ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING BATTERY, AND BATTERY CHARGING METHOD THEREFOR

An electronic device includes: a battery; a power management module configured to control the battery; a memory storing a plurality of state-of-charge reference values related to a charging cycle of the battery; at least one processor configured to: control the power management module to charge the battery such that a charging section of the battery alternately includes a plurality of constant current sections, in which charging is performed with a uniform current, and a plurality of constant voltage sections, in which charging is performed with a uniform voltage, identify the charging cycle of the battery, and set a condition for changing from one constant voltage section of the plurality of constant voltage sections to a constant current section following the one constant voltage section of the plurality of constant current sections, based on a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery from among the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a battery and a battery charging method thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

An electronic device may operate with a power supplied from a charged battery for a given time even in a state of being separated from an external power source. When the battery is discharged, the electronic device may charge the discharged battery through a connection with the external power source.

The electronic device may charge the battery depending on a plurality of steps while alternately having a constant voltage section in which a voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained or a constant current section in which a charging current of the battery (e.g., a charging current introduced into the battery) is uniformly maintained. In an initial charging stage in which the voltage of the battery is low, the electronic device may charge the battery at high speed, with the charging current maintained highly; as the voltage of the battery increases, the charging current gradually decreases. As such, the battery may be stably charged.

The electronic device uses the voltage of the battery or the charging current of the battery as an indicator being a condition for changing from the constant voltage section of a previous step to the constant current section of a next step. However, in a case of using only the voltage of the battery or the charging current of the battery as the indicator, there may be a problem with the flexibility of the voltage and the charging current.

Also, as the charging cycle increases, the battery of the electronic device may be degraded; in this case, when the battery of the electronic device is charged, an increase in a state of charge (SoC) of the battery is slowed down, resulting in inefficiency in the charging time.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device includes: a battery; a power management module configured to control the battery; a memory storing one or more instructions and a plurality of state-of-charge reference values related to a charging cycle of the battery; at least one processor operatively connected with the battery, the power management module, and the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the one or more instructions to: control the power management module to charge the battery such that a charging section of the battery alternately includes a plurality of constant current sections, in which charging is performed with a uniform current, and a plurality of constant voltage sections, in which charging is performed with a uniform voltage, identify the charging cycle of the battery, and set a condition for changing from one constant voltage section of the plurality of constant voltage sections to a constant current section following the one constant voltage section of the plurality of constant current sections, based on a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery from among the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

The plurality of state-of-charge reference values may include a first state-of-charge reference value and a second state-of-charge reference value, and the at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to: identify a state of charge of the battery, set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section following the first constant voltage section, and set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from a second constant voltage section to a third constant current section following the second constant voltage section.

As the charging cycle of the battery increases, the plurality of state-of-charge reference values may decrease.

The charging cycle of the battery may include a first cycle and a second cycle that is greater than the first cycle, the at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to: in the first cycle, set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section, and set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section, and in the second cycle, set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section, and set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

The at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to set a voltage of the battery and a charging current of the battery, as a condition for changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section following the first constant voltage section.

The condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section may be that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to a set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a set state-of-charge reference value.

The at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to set a target voltage of the battery, as a condition for changing from a first constant current section to a first constant voltage section following the first constant current section, and the condition for changing from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section may be that a voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage.

The at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to: charge the battery through the power management module depending on a plurality of steps, wherein a constant current section of a first step of the plurality of steps is adjacent to a constant voltage section of the first step, and the constant voltage section of the first step is adjacent to a constant current section of a second step of the plurality of steps, and set a condition for changing from the constant current section of the first step to the constant voltage section of the first step and a condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the first step to the constant current section of the second step.

The electronic device may further include communication circuitry operatively connected with the at least one processor, the at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to: receive the plurality of state-of-charge reference values depending on the charging cycle of the battery from an external device through the communication circuitry, and store the received plurality of state-of-charge reference values in the memory.

The at least one processor may be further configured to execute the one or more instructions to change at least one of the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of charging a battery of an electronic device while alternately having a plurality of constant current sections and a plurality of constant voltage sections, includes: charging the battery with a uniform voltage through a power management module of the electronic device; identifying a charging cycle of the battery; determining whether a state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery; and based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, charging the battery with a uniform current through the power management module.

The charging the battery may include: in a first constant current section, charging the battery while maintaining a charging current of the battery at a first current through the power management module; in a first constant voltage section, charging the battery while maintaining a voltage of the battery at a first voltage through the power management module; based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to a first state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, changing from the first constant voltage section to a second constant current section; in the second constant current section, charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a second current smaller in magnitude than the first current through the power management module; in a second constant voltage section, charging the battery while maintaining the voltage at a second voltage greater in magnitude than the first voltage through the power management module; based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to a second state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, changing from the second constant voltage section to a third constant current section; and in the third constant current section, charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a third current smaller in magnitude than the second current through the power management module.

As the charging cycle of the battery increases, the state-of-charge reference value may decrease.

The charging cycle of the battery may include a first cycle and a second cycle that is greater than the first cycle, the charging the battery may include: in the first cycle, based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section; and based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section, and in the second cycle, based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to a third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value, changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section; and based on the state of charge being greater than or equal to a fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value, changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

The method may further include: determining whether a voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a set voltage; determining whether a charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to a set current; and based on the voltage being greater than or equal to the set voltage, the charging current is smaller than or equal to the set current, and the state of charge being greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery, changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, when an electronic device charges a battery depending on a plurality of steps, the electronic device may supplement flexibility due to a voltage or a current by further using a state of charge of the battery as an indicator of a condition for switching from a constant voltage section of a previous step to a constant current section of a next step.

Also, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, as the electronic device performs the charging of the battery such that the transition from the constant voltage section of the previous step to the constant current section of the next step is made based on a state-of-charge reference value decreasing as a charging cycle of the battery increases, a total of charging time necessary to fully charge a degraded battery may decrease, and the amount of charging that is made during the same time may increase.

Further, a variety of effects directly or indirectly understood through this disclosure may be provided.

With regard to description of drawings, the same or similar components will be marked by the same or similar reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.2is a block diagram200illustrating the power management module188and the battery189according to various embodiments. Referring toFIG.2, the power management module188may include charging circuitry210, a power adjuster220, or a power gauge230. The charging circuitry210may charge the battery189by using power supplied from an external power source outside the electronic device101. According to an embodiment, the charging circuitry210may select a charging scheme (e.g., normal charging or quick charging) based at least in part on a type of the external power source (e.g., a power outlet, a USB, or wireless charging), magnitude of power suppliable from the external power source (e.g., about 20 Watt or more), or an attribute of the battery189, and may charge the battery189using the selected charging scheme. The external power source may be connected with the electronic device101, for example, directly via the connecting terminal178or wirelessly via the antenna module197.

The power adjuster220may generate a plurality of powers having different voltage levels or different current levels by adjusting a voltage level or a current level of the power supplied from the external power source or the battery189. The power adjuster220may adjust the voltage level or the current level of the power supplied from the external power source or the battery189into a different voltage level or current level appropriate for each of some of the components included in the electronic device101. According to an embodiment, the power adjuster220may be implemented in the form of a low drop out (LDO) regulator or a switching regulator. The power gauge230may measure use state information about the battery189(e.g., a capacity, a number of times of charging or discharging, a voltage, or a temperature of the battery189).

