Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Intersil Americas Inc.

Sungkeun Lim

Yen-Mo Chen

Mehul Dilip Shah

Lei Zhao

Shahriar Jalal Nibir

Jia Wei

Zhigang Liang

Yang Li

Eric Magne Solie

Qian Sun

Keeho Shin

Ryan Foran

Rahul Ramesh

Han Chong

Systems and methods for bi-directional power flow control using a single battery charger are described. According to one example, a semiconductor device is generally described. The semiconductor device may include a charger configured to supply power from a charging interface to a battery in a forward mode, and supply power from the battery to a load in a reverse mode. The semiconductor device may include a first isolation switch disposed between the charging interface and the charger, a second isolation switch disposed between the charger and the load, and a controller configured to enable the first isolation switch and operate the charger in the forward mode, and enable the second isolation switch and operate the charger in the reverse mode.

Bi-directional power flow control using a single battery charger

A battery charger is described that can support multiple battery applications with a single USB type-C port. An architecture can include a single charger transferring power to multiple battery stacks. The architecture can include a plurality of battery stacks each respectively housed in a distinct electronic device. The architecture is expandable from one charger with one USB type-C port coupled to a plurality of battery stacks, to a plurality of chargers with respective USB type-C ports all coupled to a plurality of battery stacks respectively housed in distinct electronic devices.

Single inductor multiple output charger for multiple battery applications

A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable medium of regulating current within a battery charging circuit. The apparatus including a first current sense resistor configured to sense a first current value at a first port, a second current sensor resistor configured to sense a battery discharge current value output from a battery, and a processor configured to, in response to a short circuit or malfunction at the first current sense resistor, use the battery discharge current value to determine an output current limit and to limit the current at the first port according to the output current limit.

Discharge current limit loop for short circuit protection in reverse operation for buck-boost battery chargers

Battery charger systems and apparatuses are described. In an example, an apparatus may include a first controller, a first port connected to the first controller, a first charger module connected to the first controller, a second controller, a second port connected to the second controller, and a second charger module connected to the second controller. The first controller may be configured to form a first connection path between the first charger module and the second port via the second controller. The first controller may be further configured to form a second connection path between the second charger module and the first port via the first controller.

Multi-port charging device with multiple chargers

Exemplary embodiments may include a device with an input power component, a system supply component, an inductive charger component operatively coupled to the input component and the system component, and a direct charger component operatively coupled to the inductive charger and the system component. Exemplary embodiments may further include an input node of the inductive charger component and an input node of the direct charger component operatively coupled to an output node of the input power component at a first device node. Exemplary embodiments may also include a method of receiving an input power signal, obtaining a charging condition, entering a first charging state, in accordance with the obtained charging condition satisfying a first charging condition, and entering a second charging state, in accordance with the obtained charging condition satisfying a second charging condition.

Inductive charger apparatus with multiple charging paths and method for charging therewith

Example implementations include a charging device with a capacitor divider circuit including a plurality of battery state inputs operably coupleable to a plurality of battery devices, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator operable to selectively charge the battery devices, a plurality of switching transistors each operatively coupled at a gate terminal thereof to a respective PWM control output of a plurality of PWM control outputs, and a flying capacitor operatively coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first plurality of the switching transistors, operatively coupled at a second terminal thereof to a second plurality of the switching transistors. Example implementations further include a comparator operatively coupled to the capacitor divider circuit and operable to determine whether a difference between voltages associated with the battery devices satisfies a voltage threshold, where the capacitor divider circuit is further operable to, in response to a determination that the difference satisfies the voltage threshold, block charging of one or more of the battery devices.

Bidirectional battery charging system including capacitor divider circuit

Example implementations include a method of reducing current overshoot in a power regulator device, by detecting a change in an input current of an inductive charger device in response to a change in load on the inductive charger device, modifying an operating state of the inductive charger device in accordance with a first input current limit parameter based on a total input current limit parameter and a current division parameter, in response to the detecting the change in the input current, operating the inductive charger device in accordance with the first input current limit during a current limit period subsequent to the detecting the change in the input current, modifying the operating state of the inductive charger device in accordance with a second input current limit parameter based on the total input current limit parameter and the current division parameter, subsequent to the current limit period, and operating the inductive charger device in accordance with the second input current limit subsequent to the current limit period.

