POWER CONVERTERS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING A BATTERY
A power converter for use with a programmable power supply circuit includes a charging circuit and a battery. The charging circuit is electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit, the programmable power supply circuit being configured to provide a regulated DC input voltage. The charging circuit includes a first dc-dc converter electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit and configured to convert the regulated DC input voltage to a system output voltage at an output node. The battery is electrically coupled to the first dc-dc converter, and configured to be charged or discharged, directly or indirectly via the output node. The charging circuit further includes a second dc-dc converter electrically coupled in series between the programmable power supply circuit and the battery. One of the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter is an unregulated converter.
1 .- 3 . (canceled)
4 . A power converter for use with a programmable power supply circuit, comprising:
a charging circuit electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit, the programmable power supply circuit being configured to provide a regulated DC input voltage, the charging circuit comprising: a first dc-dc converter electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit and configured to convert the regulated DC input voltage to a system output voltage at an output node; and
a battery electrically coupled to the first dc-dc converter, and configured to be charged or discharged, directly or indirectly via the output node,
wherein the charging circuit further comprises a second dc-dc converter electrically coupled in series between the programmable power supply circuit and the battery, wherein one of the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter is an unregulated converter.
5 . The power converter of claim 4 , wherein the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter are configured to operate simultaneously.
6 . The power converter of claim 4 , further comprising:
a boost converter or a charge pump converter coupled between the battery and the output node.
7 . The power converter of claim 4 , wherein, in a discharging phase of the battery, the second dc-dc converter is configured to convert a battery voltage outputted by the battery to a first voltage received by the first dc-dc converter, and the first dc-dc converter is configured to regulate and provide the system output voltage, in response to the first voltage from the second dc-dc converter.
8 . The power converter of claim 4 , wherein, in a charging phase of the battery, the first dc-dc converter is configured to provide the system output voltage, in response to the regulated DC input voltage from the programmable power supply circuit, and the second dc-dc converter is configured to provide a charging voltage to the battery, in response to the regulated DC input voltage from the programmable power supply circuit.
9 . The power converter of claim 4 , further comprising:
a charger transistor electrically coupled in series between the first dc-dc converter and the battery via the output node and configured to enable or disable charging or discharging of the battery.
10 . The power converter of claim 9 , further comprising:
a switch device electrically coupled in parallel to the charger transistor and configured to bypass the charger transistor when the switch device is closed.
11 . The power converter of claim 9 , wherein the charger transistor is electrically coupled between the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter.
12 . A power converter for use with a programmable power supply circuit, comprising:
a charging circuit electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit, the programmable power supply circuit being configured to provide a regulated DC input voltage, the charging circuit comprising:
a first dc-dc converter electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit and configured to convert the regulated DC input voltage to a system output voltage at an output node;
a battery electrically coupled to the first dc-dc converter, and configured to be charged or discharged, directly or indirectly via the output node;
wherein the charging circuit further comprises a second dc-dc converter electrically coupled in series between the programmable power supply circuit and the battery, and the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter are configured to operate simultaneously.
13 . The power converter of claim 12 , wherein the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter are electrically coupled in parallel.
14 . The power converter of claim 12 , further comprising:
a charger transistor electrically coupled in series between the first dc-dc converter and the battery via the output node and configured to enable or disable charging or discharging of the battery.
15 . The power converter of claim 14 , further comprising:
a switch device electrically coupled in parallel to the charger transistor and configured to bypass the charger transistor when the switch device is closed.
16 . The power converter of claim 14 , wherein the charger transistor is electrically coupled between the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter.
17 .- 18 . (canceled)
19 . A power converter for use with a programmable power supply circuit, comprising:
a charging circuit electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit, the programmable power supply circuit being configured to provide a regulated DC voltage as a system output voltage at an output node, the charging circuit comprising: a first dc-dc converter electrically coupled to the programmable power supply circuit at the output node, and configured to perform a voltage conversion between the system output voltage and a battery voltage; and
a battery electrically coupled to the first dc-dc converter, and configured to be charged or discharged, directly or indirectly, based on the battery voltage.
20 . The power converter of claim 19 , further comprising:
a charger transistor electrically coupled in series between the first dc-dc converter and the battery and configured to enable or disable charging or discharging of the battery.
21 . The power converter of claim 20 , further comprising:
a first switch device electrically coupled in parallel to the charger transistor and configured to bypass the charger transistor when the first switch device is closed.
22 . The power converter of claim 20 , further comprising:
a second switch device electrically coupled in parallel to the first dc-dc converter and configured to enable a direct charging or discharging between the battery and the output node when the second switch device is closed.
23 . The power converter of claim 20 , further comprising:
a second dc-dc converter electrically coupled between the programmable power supply circuit and the charger transistor.
24 . The power converter of claim 23 , wherein one of the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter is an unregulated converter, and the other one of the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter is a regulated converter.
25 . The power converter of claim 23 , wherein the charger transistor is electrically coupled between the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter.
26 . The power converter of claim 23 , wherein the first dc-dc converter and the second dc-dc converter are electrically coupled in parallel.
27 .- 44 . (canceled)