Circuit and method of operation for an adaptive charge rate power supply

<u>TECHNICAL FIELD</u>

0001This invention relates in general to battery chargers, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for charging a battery in a portable communication device from a variety of power sources, including limited capacity sources such as an integral power node of a computer data bus. One such computer data bus would be a USB (universal serial bus) port.

<u>BACKGOUND ART</u>

0002With the current computing and information revolution, portable electronic devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital pagers and wireless email devices, are becoming very common.

0003These portable devices are typically powered by internal batteries which must be recharged periodically by an external power source, using a battery charger. Battery chargers generally receive power from a standard AC electrical outlet and convert the AC power into a low DC voltage for recharging a battery.

0004The battery chargers of these portable devices also generally employ a "battery charge controller" to manage the charging of the battery. Such battery charge controllers offer functionality such as: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="bullet" compact="compact"><li>regulating the voltage and current levels to the rechargeable battery;</li><li>providing status signals to the main processor of the portable device, or operating one or more status LEDs (light emitting diodes);</li><li>providing protection circuits such as overcurrent, undervoltage, and overtemperature protection; and</li><li>shutting themselves off when the charging source has been removed, to minimize battery drain.</li></ul>

0005Unfortunately, most of these battery charge controllers are designed to draw from a high capacity power supply with a steady voltage that will not sag appreciably under its current demands. This is a problem when one attempts to use a power supply with limited capacity or when the power is delivered via unknown length and gauge of power wires (the resistance of such power wires cause a voltage drop which aggravates the problem). Some computer data buses such as USB (universal serial bus) buses can be used to provide power to external devices, but while such power supplies are very convenient, they have limited capacity and are delivered via standard USB cables whose power wires could vary in length and gauge (anywhere from 20AWG - 28AWG, for example).

0006The majority of personal computers (PCs) and laptop computers available today, are provided with one or more USB ports as standard components. USB ports are designed to support data communication at speeds of 12 megabits and 1.5 megabits per second (USB 2.0 provides for up to 480 megabits per second), support PnP (Plug and Play) installation software, and support hot plugging (i.e. devices can be connected and disconnected while the PC is running). Thus, USB ports are often used as interfaces to connect keyboards, mouses, game controllers, printers and scanners to PCs.

0007As well, USB ports are able to supply limited power to a connected device. The standard USB specification requires that "high-power" USB ports be operable to provide a supply voltage of 4.75 - 5.25 VDC and supply a maximum current of at least 500mA (five units). The specification for "low-power" USB ports requires a supply voltage of 4.40 - 5.25 VDC and current of 100 mA (one unit).

0008USB ports would seem to be a very logical choice as a power supply for portable devices for a number of reasons. To begin with, USB ports supply a low DC voltage supply which is often very close to, or just above, the voltage of the battery being charged (many portable devices having battery voltages in the range of 2.5 - 4.5 VDC). As well, many portable devices may be operable to upload and download data or software, to and from a personal computer or a laptop computer (often referred to as "syncing"). Thus, many portable devices are supplied with docking cradles as shown in the system diagram of <figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 1</b></figref><b>.</b> This is quite a straightforward system, as the docking cradle <b>10</b> is connected to a USB port <b>12</b> of a personal computer (PC) <b>14,</b> via a simple USB cable and connectors <b>16.</b> The mobile device <b>18</b> need only be placed into the docking cradle <b>10</b> and an electronic connection to the (PC) <b>14,</b> is made.

0009If the USB port <b>12</b> has sufficient power, it makes much more sense to use the USB port <b>12</b> to supply charging power to the mobile device <b>18,</b> rather than using a separate AC charger. For example: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="bullet" compact="compact"><li>a USB power supply will have less electrical noise than an AC charger, unless the AC charger incorporates large DC capacitors or inductors;</li><li>an AC charger requires either a heavy transformer or an expensive switching power supply current, neither of which would be required if USB power is used;</li><li>in the USB power supply implementation, the cable and connectors <b>16</b> used to connect the docking cradle <b>10</b> to the PC <b>14</b> could be used to carry both power and data, so no extra physical components would be required at all. In contrast, an AC power supply would have to be provided as a separate physical component, and</li><li>there are no universal standards for AC power supplies; a given AC power supply may require 120VAC or 240VAC as an input, and may provide 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5 or 9 VDC out, with one of large number of different possible connectors and polarities. A traveller who forgets an AC power supply at home, may not be able to find a replacement.</li></ul>

0010In contrast, the USB standard is widely accepted, so that a traveller whose mobile device is equipped with a USB connector will have a much greater chance of finding a charging source.

