Charge/discharge switch control circuits for batteries

1. A control circuit comprising:

a plurality of driving terminals that provide driving signals to control a state of a switch circuit to enable charging or discharging of a battery pack,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a charge switch and a plurality of terminals coupled to said charge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a charge input terminal and a charge output terminal, and

wherein said driving signals comprise a signal that selectively turns on said charge switch in said switch circuit to deliver a charging current of said battery pack from said charge input terminal to said charge output terminal; and

detection circuitry, coupled to said driving terminals, that receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode, and providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said detection circuitry comprises:

a comparator, wherein when said charge switch is off, said comparator receives a first voltage at said charge input terminal and a second voltage at said charge output terminal, and compares a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

a logic circuit, coupled to said comparator, that detects whether a charger is connected to said interface according to a result of the comparison.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein if said difference between said first and second voltages is greater than said voltage reference for a predefined time interval, then said detection circuitry determines that said charger is connected to said interface.

3. A control circuit comprising:

a plurality of driving terminals that provide driving signals to control a state of a switch circuit to enable charging or discharging of a battery pack,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a discharge switch and a plurality of terminals coupled to said discharge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a discharge input terminal and a discharge output terminal, and

wherein said driving signals comprise a signal that selectively turns on said discharge switch in said switch circuit to deliver a discharging current of said battery pack from said discharge input terminal to said discharge output terminal; and

detection circuitry, coupled to said driving terminals, that receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode, and providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said detection circuitry comprises:

a current providing circuit, wherein when said discharge switch is off, said current providing circuit provides a current to charge a capacitor coupled to said discharge output terminal;

a comparator, coupled to said current providing circuit, that receives a first voltage at said discharge input terminal and a second voltage at said discharge output terminal, and compares a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

a logic circuit, coupled to said comparator, that detects whether said load is removed from said interface according to a result of the comparison.

4. The control circuit of claim 3 , wherein if said difference between said first and second voltages is less than said voltage reference or a predefined time interval, then said detection circuitry determines that said load is removed from said interface.

5. A control circuit comprising:

a plurality of driving terminals that provide driving signals to control a state of a switch circuit to enable charging or discharging of a battery pack,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a charge switch, a discharge switch, and a plurality of terminals coupled to said charge switch and said discharge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a charge input terminal and a discharge output terminal,

wherein said charge switch delivers a charging current from said charge input terminal to charge said battery pack if said charge switch is on, and

wherein said discharge switch delivers a discharging current of said battery pack to said discharge output terminal if said discharge switch is on; and

detection circuitry, coupled to said driving terminals, that receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode, and providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said detection circuitry comprises:

a comparator that compares said difference between said voltages with a voltage reference to generate a comparison result indicative of said status of said interface;

a reference generator, coupled to said comparator, that controls a level of said voltage reference according to said driving signals; and

a multiplexer, coupled to said comparator, that receives an input voltage at said charge input terminal and an output voltage at said discharge output terminal, and selectively provides a voltage of said input and output voltages to said comparator according to said driving signals.

6. The control circuit of claim 5 , wherein if said driving signals comprise signal levels that turn off said charge switch and turn on said discharge switch, then said reference generator sets said voltage reference to be a first voltage reference, and said multiplexer provides said input voltage to said comparator.

7. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein said reference generator receives a first signal indicative of a voltage of a battery in said battery pack and generates a second signal indicative of a combination of said first signal and said first voltage reference, and wherein said comparator compares said second signal with said input voltage to generate a comparison result indicative of whether a charger is connected to said interface.

8. The control circuit of claim 5 , wherein if said driving signals comprise signal levels that turn on said charge switch and turn off said discharge switch, then said reference generator sets said voltage reference to be a second voltage reference, and said multiplexer provides said output voltage to said comparator.

9. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein said reference generator receives a first signal indicative of a voltage of a battery in said battery pack and generates a third signal indicative of a combination of said first signal and said second voltage reference, wherein detection circuitry provides a current to charge a capacitor coupled to said discharge output terminal, and wherein said comparator compares said third signal with said output voltage to generate a comparison result indicative of whether said load is removed from said interface.

10. A control circuit comprising:

a plurality of driving terminals that provide driving signals to control a state of a switch circuit to enable charging or discharging of a battery pack,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a discharge switch and a plurality of terminals coupled to said discharge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a discharge input terminal and a discharge output terminal, and

wherein when said discharge switch is on, said switch circuit is operable for delivering a discharging current of said battery pack from said discharge input terminal to said discharge output terminal; and

detection circuitry, coupled to said driving terminals, that receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode, and providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said detection circuitry comprises:

a comparator that receives a first voltage at said discharge input terminal and a second voltage at said discharge output terminal, and compares a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

a logic circuit, coupled to said comparator, that detects a status of said load according to a result of the comparison.

11. The control circuit of claim 10 , wherein if said difference between said first and second voltages is greater than said voltage reference for a predefined time interval, then said detection circuitry determines that said load is in an over-heavy status.

12. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

a switch circuit, coupled to said battery, that enables charging or discharging of said battery under control of a plurality of driving signals,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a charge switch and a plurality of terminals coupled to said charge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a charge input terminal and a charge output terminal, and

wherein said charge switch delivers a charging current of said battery from said charge input terminal to said charge output terminal when said charge switch is on; and

a control circuit, coupled to said switch circuit and said battery, that provides said driving signals, receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to a status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery in a charge mode and providing power from said battery to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said control circuit comprises:

a comparator, wherein when said charge switch is off, said comparator receives a first voltage at said charge input terminal and a second voltage at said charge output terminal, and compares a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

a logic circuit, coupled to said comparator, that detects whether a charger is connected to said interface according to a result of the comparison.

13. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

a switch circuit, coupled to said battery, that enables charging or discharging of said battery under control of a plurality of driving signals,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a discharge switch and a plurality of terminals coupled to said charge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a discharge input terminal and a discharge output terminal, and

wherein said discharge switch delivers a discharging current of said battery from said discharge input terminal to said discharge output terminal when said discharge switch is on; and

a control circuit, coupled to said switch circuit and said battery, that provides said driving signals, receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to a status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery in a charge mode and providing power from said battery to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said control circuit comprises:

a current providing circuit, wherein when said discharge switch is off, said current providing circuit provides a current to charge a capacitor coupled to said discharge output terminal;

a comparator, coupled to said current providing circuit, that receives a first voltage at said discharge input terminal and a second voltage at said discharge output terminal, and compares a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

a logic circuit, coupled to said comparator, that detects whether said load is removed from said interface according to a result of the comparison.

14. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

a switch circuit, coupled to said battery, that enables charging or discharging of said battery under control of a plurality of driving signals,

wherein said switch circuit comprises a charge switch, a discharge switch, and a plurality of terminals coupled to said charge switch and said discharge switch,

wherein said plurality of terminals comprise a charge input terminal and a discharge output terminal, and

wherein said switch circuit selectively delivers a current from said charge input terminal to said battery via said charge switch or a current from said battery to said discharge output terminal via said discharge switch under control of said driving signals; and

a control circuit, coupled to said switch circuit and said battery, that provides said driving signals, receives voltages at said plurality of terminals of said switch circuit, and detects a status of an interface of said battery pack according to a status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages, said interface operable for receiving power to charge said battery in a charge mode and providing power from said battery to a load in a discharge mode,

wherein said control circuit comprises:

a comparator that compares said difference between said voltages with a voltage reference to generate a comparison result indicative of said status of said interface;

a reference generator, coupled to said comparator, that controls a level of said voltage reference according to said driving signals; and

a multiplexer, coupled to said comparator and said switch circuit, that receives an input voltage at said charge input terminal and an output voltage at said discharge output terminal and selectively provides a voltage of said input and output voltages to said comparator according to said driving signals.

15. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of driving signals to control a status of a switch circuit thereby enabling charging or discharging of a battery pack;

receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode or providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode, via an interface of said battery pack;

receiving voltages at a plurality of terminals of said switch circuit;

detecting a status of said interface according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages;

when a charge switch in said switch circuit is on, delivering a charging current of said battery pack from a charge input terminal to a charge output terminal through said charge switch; and

when said charge switch is off, performing a plurality of steps comprising:

receiving a first voltage at said charge input terminal and a second voltage at said charge output terminal;

comparing a difference between said first and second voltages with a first voltage reference; and

detecting whether a charger is connected to said interface according to a result of the comparison.

16. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of driving signals to control a status of a switch circuit thereby enabling charging or discharging of a battery pack;

receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode or providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode, via an interface of said battery pack;

receiving voltages at a plurality of terminals of said switch circuit;

detecting a status of said interface according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages;

when a discharge switch in said switch circuit is on, delivering a discharging current from a discharge input terminal to a discharge output terminal through said discharge switch; and

when said discharge switch is off, performing a plurality of steps comprising:

providing a current to charge a capacitor coupled to said discharge output terminal;

receiving a first voltage at said discharge input terminal and a second voltage at said discharge output terminal;

comparing a difference between said first and second voltages with a voltage reference; and

detecting whether said load is removed from said interface according to a result of the comparison.

17. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of driving signals to control a status of a switch circuit thereby enabling charging or discharging of a battery pack;

receiving power to charge said battery pack in a charge mode or providing power from said battery pack to a load in a discharge mode, via an interface of said battery pack;

receiving voltages at a plurality of terminals of said switch circuit;

detecting a status of said interface according to said status of said switch circuit and a difference between said voltages;

selectively delivering a current from a charge input terminal to charge said battery pack or delivering a discharging current of said battery pack to a discharge output terminal under control of said driving signals;

comparing said difference between said voltages with a voltage reference to generate a comparison result indicative of said status of said interface, using a comparator;

controlling a level of said voltage reference according to said driving signals;

receiving an input voltage at said charge input terminal and an output voltage at said discharge output terminal; and

selectively providing a voltage of said input and output voltages to said comparator according to said driving signals.