Device and method for reducing current overshoot in a power regulator

Example implementations include a method of obtaining an input voltage of a power converter circuit and a system voltage of the power converter circuit, obtaining a voltage rate gain based on an aggregate inductance of the power converter circuit, and in accordance with a determination that the input voltage and the system voltage are not equal, generating a rate offset voltage based on the voltage rate gain and the system voltage difference. Example implementations also include a device with a rate predictor device operatively coupled to an input voltage node and a system voltage node, and configured to obtain an input voltage of a power converter circuit and a system voltage of the power converter circuit, configured to obtain a voltage rate gain based on an aggregate inductance of the power converter circuit, and configured to, in accordance with a determination that the input voltage and the system voltage are not equal, generate a rate offset voltage based on the voltage rate gain and the system voltage difference.

Device and method for generating magnitude and rate offsets at a phase comparator

The present embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for operating a battery charger in computing systems having certain system load requirements, battery configurations and external device power supply support. According to some aspects, the present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for providing a reverse boost mode of operation when the battery charger is providing system power from a battery, such as when an adapter is not connected. The reverse boost mode of operation according to embodiments provides a regulated output voltage, thereby allowing a load such as a CPU to operate at maximum performance, even when the battery has discharged below a threshold discharge level.

System and method for providing reverse boost mode in battery charger application

Combo buck boost battery charger architecture with reverse boost mode

One or more embodiments are directed to a multiport power delivery architecture that reduces the cost and maximizes the power utilization. According to some aspects, an adapter power add-up feature of the embodiments can combine the power of two or more adapters. The total power can be used to support CPU Turbo events and Quick Charge function. In one aspect, one charger operates as voltage source or current source and the other(s) as current source(s). When the system demand is high enough for all chargers may operate as current sources, the battery will supply the rest of the system demand. The proposed implementation of adapter power add-up feature can enable simple control scheme. Customers can set up BGATE control priorities to determine which charger to handle the BGATE control.

Adapter power add-up feature for multiport systems

One or more embodiments are directed to a multiport power delivery architecture that reduces the cost and maximize the power utilization. According to some aspects, embodiments solve problems associated with charging a battery with multiple adapter. Some embodiments enable supplying system load and charging a battery from two or more adapters simultaneously through a single sensing resistor.

Power delivery architecture for multiport systems

One or more embodiments are directed to a battery charger that can support multiple battery applications with a single USB type-C port. The architecture can be easily extended to support more applications such as those including two or more USB Type-C ports by adding additional voltage regulators. Additionally, the architecture can easily be extended to support additional batteries by adding corresponding battery chargers. Some embodiments enable supplying two or more system voltages and charging two or more batteries simultaneously using a single adapter and/or port. Other embodiments enable supplying voltage to On the Go devices from two or more batteries simultaneously.

Buck-boost battery charger for dual battery application

An electronic system, a multiple charger configuration, and method of operating a multiple input, multiple charger configuration are disclosed. For example, a multiple charger configuration is disclosed, which includes a first battery charger circuit configured to receive to a first input voltage, and a second battery charger circuit configured to receive a second input voltage. A first switching transistor is coupled to an output of the first battery charger circuit, a system voltage output terminal, and a battery terminal configured to connect to a battery stack or at least one battery cell. A second switching transistor is coupled to an output of the second battery charger circuit and the battery terminal. Thus, the multiple chargers can be utilized in one system to charge or discharge a battery stack or at least one battery cell and thereby deliver power for a battery-operated system, product or device.

Multiple chargers configuration in one system

An electronic device that determines an adapter current limit for a power adapter, including a regulator, a voltage comparator, and a controller. The regulator regulates an adapter output current level to prevent it from exceeding the adapter current limit, and provides a regulation signal during regulation. The voltage comparator provides an under-voltage signal when adapter output voltage level falls below a low voltage threshold. The controller initially sets the adapter current limit at a lowest level, increases the adapter current limit by an incremental amount when the regulation signal is provided, and when the under-voltage signal is provided, decreases the adapter current limit by the incremental amount to determine a final adapter current limit. The final adapter current limit is at or near the actual maximum current limit of the power adapter. The adapter current limit may be increased only when regulation occurs for at least a predetermined time period.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Sungkeun Lim