0011Unfortunately, USB ports can only provide limited power, while typical battery charge controllers are designed to receive a steady, high capacity power supply (that is, the input voltage at the battery charge controller is at or near its designed value, and does not drop as charging current increases). The problem becomes clear when considering the block diagram of <figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 2</b></figref><b>.</b> The components of <figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 2</b></figref> are the same as those of <figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 1</b></figref><b>,</b> specifically, a docking cradle 10 powered from a USB port <b>12</b> of a PC <b>14,</b> via cable and connectors <b>16,</b> and feeding a portable device <b>18</b> resting in the cradle <b>10.</b> From this presentation, it is clear that the voltage output from the USB port <b>12,</b> V_USB, will drop as it crosses the cable and connectors <b>16,</b> due to its resistance, R_CABLE. If either the cable resistance (R_CABLE) or the current drawn (I_CABLE) is too great, the voltage arriving at the battery charge controller in the mobile device <b>18,</b> may be too low. This low voltage will cause many standard battery charge controllers either to shut down or to oscillate and fail to charge the battery in the portable device <b>18</b> efficiently.

0012True, new dedicated battery charge controllers could be developed which are operable with the limited USB power supply and resistance of the cable and connector system, but that would be an expensive and complicated solution. Such a design would become even more complicated to be compatible with both computer data bus power supplies and other power sources, such as AC power supplies.

0013There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus which allows standard battery charge controllers to be supplied with power from standard computer data busses such as USB ports. This design must be provided with consideration for the cost of electrical components, the limited physical board area in portable devices, the reliability and the complexity of the design. It is also desirable that this method and apparatus be operable with both computer data bus power supplies, and other power sources such as AC power supplies.

0014"LTC 4053-4.2 USB Compatible Lithium-Ion Battery Charger with thermal Regulation" discloses a linear charger for lithium-ion batteries that can be powered directly from a USB port.

0015<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6300744B1"><text>US 6300744 B1</text></patcit> discloses an AC adapter to supply power to both an electronic device and a rechargeable battery. The voltage at the output terminal of the AC adapter is detected and delivered to a battery charger that is used to supply a constant current to the battery, when the computer is turned on while the battery is being recharged. When the output voltage falls below a predetermined trigger voltage, a voltage detector instructs the battery charger to limit the current delivered to the battery, and the current is reduced until the voltage at the output of the AC adapter again reaches the trigger voltage.

<u>DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION</u>

0016The present invention provides a battery charger as detailed in claim 1. Advantageous features are provided in the dependent claims..

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

0017These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings in which: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 1</b></figref> presents a physical layout of a personal computer connected to a portable electronic device in a manner known in the art;</li><li><figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 2</b></figref> presents a block diagram of the system presented in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, highlighting the problem of voltage drop between the personal computer and the portable electronic device;</li><li><figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 3</b></figref> presents a electrical schematic diagram of a battery charging circuit in a broad embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 4</b></figref> presents an electrical schematic diagram of a battery charging circuit using a comparator, in an embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 5</b></figref> presents an electrical schematic diagram of a battery charging circuit using an electronic potentiometer, in an embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 6</b></figref> presents a timing diagram of charging current provided by the embodiment of <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 5</b></figref><b>;</b> and</li><li><figref idref="f0004"><b>Figure 7</b></figref> presents an electrical schematic diagram of a battery charge circuit in an embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

<u>BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION</u>

0018The general problem addressed by the invention is that typical battery charge controllers are designed to receive a steady, high capacity power supply while such a power supply is often unavailable, or is simply inconvenient. One of the most common battery charge controllers, for example, the LTC1734 from Linear Technology is designed to receive 5 VDC in, and has a low voltage lockout at 4.53V (that is, if the LTC1734 receives a supply voltage of less than 4.53VDC, it simply shuts down). When the voltage drop across the supply cable and connectors 16 are considered, the voltage supplied by the power node of a data bus such as a USB port, may be lower than this low voltage lockout. Therefore, though the LTC1734 is widely available, inexpensive and reliable, it cannot be used effectively in this environment.