The power management module188may determine, using, for example, the charging circuitry210, the power adjuster220, or the power gauge230, charging state information (e.g., lifetime, over voltage, low voltage, over current, over charge, over discharge, overheat, short, or swelling) related to the charging of the battery189based at least in part on the measured use state information about the battery189. The power management module188may determine whether the state of the battery189is normal or abnormal based at least in part on the determined charging state information. If the state of the battery189is determined to abnormal, the power management module188may adjust the charging of the battery189(e.g., reduce the charging current or voltage, or stop the charging). According to an embodiment, at least some of the functions of the power management module188may be performed by an external control device (e.g., the processor120).

The battery189, according to an embodiment, may include a Protection Circuit Module (PCM)240. The PCM240may perform one or more of various functions (e.g., a pre-cutoff function) to prevent a performance deterioration of, or a damage to, the battery189. The PCM240, additionally or alternatively, may be configured as at least part of a battery management system (BMS) capable of performing various functions including cell balancing, measurement of battery capacity, count of a number of charging or discharging, measurement of temperature, or measurement of voltage.

According to an embodiment, at least part of the charging state information or use state information regarding the battery189may be measured using a corresponding sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor) of the sensor module176, the power gauge230, or the power management module188. According to an embodiment, the corresponding sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor) of the sensor module176may be included as part of the PCM240, or may be disposed near the battery189as a separate device.

FIG.3is a block diagram300illustrating the electronic device101according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG.3, the electronic device101may include the battery189, the power management module188, the processor120, and the memory130.

According to an embodiment, the battery189may supply the power to the electronic device101. The battery189may supply the power such that the electronic device101is able to operate, even with the electronic device101is not connected with an external power source; as the battery189supplies the power to the electronic device101, the battery189may be gradually discharged. According to an embodiment, when the electronic device101is connected with the external power source, the electronic device101may charge the discharged battery189.

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may manage the power that is supplied to the electronic device101. According to the description given with reference toFIG.2, the power management module188may include the charging circuitry210, the power adjuster220, or the power gauge230.

According to an embodiment, the charging circuitry210may charge the battery189by using the power supplied from the external power source connected with the electronic device101. The charging circuitry210may charge the battery189by allowing the charging current to flow to the battery189.

According to an embodiment, the power gauge230may measure a charging cycle of the battery189. In the specification, the charging cycle may mean the number of times of charging/discharging. According to an embodiment, the power gauge230may measure the state of charge of the battery189. In the specification, the state of charge of the battery189may mean a ratio of a battery charging amount (or level) to a battery capacity and may be calculated, for example, in units of percentage (%).

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may control the charging or discharging of the battery189, based on at least part of information about the use state of the battery189measured by using the charging circuitry210, the power adjuster220, or the power gauge230. For example, the power management module188may adjust the voltage or charging current of the battery189when the battery189is charged.

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may charge the battery189such that a battery charging section alternately includes a plurality of constant current (CC) sections for charging the battery189with a uniform current and a plurality of constant voltage (CV) sections for charging the battery189with a uniform voltage.

According to an embodiment, the charging section of the battery189may mean a time from a time when the electronic device101starts the charging of the battery189to a time when the electronic device101stops the charging of the battery189. For example, when the electronic device101fully charges the discharged battery189, the charging section of the battery189may correspond to a time taken for the state of charge of the battery189to increase from 0% to 100%.

According to an embodiment, the charging section of the battery189may be classified as a constant current section or a constant voltage section depending on a way for the electronic device101to charge the battery189. According to an embodiment, in the constant current section, the electronic device101may increase the voltage of the battery189while maintaining the charging current of the battery189(e.g., the charging current flowing to the battery189) uniformly; in the constant voltage section, the electronic device101may gradually decrease the charging current of the battery189while maintaining the voltage of the battery189uniformly.

For example, the power management module188may charge the battery189such that the charging section of the battery189sequentially includes a first constant current section, a first constant voltage section, a second constant current section, a second constant voltage section, a third constant current section, and a third constant voltage section. The power management module188may increase the voltage of the battery189while maintaining the charging current of the battery189uniformly in the first constant current section, the second constant current section, and the third constant current section, and may decrease the charging current of the battery189uniformly while maintaining the voltage of the battery189uniformly in the first constant voltage section, the second constant voltage section, and the third constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may control operations of the plurality of constant voltage sections, operations of the plurality of constant current sections, and a change between sections. The power management module188may operate in the constant voltage section by maintaining the voltage of the battery189uniformly, may operate in the constant current section by maintaining the charging current of the battery189uniformly, may control the charging method of the battery189such that the charging current is maintained uniformly and the voltage is then maintained uniformly when a specified condition is satisfied, that is, such that the change from the constant current section to the constant voltage section is made when the specified condition is satisfied, and may control the charging method of the battery189such that the voltage is maintained uniformly and the charging current is then maintained uniformly when a specified condition is satisfied, that is, such that the change from the constant voltage section to the constant voltage section is made when the specified condition is satisfied.

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may charge the battery189depending on a plurality of steps. The power management module188may charge the battery189based on the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery189, which are set for each step.

The voltage of the battery189set for each step may be a maximum voltage value of the battery189in the corresponding step; the charging current of the battery189set for each step may be a maximum charging current value of the battery189in the corresponding step; the state of charge of the battery189set for each step may be a state-of-charge range of the battery189in the corresponding step. As the step increases, the set voltage of the battery189may increase, the charging current may decrease, and the state of charge may increase.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device101may include one constant current section and one constant voltage section in each of the plurality of steps. For example, the electronic device101may have the first constant current section and the first constant voltage section in the first step, may have the second constant current section and the second constant voltage section in the second step, and may have the third constant current section and the third constant voltage section in the third step.

In this case, the first constant current section of the first step may be adjacent to the first constant voltage section of the first step; the first constant voltage section of the first step may be adjacent to the second constant current section of the second step following the first step; the second constant current section of the second step may be adjacent to the second constant voltage section of the second step; the second constant voltage section of the second step may be adjacent to the third constant current section of the third step following the second step; the third constant current section of the third step may be adjacent to the third constant voltage section of the third step.

According to an embodiment, at least some of the constant current sections and the constant voltage sections included in the plurality of steps may have different lengths (e.g., times (or time sections)). For example, at least some of the first constant current section and the first constant voltage section of the first step, the second constant current section and the second constant voltage section of the second step, and/or the third constant current section and the third constant voltage section of the third step may have different lengths (e.g., times (or time sections)).

According to an embodiment, the power management module188may operate in the constant current section or the constant voltage section for each step based on the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery189set for each step and may control the switch from the constant current section to the constant voltage section or the switch from the constant voltage section to the constant current section.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may be operatively connected with the battery189and the power management module188. The processor120may obtain information about the battery189or information about the charging or discharging of the battery189through the power management module188. For example, the processor120may obtain at least one of the charging cycle of the battery189, the voltage of the battery189, the charging current of the battery189, or the state of charge of the battery189through the power management module188.

According to an embodiment, through the power management module188, the processor120may charge the battery189such that the charging section of the battery189alternately includes the plurality of constant current sections and the plurality of constant voltage sections.

