Multi-mode charger device
View Patent ↗Multi-mode charger device for charging portable devices and methods of charging portable devices are described. In an embodiment, a multi-mode charger device has mode blocks respectively associated with modes of operation which are coupled to a switch module. The switch module is for coupling a selected one of the mode blocks to a peripheral bus and to decouple the mode blocks remaining from the peripheral bus. A first mode of the modes of operation is a pass through mode. A second mode of the modes of operation is a first charging mode. A third mode of the modes of operation is a second charging mode. The first charging mode and the second charging mode are different from one another.
1. A multi-mode charger, comprising:
mode blocks respectively associated with modes of operation;
a switch module configured to couple a selected one of the mode blocks to a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) and to decouple the mode blocks remaining from the USB;
a first mode of the modes of operation being a pass through mode;
in the pass through mode, the switch module configured to couple a USB controller to the USB for data transfer;
a second mode of the modes of operation being a first charging mode;
in the first charging mode, the switch module configured to couple a first mode block of the mode blocks to the USB, the first mode block being associated with the first charging mode;
a third mode of the modes of operation being a second charging mode;
in the second charging mode, the switch module configured to couple a second mode block of the mode blocks to the USB, the second mode block being associated with the second charging mode;
the first charging mode and the second charging mode being different from one another;
control circuitry for controlling distribution of power to the USB responsive to a selected mode of operation of the modes of operation; and
the control circuitry further configured to detect when a peripheral device is coupled to the USB;
wherein:
the USB includes a USB connector;
a data plus node and a data minus node of the USB are respectively connected to a first switch and a second switch of pairs of switches of the switch module for operation in the selected mode of operation of the modes of operation;
the data plus node and the data minus node are respectively coupled to associated nodes of the USB controller via a first switch and a second switch of a first pair of the pairs of switches of the switch module in the pass through mode;
the data plus node and the data minus node are respectively coupled to the first switch and the second switch of a second pair of the pairs of switches of the switch module in the first charging mode; and
the data plus node and the data minus node are respectively coupled to the first switch and the second switch of a third pair of the pairs of switches of the switch module in the second charging mode.
2. The multi-mode charger according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to select a charging mode, including from the first charging mode and the second charging mode, responsive to type of the peripheral device detected.
3. The multi-mode charger according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect when the peripheral device is not in the pass through mode for activating the charging mode for the type of the peripheral device detected.
4. The multi-mode charger according to claim 1 , wherein:
a ground node of the USB is coupled to a ground node of a computer;
a supply node of the USB is coupled to a power source node of the computer;
the control circuitry is coupled to the supply node and the power source node;
the control circuitry is configured for controlling the distribution of power to the supply node for operation in the selected mode of operation;
the USB controller and the USB connector are parts of the computer; and
the switch module, the control circuitry, and the mode blocks are packaged in a single integrated circuit chip.
5. The multi-mode charger according to claim 1 , wherein:
a supply node of the USB is coupled to a power source node of a USB hub;
the control circuitry is coupled to the supply node and the power source node;
the control circuitry is configured for controlling the distribution of power to the supply node for operation in the selected mode of operation;
the USB controller and the USB connector are parts of the USB hub; and
the switch module, the control circuitry, and the mode blocks are packaged in a single integrated circuit chip.
6. The multi-mode charger according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first charging mode is for a first portable device having a first USB port;
the first portable device configured for charging via the first USB port;
the second charging mode is for a second portable device having a second USB port;
the second portable device configured for charging via the second USB port; and
the first portable device and the second portable device have different charging conditions.
7. The multi-mode charger according to claim 6 , wherein the different charging conditions are selected from a group consisting of portable Global Position System charging conditions, portable multimedia player charging conditions, portable device replacement battery charging conditions, cell phone charging conditions, smart phone charging conditions, USB specified powering conditions, and China specified powering conditions.