0019A circuit which overcomes this problem, is presented as a block diagram in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>. This figure presents a battery charging circuit which uses a standard battery charge controller 30 known in the art, coupled to a rechargeable battery or batteries 32. The battery charge controller 30 is provided with power from some manner of external power, such as a computer data bus. This power connection is presented in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> in the form of input voltage V_BUS. This V_BUS voltage will be reduced due to the resistance of the electrical cable and connectors <b>16,</b> R_CABLE. Thus, the battery charge controller 30 only receives a voltage of V_CHRG = V_BUS - (R_CABLE × I_CABLE).

0020As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the voltage drop across R_CABLE may result in the V_CHRG voltage being lower than the low voltage threshold for the battery charge controller <b>30.</b> The invention therefore adds a current regulator <b>34</b> to the circuit. The resistance R_CABLE is of course fixed, but by reducing the current drawn by the battery charge controller <b>30,</b> I_CABLE, the voltage drop across R_CABLE will decrease, thus avoiding the low voltage shut off of the battery charge controller <b>30,</b> and allowing the battery <b>32</b> to be charged.

0021A number of current regulators <b>34</b> are described herein, but in general it desirable that the current regulator: <ul id="ul0004" list-style="bullet" compact="compact"><li>maximize the current being fed to the battery <b>32,</b> and therefore maximizing the current drawn from the power supply (I_CABLE), while</li><li>keeping the V_CHRG voltage greater than the low voltage shut off level of the battery charge controller <b>30.</b></li></ul>

0022In some embodiments of the invention the current regulator <b>34</b> uses V_CHRG as an input (via connection <b>36</b>), while in other embodiments the current regulator <b>34</b> uses an output of the battery charge controller <b>30</b> (via connector <b>38</b>). Still other embodiments use no feedback to the current regulator <b>34.</b>

0023Say, for example, that the voltage provided from the computer data bus is 4.75 - 5.25 VDC; that is, V_BUS = 4.75 - 5.25 VDC; the circuit must therefore be designed to operate at V_BUS = 4.75 VDC. Suppose also that the resistance of the cable and connectors <b>16</b> is 0.5 ohms (R_CABLE = 0.5 ohms) and that the low voltage shut off of the battery charge controller <b>30</b> is 4.53 VDC. The battery charge controller <b>30</b> will endeavour to draw as much current as needed to charge the battery <b>32,</b> which, in the case of a USB bus, will be limited to about 0.5 A. Thus, the voltage arriving at the battery charge controller, V_CHRG, will be: <maths id="math0001" num="(1)"><math display="block"><mtable><mtr><mtd><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>CHRG</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>BUS</mi></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub><mo>×</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">I</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mn>4.75</mn><mrow><mspace width="1ex" /><mi>VDC</mi></mrow><mo>−</mo><mfenced><mn>0.5</mn><mspace width="1ex" /><mi>ohms</mi><mo>×</mo><mn>0.5</mn><mspace width="1ex" /><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi></mfenced></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mn>4.5</mn><mrow><mspace width="1ex" /><mi>VDC</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0001.tif" /></maths>

0024If the low voltage shutdown of the battery charge controller is higher than V_CHRG = 4.5 VDC, it will therefore shutdown. This is the case for the LTC1734 controller, for example, which shuts down at 4.53 VDC.

0025The above calculations did not even take into account component tolerances, which cannot be ignored. The LTC1734 application notes state that this device has a tolerance of 1%. If the current regulator <b>34</b> incorporates a number of simple components then the circuit of <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 3</b></figref> may easily have a tolerance of 3% or so. Thus, V_CHRG may effectively be in the range of 4.37 VDC; well below the 4.53 VDC cut off for the LTC1734 battery charge controller.

