in addition to a charging function for charging the portable device 20. Also, the LED type portable charger having the built-in battery can display the remaining battery capacity state using the LED.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a 7-segment type portable charger having a built-in battery according to the present invention
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a remaining battery capacity measuring process illustrated in FIG. 7
• FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a charging current characteristic of the portable charger having the built-in battery according to the present invention.
• the 7-segment type portable charger having a built-in battery monitors the charging state of the built-in battery 102 in operation S601.
• the multi-function switch 120 is turned on in operation S602
• the remaining capacity of the built-in battery 102 is displayed on the remaining battery capacity display 122 including the 7-segment as a percentage (numeral) in operation S603.
• the current controller 110 is controlled to apply the source voltage of the built-in battery 102 to the voltage booster 112.
• the remaining battery capacity display 122 including the 7 -segment is turned off.
• the current detector 116 monitors the charging current of the portable device 20.
• the current controller 110 is controlled to interrupt the source voltage of the built-in battery 102 applied to the voltage booster 112 in operation S608.
• the voltage of the built-in battery 102 is measured, a temperature is measured through a thermistor, and then, charging/discharging current are measured through the remaining battery capacity monitor 106 in operations S701 through S703.
• the MICOM determines whether the battery is charging to increase a relative state of charge (RSOC) of the battery when the battery is charging, and determines whether the battery is fully charged to recognize a full charge condition.
• the MICOM determines whether the battery is charging to decrease the RSOC of the battery when the battery is not charged, and determines whether the battery is fully discharged to recognize a full discharge condition.
• the remaining capacity state of the built-in battery is monitored, and the portable charger determines whether the portable device is fully charged or not charged to automatically interrupt the source voltage of the built-in battery without requiring a separate switch manipulation of the user or confirming the charging state after the charging of the portable device starts. Therefore, a power saving function of the built-in battery can be conveniently used.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40667665

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (3)

• 2007
  • 2007-11-23 KR KR1020070120320A patent/KR20090053466A/ko active Search and Examination
• 2008
  • 2008-08-29 WO PCT/KR2008/005089 patent/WO2009066859A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-10-27 CN CNA2008101667712A patent/CN101442212A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events