According to an embodiment, through the power management module188, the processor120may charge the battery189depending on the plurality of steps. According to an embodiment, through the power management module188, the processor120may control operations of the plurality of constant current sections and the plurality of constant voltage sections and the change between adjacent sections, based on at least one of the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery189differently set for each step.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may set a condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section adjacent thereto and a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto. According to an embodiment, the processor120may use the voltage of the battery189as an indicator value for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may use at least one of the voltage of the battery189, the charging current of the battery189, or the state of charge of the battery189, as an indicator value of the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto. For example, the processor120may consider all of the voltage of the battery189, the charging current of the battery189, and the state of charge of the battery189, as an indicator value of the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may supplement the flexibility due to the voltage or the charging current, by further considering the state of charge of the battery189in addition to the voltage of the battery189and the charging current of the battery189, as an indicator value of the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, depending on the charging cycle, the processor120may differently set the condition for the state of charge of the battery189, which is used to change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may verify the charging cycle through the power management module188. The processor120may set the condition for the state of charge of the battery189for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto, based on a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle from among a plurality of state-of-charge reference values that are set depending on the charging cycles stored in the memory130to be described later. When a state of charge of a battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle, the processor120may be configured to change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the processor120may identify the state of charge of the battery189through the power management module188. The processor120may determine whether the identified state of charge of the battery189is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value. When it is determined that the identified state of charge is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value, the processor120may control the power management module188such that the change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section is made. According to an embodiment, when that the identified state of charge is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value is determined while decreasing the charging current of the battery189through the power management module188, with the voltage of the battery189maintained uniformly, the processor120may increase the voltage of the battery189through the power management module188, with the charging current of the battery189maintained uniformly.

According to an embodiment, the memory130may be operatively connected with at least one processor120. The memory130may store one or more instructions for performing methods according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the instructions allowing the at least one processor120to charge the battery189.

The memory130may store various data that are used by the at least one processor120. For example, the data may include a plurality of reference values for the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery189, which are associated with the condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section adjacent thereto or the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the memory130may store different reference values for respective steps. For example, as the step increases, the reference values for the voltage of the battery189may increase, the reference values for the charging current of the battery189may decrease, and the reference values (i.e., the plurality of state-of-charge reference values) for the state of charge of the battery189may increase.

According to an embodiment, the battery189may store the plurality of state-of-charge reference values that are set depending on the charging cycle of the battery189. For example, as the charging cycle increases, the plurality of state-of-charge reference values may decrease.

FIG.4Ais a graph400illustrating a method in which an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.3) according to an embodiment charges a battery (e.g., the battery189ofFIG.3).FIG.4Bis a table450for describing a method in which an electronic device according to an embodiment charges a battery. Operations to be described below, which the electronic device performs to charge the battery, may be performed by a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.3) of the electronic device.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may charge the battery such that a charging section of the battery alternately includes a plurality of constant current sections and a plurality of constant voltage sections. Referring toFIG.4A, the electronic device may have the charging section of the battery, which sequentially includes the first constant current section, the first constant voltage section, the second constant current section, the second constant voltage section, the third constant current section, and the third constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the first constant current section by maintaining the magnitude of the charging current of the battery at a first current I1uniformly through a power management module (e.g., the power management module188ofFIG.3). In the first constant current section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the voltage of the battery gradually increases.

According to an embodiment, when a first condition401for changing from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section is made. According to an embodiment, a first time T1when the electronic device changes from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section may be a time when the electronic device determines that the first condition401is satisfied.

For example, the first condition401may be that the voltage of the battery reaches a target voltage of the first step. According to an embodiment, as it is determined, in the first constant current section, that the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the first step, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change to the first constant voltage section is made. For example, in the first constant current section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for changing from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section is satisfied (e.g., whether the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the first step).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the first constant voltage section by maintaining the magnitude of the voltage of the battery uniformly through the power management module. Through the power management module, the electronic device may maintain the magnitude of the voltage of the battery at the target voltage (i.e., the first voltage) of the first step. In the first constant voltage section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the magnitude of the charging current of the battery gradually decreases from the first current I1to a second current I2.

According to an embodiment, when a second condition402for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is made. According to an embodiment, a second time T2when the electronic device changes from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section may be a time when the electronic device determines that the second condition402is satisfied.

The second condition402may be, for example, that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value. According to an embodiment, as it is determined, in the first constant voltage section, that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the second current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change to the second constant current section is made. For example, in the first constant voltage section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is satisfied (e.g., whether the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the second current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the second constant current section by maintaining the magnitude of the charging current of the battery at the second current I2uniformly through the power management module. In the second constant current section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the voltage of the battery gradually increases.

According to an embodiment, when a third condition403for changing from the second constant current section to the second constant voltage section is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change from the second constant current section to the second constant voltage section is made. According to an embodiment, a third time T3when the electronic device changes from the second constant current section to the second constant voltage section may be a time when the electronic device determines that the third condition403is satisfied.

The third condition403may be, for example, that the voltage of the battery reaches a target voltage (i.e., a second voltage) of the second step. Herein, the magnitude of the target voltage (i.e., the second voltage) of the second step may be greater than the magnitude of the target voltage (i.e., the first voltage) of the first step.

According to an embodiment, as it is determined, in the second constant current section, that the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the second step, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change to the second constant voltage section is made. For example, in the second constant current section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for changing from the second constant current section to the second constant voltage section is satisfied (e.g., whether the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the second step).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the second constant voltage section by maintaining the magnitude of the voltage of the battery uniformly through the power management module. Through the power management module, the electronic device may maintain the magnitude of the voltage of the battery at the target voltage (i.e., the second voltage) of the second step. In the second constant voltage section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the magnitude of the charging current of the battery gradually decreases from the second current I2to a third current I3.

According to an embodiment, when a fourth condition404for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is made. According to an embodiment, a fourth time T4when the electronic device changes from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section may be a time when the electronic device determines that the fourth condition404is satisfied.

The fourth condition404may be, for example, that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the third current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value.

Herein, the magnitude of the second voltage of the fourth condition404may be greater than the magnitude of the first voltage of the second condition402. Also, the magnitude of the third current of the fourth condition404may be smaller than the magnitude of the second current of the second condition402. Also, the magnitude of the second state-of-charge reference value of the fourth condition404may be greater than the magnitude of the first state-of-charge reference value of the second condition402.

According to an embodiment, as it is determined, in the second constant voltage section, that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the third current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change to the third constant current section is made. For example, in the second constant voltage section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is satisfied (e.g., whether the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the third current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the third constant current section by maintaining the magnitude of the charging current of the battery at the third current I3uniformly through the power management module. In the third constant current section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the voltage of the battery gradually increases.

According to an embodiment, when a fifth condition405for changing from the third constant current section to the third constant voltage section is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change from the third constant current section to the third constant voltage section is made. According to an embodiment, a fifth time T5when the electronic device changes from the third constant current section to the third constant voltage section may be a time when the electronic device determines that the fifth condition405is satisfied.

The fifth condition405may be, for example, that the voltage of the battery reaches a target voltage (i.e., a third voltage) of the third step. Herein, the magnitude of the target voltage (i.e., the third voltage) of the third step may be greater than the magnitude of the target voltage (i.e., the second voltage) of the second step.

According to an embodiment, as it is determined, in the third constant current section, that the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the third step, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the change to the third constant voltage section is made. For example, in the third constant current section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for changing from the third constant current section to the third constant voltage section is satisfied (e.g., whether the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the third step).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have the third constant voltage section by maintaining the magnitude of the voltage of the battery uniformly through the power management module. Through the power management module, the electronic device may maintain the magnitude of the voltage of the battery at the target voltage (i.e., the third voltage) of the third step. In the third constant voltage section, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the magnitude of the charging current of the battery gradually decreases from the third current I3to a fourth current I4.

According to an embodiment, when a sixth condition406for stopping the charging of the battery is satisfied, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the charging of the battery is stopped. According to an embodiment, a sixth time T6when the electronic device stops the charging of the battery may be a time when the electronic device determines that the sixth condition406is satisfied. The sixth condition406may be, for example, that the charging current of the battery reaches the end-of-charge current I4.

