IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,476,473
Granted Patent B2
US 12,476,473 · App. 17/832,075 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Electronic device having structure to minimize power loss during battery charging and discharging

Inventors: Sungwoo Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Gunhee Park (Suwon-si, KR); Yongsuk Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H02J7/00H02J7/00032H02J7/0045H02J7/00712H02J7/00308
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,476,473
App. No.
17/832,075
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In various embodiments, an electronic device may include a battery pack including a charging terminal, a discharging terminal, and at least one battery cell. A first substrate is connected to the charging terminal and a second substrate is connected to the discharging terminal. An external connector is mounted on the first substrate and connected to an external power supply device. A first internal connector is mounted on the first substrate and connected to the charging terminal. A second internal connector is mounted on the second substrate and connected to the discharging terminal. A charging circuit is mounted on the first substrate and configured to receive a first power signal from the power supply device through the external connector, to adjust a current and/or voltage of the received first power signal, and to output the adjusted first power signal to the charging terminal through the first internal connector. A system of the electronic device is mounted on the second substrate. A power management circuit is mounted on the second substrate and configured to receive a second power signal for the system to operate from the discharging terminal through a second internal connector, and to supply the received second power signal to the system.

Claims (64)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a battery pack positioned inside the housing and including a charging terminal, a discharging terminal, and at least one battery cell;

a first substrate positioned inside the housing and connected to the charging terminal;

a second substrate positioned inside the housing and connected to the discharging terminal;

an external connector mounted on the first substrate to be connected to an external power supply device;

a first internal connector mounted on the first substrate and configured to provide the connection to the charging terminal;

a second internal connector mounted on the second substrate and configured to provide the connection to the discharging terminal;

a charging circuit mounted on the first substrate and configured to receive a first power signal from the external power supply device through the external connector, to adjust a current and/or voltage of the received first power signal, and to output the adjusted first power signal to the charging terminal through the first internal connector;

a communication circuit for communication with the external power supply device;

a system of the electronic device mounted on the second substrate and including a processor; and

a power management circuit mounted on the second substrate and configured to receive a second power signal for the system to operate, the second power signal received from the discharging terminal through the second internal connector, the power management circuit configured to supply the received second power signal to the system,

wherein the charging circuit includes a first charging circuit configured to adjust a current and/or voltage of the first power signal; and a second charging circuit configured to reduce the voltage of the first power signal by a designated reduction and to increase the current of the first power signal by a designated magnification, and

wherein the processor is configured to:

charge the battery cell using the second charging circuit based on confirmation through the communication circuit that the external power supply device supports a programmable power supply function, and

charge the battery cell using the first charging circuit based on confirmation through the communication circuit that the external power supply device does not support the programmable power supply function.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the battery pack is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate within the housing,

the charging terminal is disposed adjacent to the first internal connector, and

the discharging terminal is disposed adjacent to the second internal connector mounted on the second substrate.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the communication circuit is mounted on the first substrate.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the communication circuit is built into the first charging circuit.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to request through the communication circuit, from the external power supply device, transmission of a power signal having a voltage value twice a target voltage value for the battery cell, and

the second charging circuit is configured to reduce the voltage of the first power signal by ½ times and to increase the current of the first power signal by 2 times.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the external connector is configured as a socket according to a universal serial bus Type-C, and the charging circuit is configured to receive the first power signal through a power pin configured in the socket.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 ,

wherein the communication circuit is configured to perform power delivery communication with the external power supply device through a signal pin configured in the socket.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the signal pin includes a configuration channel (CC)1 pin and a CC2 pin.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the housing includes a front cover configured to form a front surface of the electronic device; a rear cover configured to form a rear surface of the electronic device; and a side bezel structure configured to form a side surface surrounding a space between the front surface and the rear surface, and

when viewed while facing the rear surface, the first substrate is positioned below the battery pack and the second substrate is positioned above the battery pack, and the charging terminal and the discharging terminal are positioned adjacent to one side of the side bezel structure.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein

a hole is formed on a lower side of the side bezel structure, and

the external connector is configured to couple to a plug of an external cable introduced through the hole.

11 . An electronic device comprising:

a battery pack including a charging terminal, a discharging terminal, and a battery cell;

a first substrate connected to the charging terminal and disposed on a first side of the battery pack;

a second substrate connected to the discharging terminal and disposed on a second side of the battery pack opposite to the first side;

an external connector mounted on the first substrate and configured to provide a connection to an external power supply device;

a first internal connector mounted on the first substrate and connected to the charging terminal;

a second internal connector mounted on the second substrate and connected to the discharging terminal;

a charging circuit mounted on the first substrate, and configured to receive a first power signal from the external power supply device through the external connector, to adjust a current and/or voltage of the received first power signal, and to output an adjusted first power signal to the charging terminal through the first internal connector;

a communication circuit for communication with the external power supply device and including a processor;

a system of the electronic device configured to be mounted on the second substrate; and

a power management circuit mounted on the second substrate, and configured to receive a second power signal from the discharging terminal through the second internal connector, and to supply the received second power signal to the system,

wherein the charging circuit includes a first charging circuit configured to adjust a current and/or voltage of the first power signal; and a second charging circuit configured to reduce the voltage of the first power signal by a designated reduction and to increase the current of the first power signal by a designated magnification, and

wherein the processor is configured to:

charge the battery cell using the second charging circuit based on confirmation through the communication circuit that the external power supply device supports a programmable power supply function, and

charge the battery cell using the first charging circuit based on confirmation through the communication circuit that the external power supply device does not support the programmable power supply function.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the

communication circuit is mounted on the first substrate.

13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the communication circuit is built into the first charging circuit.

14 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein

the processor is configured to request through the communication circuit, from the external power supply device, transmission of a power signal having a voltage value twice a target voltage value for the battery cell, and

the second charging circuit is configured to reduce the voltage of the first power signal by ½ times and to increase the current of the first power signal by 2 times.

15 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the external connector is configured as a socket according to a universal serial bus Type-C, and the charging circuit is configured to receive the first power signal through a power pin configured in the socket.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 ,

wherein the communication circuit is configured to perform power delivery communication with the external power supply device through a signal pin configured in the socket.

17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the signal pin includes a configuration channel (CC)1 pin and a CC2 pin.

18 . The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a housing, wherein

the housing includes a front cover configured to form a front surface of the electronic device; a rear cover configured to form a rear surface of the electronic device; and a side bezel structure configured to form a side surface surrounding a space between the front surface and the rear surface, and

when viewed while facing the rear surface, the first substrate is positioned below the battery pack and the second substrate is positioned above the battery pack, and the charging terminal and the discharging terminal are positioned adjacent to one side of the side bezel structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2022
From: CHOI, SUNGWOO; PARK, GUNHEE; LEE, YONGSUK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060099/0833 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0116807 · Sep 2, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022006553 · May 9, 2022
Related Publication 20230067606A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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