0026Equation (1) can also be used to determine a current level, I_CABLE, which does not cause the battery charge controller 30 to shutdown: <maths id="math0002" num="(1)"><math display="block"><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>CHRG</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>BUS</mi></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub><mo>×</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">I</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0002.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0003" num="(2)"><math display="block"><mtable><mtr><mtd><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">I</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mfenced><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>BUS</mi></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>CHRG</mi></msub></mfenced><msub><mi>/R</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mfenced><mn>4.75</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>4.53</mn></mfenced><mo>/</mo><mn>0.5</mn></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mn>0.44</mn><mrow><mspace width="1ex" /><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0003.tif" /></maths>

0027Thus, reducing the current I_CABLE to 0.44 A is sufficient to avoid the low voltage shut off of the battery charge controller 30. Allowing for 3% tolerance: <maths id="math0004" num="(2)"><math display="block"><mtable><mtr><mtd><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">I</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mfenced><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>BUS</mi></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi><mi>CHRG</mi></msub><mo>×</mo><mn>3</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">%</mi></mfenced><msub><mi>/R</mi><mi>CABLE</mi></msub></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mfenced><mn>4.75</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>4.53</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>1.03</mn></mfenced><mo>/</mo><mn>0.5</mn></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mfenced><mn>0.09</mn></mfenced><mo>/</mo><mn>0.5</mn></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mo>=</mo><mn>0.18</mn><mrow><mspace width="1ex" /><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi></mrow></mtd></mtr></mtable></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0004.tif" /></maths>

0028That is, the current I_CABLE may have to be reduced to 0.18 A to avoid the low voltage shutdown.

0029Thus, the use of the circuit in <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 3</b></figref> allows computer data buses and similar power supplies with limited capacity, to be used to charge mobile devices, without causing the battery charge controller <b>30</b> to shut down.

0030The solution of this embodiment adapts to the capabilities of any external power source to minimize charge time. If, for example, 5 VDC arrives at the input of the battery charge controller <b>30</b> with unlimited current and no voltage drop as the current draw. increases, then the regulating circuit <b>34</b> will not restrict the current drawn.

0031A number of different embodiments will now be described, Each embodiment uses a very small number of simple, reliable components. Thus, as a whole, the invention provides an effective solution which is inexpensive, reliable and consumes minimal board space in a portable device.

Comparator Embodiment

0032<figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 4</b></figref> presents an electrical schematic diagram charging circuit which employs two main components: a comparator <b>50</b> and a LTC1734 battery charge controller <b>52</b> having a current control pin PROG. Varying the current drawn through the control pin PROG will vary the current supplied by the LTC1734 battery charge controller <b>52</b> to the battery <b>32.</b> Drawing more current out of the PROG pin will increase the charge current, while reducing the PROG current will reduce the charge current.

0033Many battery charge controllers have a similar current control system, but this embodiment will be described with respect to the LTC1734 controller. The LTC1734 controller can be operated in either constant current mode, or constant voltage mode.

0034In the constant voltage mode (entered when the charge voltage of the battery <b>32</b> reaches 4.2 VDC externally), the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> servos its DRIVE pin to maintain its BAT pin at 4.2 VDC. In this mode, the current provided by the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> will necessarily drop, and the current flowing out of the PROG pin will drop accordingly. As this latter mode of operation is not affected by the system described herein, it will not be discussed in any further detail.

0035As noted above, the minimum required voltage at VCC for proper operation of the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> is 4.53 VDC, and the USB specification states that for standard USB equipment under a high load (i.e. 500mA), V_CHRG may be pulled as low as 4.35V - too low for the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> to operate. To prevent this, the comparator <b>50</b> monitors V_CHRG (scaled down to a more useful voltage - V_N - by the voltage divider R1 and R2) fed to the inverting input of the comparator <b>50</b> and compares it to a reference voltage (V_P) which is fed to the comparator <b>50's</b> non- inverting input.