According to an embodiment, as it is determined that the charging current of the battery reaches the end-of-charge current I4, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the charging current flowing to the battery is blocked. For example, in the third constant current section, the electronic device may periodically determine whether the condition for stopping the charging of the battery in the third constant voltage section is satisfied (e.g., whether the charging current of the battery reaches the end-of-charge current I4).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may charge the battery depending on the plurality of steps. Referring toFIG.4A, the electronic device may charge the battery depending on the first step, the second step, and the third step.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may have one constant current section and one constant voltage section in order for each step. The electronic device may have the first constant current section and the first constant voltage section in the first step, may have the second constant current section and the second constant voltage section in the second step, and may have the third constant current section and the third constant voltage section in the third step.

Referring toFIG.4B, the electronic device may differently set a range for the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery for each of the plurality of steps. In the first step, the electronic device may set the range for the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery such that the voltage of the battery is smaller than the first voltage, the charging current of the battery exceeds the second current and is smaller than or equal to the first current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than “0” and smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value.

In the second step, the electronic device may set the range for the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery such that the voltage of the battery is smaller than the second voltage, the charging current of the battery exceeds the third current and is smaller than the second current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value or smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value.

In the third step, under control of the electronic device, the voltage of the battery may be set to be smaller than the third voltage, the charging current of the battery may be set to exceed the end-of-charge current and to be smaller than or equal to the third current, and the state of charge of the battery may be set to be greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value and to be smaller than 100%.

According to an embodiment, each of the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage may be referred to as a “reference value” for the voltage of the battery in each step, each of the first current, the second current, and the third current may be referred to as a “reference value” for the charging current of the battery in each step, and each of the first state-of-charge reference value and the second state-of-charge reference value may be referred to as a “reference value” for the state of charge of the battery in each step. In one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the reference value for the voltage of the battery may be also referred to as a “target voltage of a battery”.

According to an embodiment, as a step increases (e.g., from the first step to the second step or from the second step to the third step), the electronic device may allow the reference value for the voltage of the battery to increase, may allow the reference value for the charging current of the battery to decrease, and may allow the reference value for the state of charge of the battery to increase.

For example, the electronic device may set the reference value for the voltage of the battery for each step such that the magnitude of the second voltage is greater than the first voltage and the magnitude of the third voltage is greater than the second voltage. The electronic device may set the reference value for the charging current of the battery for each step such that the magnitude of the second current is smaller than the magnitude of the first current and the magnitude of the third current is smaller than the second current. The electronic device may set the reference value for the state of charge of the battery for each step such that the second state-of-charge reference value is greater than the first state-of-charge reference value.

For example, the electronic device may set the first voltage to 4.1 V, the second voltage to 4.2 V, and the third voltage to 4.3 V, may set the first current to 5 A, the second current to 4 A, and the third current to 3 A, and may set the first state-of-charge reference value to 40% and the second state-of-charge reference value to 60%. According to an embodiment, the reference values that the electronic device sets may be different depending on a physical characteristic of the battery.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may store the reference value for the voltage of the battery, the reference value for the charging current of the battery, and the reference value for the state of charge of the battery, which are set for each step, in a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.3).

According to an embodiment, based on the reference values for the voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge of the battery set for each step, the electronic device may set a condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section in the corresponding step or a condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the corresponding step to the constant voltage section of a next step.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage, as a condition for changing from one constant current section among the plurality of constant current sections to a constant voltage section adjacent to the one constant current section. The one constant current section and the adjacent constant voltage section may belong to a next section (e.g., a next step) of the one constant current section.

For example, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery reaches the first voltage, as the first condition401of the first step; the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery reaches the second voltage, as the third condition403of the second step; the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery reaches the third voltage, as the fifth condition405of the third step. As such, when the voltage of the battery reaches the first voltage in the first constant current section, the electronic device may transition to the first constant voltage section; when the voltage of the battery reaches the second voltage in the second constant current section, the electronic device may transition to the second constant voltage section; when the voltage of the battery reaches the third voltage in the third constant current section, the electronic device may transition to the third constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the set voltage reference value, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the set charging current reference value, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from one constant voltage section among the plurality of constant voltage sections to a constant current section adjacent to the one constant voltage section. The one constant voltage section and the adjacent constant current section may belong to a next section (e.g., a next step) of the one constant voltage section.

For example, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than the second current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for the transition from the first constant voltage section of the first step to the second constant current section of the second step; the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than the third current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for the transition from the second constant voltage section of the second step to the third constant current section of the third step.

For example, when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than the second current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the transition to the second constant current section is made; when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than the third current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the transition to the third constant current section is made.

According to the above embodiments, by further considering the state of charge of the battery, in addition to the voltage of the battery and the charging current of the battery, as a condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section, the electronic device may supplement the flexibility of the voltage of the battery or the charging current of the battery and may charge the battery.

According to an embodiment, as the charging cycle of the battery increases, the battery may be degraded, and the increase in the state of charge (alternatively, SoC) may be slowed when the electronic device charges the battery.

According to the above embodiments, only when the condition that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the set state-of-charge reference value is satisfied, the electronic device may change from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section or from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section; in this case, as the charging cycle of the battery increases, the second time T2when the transition from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is made and the fourth time T4when the transition from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is made may be delayed.

Also, as the second time T2when the transition from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is made and the fourth time T4when the transition from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is made are delayed, the charging time may increase, and the amount of charging that is made within the same time may decrease.

As an electronic device for solving the above issue, an electronic device that determines a state-of-charge reference value in consideration of the charging cycle of the battery will be described with reference toFIG.5.FIG.5is a table500illustrating a method in which an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.3) according to an embodiment charges a battery (e.g., the battery189ofFIG.3). Operations to be described below, which the electronic device performs to charge the battery, may be performed by a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.3) of the electronic device.

Below, the electronic device charges the battery while alternately having the first constant current section, the first constant voltage section, the second constant current section, the second constant voltage section, the third constant current section, and the third constant voltage section, as illustrated inFIG.4. It is assumed that the electronic device charges the battery depending on a total of three steps: the first step corresponding to the first constant current section and the first constant voltage section, the second step corresponding to the second constant current section and the second constant voltage section, and the third step corresponding to the third constant current section and the third constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may store a plurality of state-of-charge reference values (e.g., 1stSoC and 2ndSoC ofFIG.5), which are set depending on the charging cycle, in a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.3). According to an embodiment, the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory may decrease as the charging cycle increases.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may identify the charging cycle of the battery. The electronic device may determine (or set) a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle from among the state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory, as the reference value for the state of charge of the battery associated with the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto. The electronic device may set a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto, based on the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle from among the state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory. The electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the determined (or set) state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section adjacent thereto.

According to an embodiment, the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle from among the state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory may include a plurality of state-of-charge reference values. According to the above description, because the electronic device has one constant current section and one constant voltage section in order in one charging step, that the change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section thereof is made may mean that the charging step is changed. According to an embodiment, the number of state-of-charge reference values corresponding to the identified charging cycle may be calculated by “the number of battery charging steps−1”.

For example, when the electronic device charges the battery depending on a total of three steps including the first step, the second step, and the third step, the number of state-of-charge reference values identified as corresponding to the charging cycle of the battery may be “2”. The electronic device may set a condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section based on a small value among the two state-of-charge values, and may set a condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section based on a great value among the two state-of-charge values. In an embodiment, that the electronic device charges the battery depending on a total of three steps including the first step, the second step, and the third step is one example; according to various embodiments, a plurality of steps may include two steps or may include four or more steps. For example, when the number of a plurality of steps is “4”, a plurality of state-of-charge reference voltages may include 1stSoC, 2ndSoC, and 3rdSoC.

