IP Library Granted Patent US 8,994,341
Granted Patent B2
US 8,994,341 · App. 13/375,802 · Granted Mar 31, 2015

Battery charging circuit and electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,994,341
App. No.
13/375,802
Granted
Mar 31, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery charging circuit comprises: a first voltage regulator, wherein the first voltage regulator has a control input designed for reception of a signal generated by a current metering circuit; the current metering circuit; and a terminal for connecting a battery. An electronic device, in particular a mobile device, comprises a battery charging circuit as defined above.

Claims (36)

1. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a current metering circuit;

a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator has a control input designed for reception of a signal generated by the current metering circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit comprises a switch connected in series with the current metering circuit; and

a terminal for connecting a battery.

2. The battery charging circuit, according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is connected in series with the voltage regulator.

3. The battery charging circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the electrical connection between the voltage regulator and the switch comprises an electrical tap for connecting a load.

4. The battery charging circuit, according to claim 1 , wherein the current metering circuit comprises an integration function.

5. The battery charging circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the signal generated by the current metering circuit contains information about at least one of a measured strength of a current and a charge amount.

6. The battery charging circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first comparison circuit to compare a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a first predetermined threshold, in order to increase an output target voltage of an output voltage of the voltage regulator, when the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

7. The battery charging circuit according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a second comparison circuit to compare a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a second predetermined threshold, in order to decrease an output target voltage of an output voltage of the voltage regulator, when the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit under-runs the second predetermined threshold.

8. The battery charging circuit according to claim 7 , wherein the first predetermined threshold either has the same height or is by a hysteresis value higher than the second predetermined threshold.

9. The battery charging circuit according to claim 1 , wherein an output of the current metering circuit is connected to the control input of the voltage regulator via at least one of an electrical, an optical, an acoustical, and a radio connection.

10. The battery charging circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the current metering circuit includes only current regulation circuits which employs the voltage regulator for current regulation.

11. The battery charging circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

exactly one shunt for measuring a current using a voltage between terminals of the one shunt, wherein the voltage between the terminals of the one shunt is caused by the current to be measured.

12. An electronic device, in particular a mobile device, wherein the electronic device comprises the battery charging circuit according to claim 1 .

13. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a current metering circuit;

a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator has a control input designed for reception of a signal generated by the current metering circuit, wherein the signal generated by the current metering circuit contains information about at least one of a measured strength of a current and a charge amount; and

a terminal for connecting a battery.

14. The battery charging circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the electrical connection between the voltage regulator and a switch comprises an electrical tap for connecting a load.

15. The battery charging circuit of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first comparison circuit to compare a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a first predetermined threshold, in order to increase an output target voltage of an output voltage of the voltage regulator, when the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

16. The battery charging circuit of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second comparison circuit to compare a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a second predetermined threshold, in order to decrease an output target voltage of an output voltage of the voltage regulator, when the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit under-runs the second predetermined threshold.

17. The battery charging circuit according to claim 13 , wherein an output of the current metering circuit is connected to the control input of the voltage regulator via at least one of an electrical, an optical, an acoustical, and a radio connection.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, at a control input of a voltage regulator of a battery charging circuit, a signal generated by a current metering circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit includes a terminal to connect to a battery;

comparing, by a first comparison circuit, a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a first predetermined threshold; and

increasing an output target voltage of an output voltage of the voltage regulator, in response to the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

comparing, by a second comparison circuit, a strength of an average current through the current metering circuit with a second predetermined threshold; and

decreasing an output target voltage of an output voltage of a voltage regulator, in response to the strength of the average current measured by the current metering circuit under-runs the second predetermined threshold.

20. The method claim 19 , wherein the first predetermined threshold either has the same height or is by a hysteresis value higher than the second predetermined threshold.

Assignments (19)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040925 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V. F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 052917/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040928 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 052915/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037486 FRAME 0517. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 053547/0421 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050744/0097 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. FROM 13,883,290 TO 13,833,290 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 041703 FRAME 0536. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS.. Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: SHENZHEN XINGUODU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048734/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENTS 8108266 AND 8062324 AND REPLACE THEM WITH 6108266 AND 8060324 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037518 FRAME 0292. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 041703/0536 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 3, 2017
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 041144/0363 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 040928/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V., F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040925/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039138/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037518/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 12, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037486/0517 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0379 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0439 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0447 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 6, 2013
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031591/0266 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027821/0662 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027821/0967 →
SUPPLEMENT TO IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027821/0982 →