0036V_P is derived by low-pass filtering the LTC1734 controller <b>52's</b> PROG pin output through resistor R5 and capacitor C2, as V_PROG = 1.5 VDC when the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> is operating in the constant-current mode. R5 also serves to isolate other components from the LTC1734 controller <b>52,</b> ensuring proper operation of the LTC1734 controller <b>52.</b> Resistors R1 and R2 are chosen such that V_CHRG is a suitable tolerance above 4.53 VDC when V_N = 1.5 VDC.

0037In the intended and published usage of the LTC1734 controller 52, the voltage across resistor R3 is simply V_PROG since R3 is intended to be tied between PROG and ground. In such a configuration, determining and setting a fixed charge current I_CHRG, is straightforward. In the system of the invention, rather than adjusting R3 to control charge current as most alternative ideas suggest, this circuit adjusts the voltage across a fixed R3 by changing the voltage across C1 (that is, V_C1) such that: <maths id="math0005" num="(3)"><math display="block"><msub><mi>I</mi><mi mathvariant="italic">CHG</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mrow><mn>1.5</mn><mi>V</mi><mo>−</mo><msub><mi>V</mi><mrow><mi>C</mi><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub></mrow><mrow><mi>R</mi><mn>3</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>×</mo><mn>1000</mn></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0005.tif" /></maths>

0038V_C1 is controlled by the comparator <b>50.</b> As the comparator <b>50</b> is an open- drain comparator (a MAX9120 comparator was used for testing purposes, though similar parts such as the LMV7235 should work as well), when V_N > V_P, the comparator <b>50</b> will sink current into its output pin; otherwise the output pin will float.

0039The control loop operates as follows: <ol id="ol0001" compact="compact"><li>1. as I_CHRG drops, the voltage drop across the cable and connectors <b>16</b> also drops, so V_CHRG rises, per equation (1) above. As V_CHRG rises, the positive input to the comparator <b>50,</b> V_N, will also rise. For V_N rising, when V_N > V_P + 0.5 V_HYS (V_HYS being the input hysteresis for the comparator <b>50</b>), the comparator <b>50</b> will turn on its output and pull charge out of C1, decreasing V_C1 and causing I_CHRG to increase;</li><li>2. as I_CHRG increases, the voltage drop across the cable and connectors <b>16</b> rises, causing V_CHRG, and consequently V_N, to drop. For V_N falling, when V_N < V_P - 0.5 V_HYS, the comparator <b>50</b> turns off its output, allowing the LTC1734 controller <b>52's</b> PROG pin to pour charge into C1, causing. V_C1 to increase and decreasing I_CHRG.</li></ol>

0040Resistor R4 smooths out the ripples on C1 and limits current transients through the comparator <b>50's</b> output.

0041When the power supply is capable of supplying all the power the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> can handle, V_C1 will be at a minimum and I_CHG will be approximately determined by: <maths id="math0006" num="(4)"><math display="block"><msub><mi>I</mi><mi mathvariant="italic">CHG</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mrow><mn>1.5</mn><mi>V</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>R</mi><mn>3</mn><mo>+</mo><mi>R</mi><mn>4</mn><mo>+</mo><msub><mi>R</mi><mi mathvariant="italic">OUT</mi></msub></mrow></mfrac></math><img file="EP3674844B1_D0006.tif" /></maths>

0042R_OUT is the resistance from the comparator <b>50's</b> output to GND when the output is active. Because the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> is susceptible to malfunction due to capacitive effects in the PROG circuit, it is best to keep R4 ≤ 0.1 R3, but this will depend on the application, and can easily be determined by one skilled in the art.

0043When power is first applied to this circuit through V_BUS, V_C1 = 0 and the charger will start and stay on. A high-on-reset signal of 3.0V applied to CHG_CTRL will keep the charger off; once the "off' state has been established, the CHG_CTRL signal can be removed. Conversely, pulling CHG_CTRL to GND for a period of time and then floating it will turn on the charger.

Testing of Comparator Embodiment

0044The circuit of <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 4</b></figref> was tested with the following component values: <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none"><li>R1 = 10.0kΩ</li><li>R2 = 21.0kΩ</li><li>R3 = 3.09kΩ</li><li>R4 = 200Ω</li><li>R5 = 10.0kΩ</li><li>C1 = 1µF</li><li>C2 = 0.1µF</li></ul>

0045The R4, C1 time constant was chosen to be at least 10 times larger than the propagation delay of the MAX9120 for stability.

