Patent ID: 8198868
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for charging a battery, comprising: a switching module configured to source an element charging current from a first input voltage to the battery when a charging control signal is at a first logical level and to sink an element discharging current from the battery to a second input voltage when the charging control signal is at a second logical level; a controller module configured to provide the charging control signal based upon a comparison of a reference voltage and a control voltage pulse, the control voltage pulse being generated by the controller module in response to a replica current, the replica current being proportional to the element charging current; a feedback module configured to compare a voltage of the battery to a reference voltage to provide a charging error signal; and a reference voltage generator module configured to provide the reference voltage in response to the charging error signal, the reference voltage being proportional to a constant current when the charging error signal indicates a first mode of operation or a scaled representation of the constant current when the charging error signal indicates a second mode of operation.