Referring toFIG.5, when the charging cycle of the battery belongs to a first range (e.g., 0 times or more and less than 300 times), the electronic device may determine the first state-of-charge reference value and the second state-of-charge reference value, as the reference value for the state of charge of the battery; when the charging cycle of the battery belongs to a second range (e.g., 300 times or more and less than 400 times) being a range including the number of cycles more than the number of cycles of the first range, the electronic device may determine the third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value and the fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value, as the reference value for the state of charge of the battery.

According to an embodiment, when the charging cycle of the battery belongs to an n-th range (n being a natural number), the electronic device may determine a (2n−1)-th state-of-charge reference value and a 2n-th state-of-charge reference value, as the reference value for the state of charge of the battery. In this case, as “n” increases, the (2n−1)-th state-of-charge reference value and the 2n-th state-of-charge reference value may decrease.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the (2n−1)-th state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section; the electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the 2n-th state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

According to an embodiment, when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the (2n−1)-th state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control a power management module (e.g., the power management module188ofFIG.3) such that the transition from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section is made; when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the 2n-th state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may control the power management module such that the transition from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section is made.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may divide the range of the charging cycle of the battery into ranges based on an interval of a specified number of times; a plurality of state-of-charge reference values may be identical to each other in the same charging cycle range; as the charging cycle range changes, the electronic device may change the plurality of state-of-charge reference values. For example, the specified number of times may be 300 times, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the interval of the number of times may be differently set for each charging cycle range (e.g., an interval of 300 times in the case of the first range and an interval of 100 times in the case of the second range).

As the charging times elapses, the state of charge of the battery may increase; as an increasing speed of the state of charge of the battery becomes slower, a time (i.e., T2and T4ofFIG.4A) when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value may be delayed.

However, the electronic device according to the above embodiment may set the state-of-charge reference value to be smaller as the charging cycle of the battery increases; through the adjustment of the electronic device, the time (i.e., T2and T4ofFIG.4A) when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value may not be delayed. This effect will be described in detail with reference toFIG.6.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device may further include a communication circuitry operatively connected with at least one processor, may receive a plurality of state-of-charge reference values, which are set depending on the charging cycle of the battery, from an external device (e.g., the electronic device102, the electronic device104, or the server108ofFIG.1) through the communication circuitry, and may store the plurality of state-of-charge reference values thus received in the memory.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device may change one of the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

According to an embodiment, even in the same charging cycle of the battery of the electronic device, the degree of degradation of the battery of the electronic device may be variable. For example, in the case where a time period where the electronic device has the corresponding charging cycle is a first time period, the degree of degradation of the battery may become worse compared to the case where a time period where the electronic device has the corresponding charging cycle is a second time period longer than the first time period. Alternatively, in the case where the user of the electronic device mainly uses an application whose batter consumption is great, the degree of degradation of the battery may become worse compared to the case where the user of the electronic device mainly uses an application whose battery consumption is relatively small.

According to an embodiment, when a time period necessary for the charging cycle of the battery to reach a given cycle is within a given time period range (e.g., within the first time period shorter than the second time period), the processor of the electronic device may decrease the plurality of state-of-charge reference values that are stored in the memory after being set depending on the charging cycle.

According to an embodiment, when a use time of applications whose type is determined as the consumption of the battery is great is greater than or equal to a given time, the processor of the electronic device may decrease the plurality of state-of-charge reference values that are stored in the memory after being set depending on the charging cycle.

According to an embodiment, the processor of the electronic device may decrease the plurality of state-of-charge reference values based on an available expected time of the battery. For example, the processor may monitor the electronic device use pattern (e.g., a use time, a used application, or a charging pattern) of the user and/or the available expected time of the battery that is completely charged, and may determine the degree of degradation based on the change in the available expected time of the battery.

According to an embodiment, when the available expected time of the battery is decreased as much as a specified time or more, the processor of the electronic device may decrease the plurality of state-of-charge reference values that are stored in the memory after being set depending on the charging cycle.

According to the above embodiments, the electronic device may adjust the plurality of state-of-charge reference values based on the battery use state of the electronic device (or the user of the electronic device); in this case, because the electronic device charges the battery in a state of considering the degree of degradation of the battery more accurately for each device, the charging efficiency of the degraded battery may be maximized.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device may differently set the plurality of state-of-charge reference values depending on the charging cycle and may also differently set the reference values (e.g., the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage ofFIG.4B) for the voltage of the battery and the reference values (e.g., the first current, the second current, and the third current ofFIG.4B) depending on the charging cycle. For example, as the charging cycle increases (e.g., referring toFIG.4B, as the charging cycle transitions from the first range to the second range), the electronic device may decrease the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, the first current, the second current, and the third current.

FIG.6is a graph600illustrating an effect of a battery charging method of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.3) according to an embodiment. Operations to be described below, which the electronic device performs to charge the battery, may be performed by a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.3) of the electronic device.

It is assumed that the electronic device according to the embodiment is in a state where the charging cycle of the battery is greater than or equal to a given value and an increasing speed of the charging cycle of the battery is reduced due to the degradation of the battery when the battery is charged.

A solid line shows the process where the electronic device according to the embodiment charges the battery in a state of setting a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on state-of-charge reference values corresponding to a current charging cycle, and a dashed line shows the process where an electronic device according to a comparative embodiment charges the battery in a state of setting a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on state-of-charge reference values corresponding to an initial charging cycle. In other words, the solid line shows the process where the electronic device according to one or more embodiments charges the battery in a state where a state-of-charge reference value is adjusted depending on the charging cycle, and the dashed line shows the process where the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment charges the battery in a state where a state-of-charge reference value is not adjusted depending on the charging cycle.

For example, the charging cycle of the electronic device may belong to the second range ofFIG.5; a graph shown by the solid line may show the process where the electronic device charges the battery in a state of setting a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on the third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value and the fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value; a graph shown by the dashed line may show the process where the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment charges the battery in a state of setting a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on the first state-of-charge reference value and the second state-of-charge reference value.

According to an embodiment, a section where the charging current is maintained uniformly refers to the constant current section, and a section where the charging current gradually decreases refers to the constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, as the electronic device adjusts a state-of-charge reference value depending on the charging cycle, at least one time when the change from the constant current section to the constant voltage section is made or the change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section is made may be variable. Below, in the embodiment ofFIG.6, a time corresponding to the solid line showing a state where the electronic device according to an embodiment adjusts a state-of-charge reference value depending on the charging cycle may be referred to as an “adjusted time”, and a time corresponding to the dashed line showing a state where the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment does not adjust a state-of-charge reference value depending on the charging cycle may be referred to as a “time”

Referring to the graph shown by the dashed line, the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the first constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while maintaining the charging current at the first current I1. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the first constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the first current I1while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the first time T1′ when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the first step. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery at the target voltage of the first step until the second time T2′ when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value. In this case, the charging current may decrease from the first current I1to a fifth current I5. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the second constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while uniformly maintaining the charging current at the second current I2from the second time T2′. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the second constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the second current I2while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the third time T3′ when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the second step. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery at the target voltage of the second step until the fourth time T4′ when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value. In this case, the charging current may decrease from the second current I2to a sixth current I6. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the third constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while uniformly maintaining the charging current at the third current I3from the fourth time T4′. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may have the third constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the third current I3while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the fifth time T5′ when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the third step. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery at the target voltage of the third step until the sixth time T6′ when the charging current reaches the end-of-charge current I4. The electronic device according to the comparative embodiment may stop the charging of the battery by blocking the charging current flowing to the battery at the sixth time T6′ when the charging current of the battery reaches the end-of-charge current I4. At the sixth time T6′, the battery may be in a state of being fully charged.