0046For testing purposes, a 1Ω resistor was used to simulate the resistance of the supply cable and connectors <b>16.</b>

0047With V_BUS = 6 VDC, I_CHRG = 440mA.

0048As V_BUS was gradually reduced, I_CHRG remained at 440mA until V_BUS = 5.075 VDC, at which point I_CHRG started to drop. By the time V_BUS = 4.71 VDC, the charge current I_CHRG, had dropped to 92mA.

0049Using an HP54645D oscilloscope to probe the LTC1734 controller <b>52's</b> VCC pin showed the following: <ul id="ul0006" list-style="bullet" compact="compact"><li>for I_CHRG = 440mA and V_BUS = 5.075 VDC, VCC = 4.63 VDC; and</li><li>for I_CHRG = 92mA and V_BUS = 4.71 VDC, VCC = 4.63 VDC.</li></ul>

0050This is consistent with the chosen values of R1 and R2, using the PROG reference scheme.

0051With V_BUS = 4.63 VDC, the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> turned off and V_PROG = 4.625 VDC.

0052By returning V_BUS to 6 VDC, the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> could be turned on again by momentarily pulling CHG_CTRL to GND. Similarly, pulling CHG_CTRL above about .2.25 VDC turned the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> back off.

Digital Potentiometer Embodiment

0053The invention is not strictly limited to the case where the low voltage threshold is never exceeded. In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figures 5</b> and <b>6</b></figref><b>,</b> for example, the low voltage threshold could be exceeded with each periodic cycle of current ramping, but the duty cycle still be sufficient to charge the battery. The only difficulty with such a circuit is that it would be necessary to reset the battery charge controller with each cycle. The circuit of <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figures 5</b> and <b>6</b></figref> ramps through a range of current supply, but uses a reset circuit to stop the ramping before the low voltage threshold is exceeded.

0054Like the embodiment of <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 4</b></figref><b>,</b> this circuit uses the LTC1734 battery charge controller 52, though other battery charge controllers having a current control pin PROG could also be used. However, rather than having a comparator circuit as in <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 4</b></figref> which modulates the current draw to avoid the low voltage shut off, this circuit ramps from a low current level, through to a high current level. Before the low voltage threshold is reached, the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> shuts down and the cycle is repeated. The circuit also includes provisions for setting the current draw to a number of predetermined and fixed levels.

0055Looking first at the simplest case, with the inputs FAST CH, HI/LO CH and ADJUST all at 0 VDC, then there will be no current flow through either of the semiconductors Q2 or Q3. The resistance between PROG and ground will therefore be equal to the sum of resistors R6 and R7, and this will determine the current flow through the LTC1734 controller <b>52.</b> If these resistors are set to 2.2kohms and 16.5Kohms respectively, then the circuit will provide 100mA.

0056If the FAST CH is held high, then current will flow through R6, and the resistance from PROG to ground will only be 2.2kohms. Thus, the current flow through the LTC1734 controller <b>52</b> will be approximately 750mA. This setting would not be useful with a low capacity supply such as a USB port, but could be used with a high capacity supply such as an AC transformer.

0057Finally, with the HI/LO CH input high, current will flow through resistor R8, electronic potentiometer R9, and Q2. Resistor R8 preferably has a value of 1kohm, and R9 is preferably a MAX5467 potentiometer, which has a range of 0 - 10kohms, in 32 discrete steps. Thus, this circuit will step through a resistance of 11kohms down to 1kohm in 32 discrete steps (note that this circuit is in parallel to R7, so R7 must be considered in determined the current drawn from PROG). This would result in the current output similar to that shown in <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 6</b></figref> (the number of steps that would actually be made prior to reaching the low voltage shut off varies with the particular application due to component values and tolerances, and other factors).

0058The ADJUST and HI/LO CH inputs could be controlled using a microcontroller or similar device. As well, hardware components such as an oscillator could also be used to control the rate through which the steps of the potentiometer are stepped.