Referring to the graph shown by the solid line, the electronic device according to an embodiment may have the first constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while maintaining the charging current at the first current I1. The electronic device according to an embodiment may have the first constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the first current I1while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the first adjusted time T1when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the first step. The electronic device according to an embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery at the target voltage of the first step until the second adjusted time T2when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value. In this case, the charging current may decrease from the first current I1to the second current I2. The electronic device according to an embodiment may have the second constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while uniformly maintaining the charging current at the second current I2from the second adjusted time T2. The electronic device according to an embodiment may have the second constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the second current I2while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the third adjusted time T3when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the second step. The electronic device according to an embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery at the target voltage of the second step until the fourth adjusted time T4when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value. In this case, the charging current may decrease from the second current I2to the third current I3. The electronic device according to an embodiment may have the third constant current section in which the voltage of the battery increases while uniformly maintaining the charging current at the third current I3from the fourth adjusted time T4. The electronic device according to an embodiment may have the third constant voltage section in which the charging current gradually decreases from the third current I3while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the fifth adjusted time T5when the increasing voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage of the third step. The electronic device according to an embodiment may gradually decrease the charging current while uniformly maintaining the voltage of the battery until the sixth adjusted time T6when the charging current reaches the end-of-charge current I4. The electronic device according to an embodiment may stop the charging of the battery by blocking the charging current flowing to the battery at the sixth adjusted time T6when the charging current reaches the end-of-charge current I4. At the sixth adjusted time T6, the battery may be in a state of being fully charged.

The electronic device according to an embodiment may prevent the delay of the time when the change from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section is made, by setting a condition for the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on the plurality of state-of-charge reference values to decrease as the charging cycle increases; as such, a charging time necessary to fully charge the battery may be decreased as much as “t”.

According to an embodiment, in the graph in which a horizontal axis represents a charging time of a battery and a vertical axis represents a charging current of a battery, an integral value may mean a charging amount of the battery. Referring to the second time T2′ being the same time, the integral value of the graph shown by the solid line may be greater than the integral value of the graph shown by the dashed line. During the same time, the electronic device according to an embodiment corresponding to the graph shown by the solid line may charge the battery more than the electronic device according to the comparative embodiment corresponding to the graph shown by the dashed line.

As the electronic device according to an embodiment sets the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section based on the plurality of state-of-charge reference values to decrease as the charging cycle increases, even in the case of the battery whose charging cycle is greater than or equal to the given value, that is, even though the battery is degraded, the amount of charging that is made with respect to the battery during the same time may increase, and the battery charging efficiency may be improved.

As the charging cycle increases, the electronic device according to an embodiment may differently set a state-of-charge reference value included in a condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section being a next section; in this case, even though the battery is degraded, the charging efficiency may be maintained to be substantially identical to that before the battery is degraded.

FIG.7Ais a flowchart700illustrating a method in which an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.3) according to an embodiment charges a battery (e.g., the battery189ofFIG.3). Operations to be described below, which the electronic device performs to charge the battery, may be performed by a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.3) of the electronic device.

InFIG.7A, the electronic device according to an embodiment may start the charging when the electronic device is connected with the external power source, may charge the battery by using a constant current (CC) being a current flowing to the battery based on the power received from the external power source (e.g., a power adapter or a USB or wireless charger), and may charge the battery by using a constant voltage (CV) when the voltage of the battery reaches a specified voltage (e.g., a target voltage).

In operation701, the electronic device may operate in the constant current section by charging the battery with a uniform current through a power management module (e.g., the power management module188ofFIG.3). Through the power management module, the electronic device may gradually increase the voltage of the battery while uniformly maintaining the current flowing to the battery.

In operation702, the electronic device may determine whether there is satisfied a condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section, at a specified time interval (or in real time) during the constant current section. For example, when the voltage of the battery reaches a specified voltage (e.g., a target voltage) (e.g., the first voltage, the second voltage, or the third voltage ofFIG.4B), the electronic device may determine that there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section (“Yes”). When there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section (“Yes”), the electronic device may perform operation703. When it is determined in operation702that there is not satisfied the condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section (“No”), the electronic device may again perform operation701to determine whether there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant current section to the constant voltage section, at the specified time interval (or in real time) during the constant current section.

In operation703, the electronic device may operate in the constant voltage section by charging the battery with a uniform voltage through the power management module. Through the power management module, the electronic device may gradually decrease a current (i.e., a charging current) flowing to the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery uniformly.

In operation704, the electronic device may determine whether the battery is fully charged, at a specified time interval (or in real time) during the constant voltage section. For example, when the current (i.e., the charging current) flowing to the battery reaches the end-of-charge current, the electronic device may determine that the battery is fully charged (“Yes”). As it is determined that the battery is fully charged, the electronic device may terminate (stop) the charging of the battery (operation705) and may increase a count of the charging cycle of the battery (operation706).

In operation705, the electronic device may terminate (or stop) the charging by blocking the current flowing to the battery.

For example, in operation706, the electronic device may increase the charging cycle from n times to (n+1) times.

In operation704, when the current (i.e., the charging current) flowing to the battery does not reach the end-of-charge current (e.g., when the magnitude of the charging current of the battery is greater than the magnitude of the end-of-charge current), the electronic device may determine that the battery is not fully charged (“No”). As the electronic device determines the battery is not fully charged, in operation707, the electronic device may determine whether there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section. The electronic device may determine whether there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section, at the specified time interval (or in real time) during the constant voltage section.

In operation707, the electronic device whether there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section, by determining whether there is satisfied a condition including state-of-charge reference values based on the charging cycle. For example, when the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a plurality of state-of-charge reference values based on the charging cycle, the electronic device may transition from the constant voltage section to the constant current section, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the operation (i.e., operation707) of determining whether there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section will be described in detail with reference toFIG.7B.

When it is determined in operation707that there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section (“Yes”), the electronic device may perform operation701. As the electronic device determines that there is satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section, the electronic device may operate in the constant current section by charging the battery with a uniform current through the power management module. When it is determined in operation707that there is not satisfied the condition for changing from the constant voltage section to the constant current section (“No”), the electronic device may perform operation703. For example, the electronic device may perform the operation (i.e., operation704) of determining whether the battery is fully charged, at the specified time interval (or in real time) during the constant voltage section.

According to the above embodiment, the electronic device may charge the battery while alternately having the plurality of constant current sections and the plurality of constant voltage sections. For example, when the battery is charged, the electronic device may have the first constant current section, the first constant voltage section, the second constant current section, the second constant voltage section, the third constant current section, and the third constant voltage section in order. For example, the electronic device may charge the battery depending on three steps by performing operation701(first constant current section), operation702, operation703(first constant voltage section), operation704, operation707, operation701(second constant current section), operation702, operation703(second constant voltage section), operation704, operation707, operation701(third constant current section), operation702, operation703(third constant voltage section), operation704, and operation705in order, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the battery may be charged depending on two steps or four steps. Below, it is assumed that the electronic device charges the battery depending on three steps.

According to an embodiment, through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery depending on a plurality of steps. For example, the electronic device may charge the battery depending on three steps. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at a first current magnitude corresponding to the first step (operation701). A section where the electronic device maintains the charging current of the battery at the first current magnitude may be referred to as a “first constant current section”. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at a first voltage magnitude corresponding to the first step (operation703). A section where the electronic device maintains the voltage of the battery at the first voltage magnitude may be referred to as a “first constant voltage section”. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at a second current magnitude corresponding to the second step (operation701). In this case, the second current magnitude may be smaller than the first current magnitude. A section where the electronic device maintains the charging current of the battery at the second current magnitude may be referred to as a “second constant current section”. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at a second voltage magnitude corresponding to the second step (operation703). In this case, the second voltage magnitude may be greater than the first voltage magnitude. A section where the electronic device maintains the voltage of the battery at the second voltage magnitude may be referred to as a “second constant voltage section”. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at a third current magnitude corresponding to the third step (operation701). In this case, the third current magnitude may be smaller than the second current magnitude. A section where the electronic device maintains the charging current of the battery at the third current magnitude may be referred to as a “third constant current section”. Through the power management module, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at a third voltage magnitude corresponding to the third step (operation703). A section where the electronic device maintains the voltage of the battery at the third voltage magnitude may be referred to as a “third constant voltage section”. In this case, the third voltage magnitude may be greater than the second voltage magnitude.

According to an embodiment, the battery voltage of the electronic device may decrease while the electronic device is charging the battery through the external power source. For example, a display (e.g., the display module160ofFIG.1) of the electronic device may include a foldable or rollable display; when the display is unfolded, a current that is consumed by the electronic device may be greater than the charging current of the battery through the external power source. In an embodiment, when the current consumed by the electronic device is greater than the charging current of the battery in the first constant voltage section, the second constant current section, the second constant voltage section, the third constant current section, or the third constant voltage section, the electronic device may transition to the first constant current section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at the first current through the power management module during the first constant current section, may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at the second current smaller in magnitude than the first current through the power management module during the second constant current section, and may charge the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at the third current smaller in magnitude than the second current through the power management module during the third constant current section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at the first voltage during the first constant voltage section, may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at the second voltage greater in magnitude than the first voltage during the second constant voltage section, and may charge the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at the third voltage greater in magnitude than the second voltage during the third constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment, as the electronic device decreases the charging current stepwise by alternately repeating the constant current section and the constant voltage section, the electronic device may secure the stability of the battery charging operation.

According to an embodiment, that the electronic device transitions from the constant voltage section to the constant current section may mean that the charging step of the electronic device increases (e.g., from the first step to the second step or from the second step to the third step). For example, the condition that the electronic device transitions from the constant voltage section to the constant current section may mean the condition for changing from the constant voltage section of a previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of a next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step).

FIG.7Bis a flowchart750illustrating a process in which an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.3) according to an embodiment transitions from a constant voltage section of a previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to a constant current section of a next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step). The electronic device according to an embodiment may perform operation707ofFIG.7Aby performing operation707-1to operation707-4ofFIG.7B. Operations of the electronic device to be described below may be performed by a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.3) of the electronic device.

In operation707-1, the electronic device may identify the charging cycle of the battery. The charging cycle may mean the number of times of charging/discharging obtained from the power management module of the electronic device. For example, when the power is received from the external power source (e.g., a power adapter or a USB or wireless charger), the electronic device may identify the charging cycle of the battery and may charge the battery through the power management module. For example, before starting operation701ofFIG.7Aafter the connection with the external power source, the electronic device may perform operation707-1.

According to an embodiment, based on the identified charging cycle, the electronic device may in advance set the following before starting the charging of the battery: the voltage of the battery, the charging current of the battery, and the state-of-charge reference value of the battery targeted for a condition for changing the constant voltage section of a previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of a next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step).

According to an embodiment, as the charging cycle identified in operation707-1increases, the electronic device may decrease the set voltage, the set current, and the state-of-charge reference value corresponding the charging cycle that the electronic device uses as the condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of the next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set the condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of the next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step) based on state-of-charge reference values set to decrease as the charging cycle of the battery increases.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section; the electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section. In a second cycle greater than the first cycle, the electronic device may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section and may set that the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may set the condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of the next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step) further based on voltages and currents set to decrease as the charging cycle of the battery increases.

For example, in the first cycle, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the first set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section and may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the second set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

In the second cycle greater than the first cycle, the electronic device may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the third set voltage smaller in magnitude than the first set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the third set current smaller in magnitude than the first set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the third state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section and may set that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the fourth set voltage smaller in magnitude than the second set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the fourth set current smaller in magnitude than the second set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the fourth state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

In operation707-2, the electronic device may check (or determine) whether the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the set voltage. For example, the set voltage may refer to a voltage that the electronic device sets to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery identified in operation707-1. For example, when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the first cycle, in operation707-2, the electronic device may determine whether the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first set voltage or the second set voltage; when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the second cycle, in operation707-2, the electronic device may determine whether the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the third set voltage or the fourth set voltage. When the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the voltage set to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery (“Yes”), the electronic device may perform operation707-3. When the voltage of the battery is smaller than the voltage set to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery (“No”), the electronic device may perform operation703.

In operation707-3, the electronic device may check (or determine) whether the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the set current. For example, the set current may refer to a current that the electronic device sets to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery identified in operation707-1. For example, when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the first cycle, in operation707-2, the electronic device may determine whether the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the first set current or the second set current; when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the second cycle, in operation707-2, the electronic device may determine whether the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the third set current or the fourth set current. When the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the current set to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery (“Yes”), the electronic device may perform operation707-4. When the charging current of the battery exceed the current set to correspond to the charging cycle of the battery (“No”), the electronic device may perform operation703.

In operation707-4, the electronic device may check (or determine) whether the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle. For example, before operation707-4, the electronic device may in advance set the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle identified in operation707-1; when operation707-4is performed, the electronic device may determine whether the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value set in advance. For example, when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the first cycle, in operation707-4, the electronic device may determine whether the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value; when it is determined in operation707-1that the charging cycle of the battery corresponds to the second cycle, in operation707-4, the electronic device may determine whether the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the third state-of-charge reference value or the fourth state-of-charge reference value. When the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle of the battery (“Yes”), the electronic device may perform operation701.

For example, as the electronic device determines that the state of charge of the battery in the constant voltage section is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle, the electronic device may transition to the constant current section in which the battery is charged with a uniform current through the power management module. When the state of charge of the battery is smaller than the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the charging cycle of the battery (“No”), the electronic device may perform operation703.

According to the above embodiment, when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the voltage set to correspond to the charging cycle, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the current set to correspond to the charging cycle, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery, the electronic device may transition from the constant voltage section of the previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of the next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step).

According to an embodiment, when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the first set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may transition from the constant voltage section (e.g., the first constant voltage section) of the first step to the constant current section (e.g., the second constant current section) of the second step; when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the second set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may transition from the constant voltage section (e.g., the second constant voltage section) of the second step to the constant current section (e.g., the third constant current section) of the third step.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may differently set the following depending on the charging step: the voltage of the battery, the charging current of the battery, and the state-of-charge reference value of the battery targeted for a condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the previous step (e.g., an N-th step) to the constant current section of the next step (e.g., an (N+1)-th step). For example, as the charging step increases, under control of the electronic device, the voltage may increase, the charging current may decrease, and the state-of-charge reference value may increase. In the above embodiment, the second set voltage may be greater in magnitude than the first set voltage, the second set current may be smaller in magnitude than the first set current, and the second state-of-charge reference value may be greater in magnitude than the first state-of-charge reference value.