0059In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the HI/LO CH input also feeds the CS pin on the MAX5467. This is a "chip select" input - in combination with U/D input fed by the ADJUST input, it is used to increment or decrement the electronic potentiometer R9. Also, a separate reset circuit is provided using resistors R10, R11, R12, capacitor C3, and transistor Q3. This circuit could be powered using any reliable voltage V2 (in the preferred embodiment, V2 = +3.3 VDC, which is provided from V_LSB and a voltage regulator).

0060The preferred values for the components in this circuit are: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>R6 = 2.2kohms</li><li>R7 = 16.5kohms</li><li>R8 = 1.0kohms</li><li>R9 = 10kohms</li><li>R10 = 200.0kohms</li><li>R11 = 10.0kohms</li><li>R12 = 200kohms</li><li>C3 = 22 pF</li></ul>

Software Embodiments

0061Rather than using only electronic hardware as shown above, the invention may also be implemented using a combination a hardware and software components, including programmable devices such as digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and the like. Such an embodiment could be implemented as shown in the flow chart of <figref idref="f0004"><b>Figure 7</b></figref><b>.</b>

0062Like the embodiments described above, this method could be used to charge any rechargeable battery in a portable or similar electronic device. Any external power supply could be used, though the invention is most useful with power supplies of limited capacity. The method of the invention adjusts to the parameters of external power supplies to minimize charge time.

0063As shown in <figref idref="f0004"><b>Figure 7</b></figref><b>,</b> the method of the invention begins at step <b>90</b> by connecting a battery charge controller <b>30</b> to the external power supply and to the rechargeable battery in the portable device <b>18.</b> As described herein above, the connection to the external power supply is preferably made via a USB cable and connectors <b>16,</b> and a cradle <b>10</b> to hold the portable device <b>18.</b>

0064A low voltage shut off level for the battery charge controller in the portable device <b>18</b> is then determined at step <b>92.</b> This low voltage shut off level is generally predetermined as the software algorithm is executed by the portable device <b>18,</b> and the parameters of the battery charge controller <b>30</b> being used in the portable device <b>18</b> can be programmed into it.

0065The voltage provided by the external power supply to the battery charge controller <b>30</b> is then monitored at step <b>94.</b> This step could be provided periodically, continuously, or in response to an event, such as a change in the charge current. Various devices, such as microcontrollers, are often provided with integral ADCs (analogue to digital converters) which could be used to perform this monitoring function.

0066The current drawn by the battery charge controller 30 is then maximized at step <b>96,</b> with the limitation that the voltage being supplied to the battery charge controller <b>30</b> must be kept above the low voltage shut off level. The current drawn by the battery charge controller <b>30</b> could be controlled in a number of manners. For example, most microcontrollers have DAC (digital to analogue converter) outputs which could be used to control the current provided by a device such as the LTC1734 controller <b>52,</b> described herein above.

0067The balance of the software code needed to perform this algorithm would be straightforward to one skilled in the art.

0068The method steps of the invention may be embodiment in sets of executable machine code stored in a variety of formats such as object code or source code, integrated with the code of other programs, implemented as subroutines, by external program calls or by other techniques as known in the art.

0069Even the hardware embodiments of the invention could be encoded in a software form such as the hardware development languages (HDL code) used to fabricate integrated circuits. This HDL or similar code could be stored on any electronic memory means such computer diskettes, CD-Roms, Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). As well, electronic signals representing this software code may also be transmitted via a communication network.

Options and Alternatives

0070While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is clear that changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. For example: <ul id="ul0008" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>1. the circuit of the invention could be used with any manner of power source including: conventional AC power supplies (often referred to as "bricks"), computer data busses such as USB ports, external battery packs, laptop power supplies, DC outlets on aircraft;</li><li>2. any manner of electrical appliance could be charged with such a circuit including portable laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, wireless email and paging devices; and</li><li>3. any manner of rechargeable battery could be used including single or multiple lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, or other types of cells.</li></ul>

0071Again, such implementations would be clear to one skilled in the art from the teachings herein, and do not take away from the invention.

<u>INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY</u>

0072The present invention provides to a method and apparatus for charging a battery in a portable communication device from a variety of power sources.