According to an embodiment, the operation in which the electronic device transitions from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section may mean an operation of switching the charging manner from a charging manner in which the charging current of the battery gradually decreases while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the first voltage corresponding to the first step through the power management module, to a charging manner in which the voltage of the battery gradually increases while the charging current of the battery is uniformly maintained at the second current corresponding to the second step through the power management module.

According to an embodiment, the operation in which the electronic device transitions from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section may mean an operation of switching the charging manner from a charging manner in which the charging current of the battery gradually decreases while the voltage of the battery is uniformly maintained at the second voltage magnitude corresponding to the second step through the power management module, to a charging manner in which the voltage of the battery gradually increases while the charging current of the battery is uniformly maintained at the third current magnitude corresponding to the third step through the power management module.

According to an embodiment, the operation in which the electronic device transitions from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section may correspond to the operation in which the electronic device switches the charging step from the first step to the second step, and the operation in which the electronic device transitions from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section may correspond to the operation in which the electronic device switches the charging step from the second step to the third step.

For example, after the operation (i.e., the first constant voltage section) in which the battery is charged while maintaining the voltage of the battery at the first voltage magnitude, when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the first set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the first set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may perform the operation of switching the charging step of the battery from the first step to the second step by performing the operation (i.e., the second constant current section) in which the battery is charged while maintaining the charging current of the battery at the second current magnitude. After the operation (i.e., the second constant voltage section) in which the battery is charged while maintaining the voltage of the battery at the second voltage magnitude, when the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the second set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to the second set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, the electronic device may perform the operation of switching the charging step of the battery from the second step to the third step by performing the operation (i.e., the third constant current section) in which the battery is charged while maintaining the charging current of the battery at the third current magnitude.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1or the electronic device101ofFIG.3) may include a battery (e.g., the battery189ofFIG.1, the battery189ofFIG.2, or the battery189ofFIG.3), a power management module (e.g., the power management module188ofFIG.1, the power management module188ofFIG.2), or the power management module188ofFIG.3) that controls the battery, at least one processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1or the processor120ofFIG.3) that is operatively connected with the battery and the power management module, and a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1or the memory130ofFIG.3) that is operatively connected with the at least one processor.

The memory may store a plurality of state-of-charge reference values depending on a charging cycle of the battery, and the memory may store one or more instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to charge the battery through the power management module such that a charging section of the battery alternately includes a plurality of constant current sections, in which charging is made with a uniform current, and a plurality of constant voltage sections, in which charging is made with a uniform voltage, to identify a charging cycle of the battery, and to set a condition for changing from one constant voltage section among the plurality of constant voltage sections to a constant current section following the one constant voltage section from among the plurality of constant current sections, based on a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery from among the state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of state-of-charge reference values may include a first state-of-charge reference value and a second state-of-charge reference value, and the instructions may cause the processor to identify a state of charge of the battery, to set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section following the first constant voltage section, and to set that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as a condition for changing from a second constant voltage section to a third constant current section following the second constant voltage section. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, as the charging cycle of the battery increases, the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory may decrease.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging cycle of the battery may include a first cycle and a second cycle greater than the first cycle, and the instructions may cause the processor to perform the following operations in the first cycle: setting that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section and setting that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section and to perform the following operations in the second cycle: setting that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section and setting that the identified state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value, as the condition for changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the instructions may cause the processor to further set a voltage of the battery and a charging current of the battery, as a condition for changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section following the first constant voltage section.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the condition for changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section may be that the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a set voltage, the charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to a set current, and the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a set state-of-charge reference value.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the instructions may cause the processor to set a target voltage of the battery, as a condition for changing from a first constant current section to a first constant voltage section following the first current voltage section, and the condition for changing from the first constant current section to the first constant voltage section may be that a voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the instructions may cause the processor to charge the battery through the power management module depending on a plurality of steps, in which a constant current section of a first step is adjacent to a constant voltage section of the first step and wherein the constant voltage section of the first step is adjacent to a constant current section of a second step, and to set a condition for changing from the constant current section of the first step to the constant voltage section of the first step and a condition for changing from the constant voltage section of the first step to the constant current section of the second step.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic device may further include a communication circuitry (e.g., the communication module190ofFIG.1) that is operatively connected with the at least one processor, and the instructions may cause the processor to receive the plurality of state-of-charge reference values depending on the charging cycle of the battery from an external device through the communication circuitry and to store the plurality of state-of-charge reference values thus received, in the memory. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the instructions may cause the processor to change at least one of the plurality of state-of-charge reference values stored in the memory.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method in which an electronic device charges a battery while alternately having a plurality of constant current sections and a plurality of constant voltage sections may include charging the battery with a uniform voltage through a power management module, identifying a charging cycle of the battery, determining whether a state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery, and charging the battery with a uniform current through the power management module when the state of charge is greater than or equal to the state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include charging the battery while maintaining a charging current of the battery at a first current through the power management module during a first constant current section, charging the battery while maintaining a voltage of the battery at a first voltage through the power management module during a first constant voltage section, changing from the first constant voltage section to a second constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a first state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a second current smaller in magnitude than the first current through the power management module during the second constant current section, charging the battery while maintaining the voltage at a second voltage greater in magnitude than the first voltage through the power management module during a second constant voltage section, changing from the second constant voltage section to a third constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a second state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, and charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a third current smaller in magnitude than the second current through the power management module during the third constant current section.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, as the charging cycle of the battery increases, the state-of-charge reference value may decrease.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging cycle of the battery may include a first cycle and a second cycle greater than the first cycle, and the method may include the following operations in the first cycle: changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to the first state-of-charge reference value and changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to the second state-of-charge reference value and may include the following operations in the second cycle: changing from the first constant voltage section to the second constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a third state-of-charge reference value smaller than the first state-of-charge reference value and changing from the second constant voltage section to the third constant current section when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a fourth state-of-charge reference value smaller than the second state-of-charge reference value.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include determining whether a voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a set voltage, and determining whether a charging current of the battery is smaller than or equal to a set current.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include changing from a first constant voltage section to a second constant current section when the voltage is greater than or equal to the set voltage, the charging current is smaller than or equal to the set current, and the state of charge is greater than or equal to a state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle of the battery.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include determining whether a voltage of the battery reaches a target voltage, and changing from a first constant current section to a first constant voltage section when the voltage of the battery reaches the target voltage.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may be a method in which the battery is charged through the power management module depending on a plurality of steps. The method may include charging the battery while maintaining the charging current of the battery at a first current magnitude corresponding to a first step through the power management module, charging the battery while maintaining the voltage of the battery at a first voltage magnitude corresponding to the first step through the power management module, charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a second current magnitude corresponding to a second step through the power management module, charging the battery while maintaining the voltage at a second voltage magnitude corresponding to the second step through the power management module, charging the battery while maintaining the charging current at a third current magnitude corresponding to a third step through the power management module, and charging the battery while maintaining the voltage at a third voltage magnitude corresponding to the third step through the power management module.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include changing from the first step to the second step when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a first state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, after the charging of the battery while maintaining the voltage at the first voltage magnitude and changing from the second step to the third step when the state of charge is greater than or equal to a second state-of-charge reference value corresponding to the identified charging cycle, after the charging of the battery while maintaining the voltage at the second voltage magnitude.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method may include increasing a count of the charging cycle as it is determined that the battery is fully charged.