Patent Publication Number: US-2022216713-A1

Title: Hot plugging type power module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 110100289, filed on Jan. 5, 2021. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a power source module, and in particular to a hot plugging type power module. 
     Description of Related Art 
     An existing electronic device has a battery hot plugging function, and an existing technology is to install a super capacity in the electronic device. When a main battery is removed or energy is depleted, the super capacity allows the electronic device to maintain operation in a short period of time to facilitate shutdown or file storage. However, the power storage capacity of the existing super capacity is too small. During use, the electronic device is required to enter a low power consumption mode to facilitate the aforementioned simple operation. Since the power storage capacity of the super capacity is not enough to maintain the normal operation of the electronic device, a user needs to suspend the operation of the electronic device until the main battery is charged and reinstalled or until the electronic device is connected to the supply mains through a transformer. 
     When the electronic device is used outdoors and the main battery capacity is depleted, the electronic device cannot operate normally, so there exists a disadvantage of insufficient battery life. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure provides a hot plugging type power module, which is adapted for being coupled to and supplying power to an electronic device. When a main battery is removed or a capacity of the main battery is less than a preset value, an assistant battery is directly activated to supply power to maintain the normal operation of the electronic device, and there is no need for the electronic device to enter a low power consumption mode. 
     A hot plugging type power module of the disclosure is coupled to an electronic device. The hot plugging type power module includes a circuit board, a main control unit, a main battery, an assistant battery, and a detection unit. The main control unit is disposed at the circuit board. The main battery is demountably disposed at the circuit board. The assistant battery is disposed at the circuit board. The main control unit is disposed at the circuit board and selectively and electrically connected to the main battery or the assistant battery. The main control unit detects a capacity of the main battery and a capacity of the assistant battery. The detection unit is disposed at the circuit board and is coupled to the main control unit and the main battery to detect a relative position between the main battery and the circuit board. When the main control unit detects that the capacity of the main battery is less than a first preset value or the detection unit detects that the relative position between the main battery and the circuit board changes, the main control unit turns off the main battery and stops the main battery from supplying power to the electronic device. The main control unit is switched to be electrically connected to the assistant battery, and the assistant battery supplies power to the electronic device. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the hot plugging type power module further includes a main switching element and a sub-switching element. The main switching element is coupled to the main battery and the main control unit, and the sub-switching element is coupled to the assistant battery and the main control unit. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the capacity of the main battery is less than the first preset value and the capacity of the assistant battery is greater than a second preset value, the main control unit switches the main switching element to a non-conductive state so that the main battery stops supplying power to the electronic device, and switches the sub-switching element to a conductive state so that the assistant battery starts supplying power to the electronic device. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the main battery includes multiple locking structures and multiple magnets. Each of the locking structures is movably and fittingly connected to the electronic device. Each of the magnets is disposed in each of the locking structures. The detection unit includes at least one Hall sensor. When the locking structures move relative to the circuit board, the at least one Hall sensor detects displacements of the magnets and transmits a switch signal to the main control unit. Accordingly, the main control unit turns off the main battery and stops the main battery from supplying power to the electronic device, and the main control unit is electrically connected to the assistant battery and the assistant battery is used to supply power to the electronic device. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the main battery has an area of electrical contact. The detection unit has at least one metal elastic sheet. The area of electrical contact is coupled to the detection unit through the at least one metal elastic sheet. When the main battery moves relative to the circuit board to detach the area of electrical contact from the at least one metal elastic sheet, the detection unit outputs a switch signal to the main control unit. Accordingly, the main control unit turns off the main battery and stops the main battery from supplying power to the electronic device, and the main control unit is electrically connected to the assistant battery and the assistant battery is used to supply power to the electronic device. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the main control unit detects a voltage or current of the main battery and the assistant battery in real time to determine the capacity of the main battery and the assistant battery. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, an operating voltage range of the main battery is the same as an operating voltage range of the assistant battery. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the hot plugging type power module further includes a charging unit. The charging unit is coupled to the main battery, the assistant battery, and the main control unit. When an operating voltage of the main battery is higher than an operating voltage of the assistant battery, the charging unit reduces the operating voltage of the main battery to charge the assistant battery. When the operating voltage of the main battery is lower than the operating voltage of the assistant battery and the operating voltage of the assistant battery is lower than a maximum value, the charging unit increases the operating voltage of the main battery to charge the assistant battery. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the operating voltage of the assistant battery is equal to the maximum value, the main control unit powers off the charging unit, so that the main battery stops outputting current to the assistant battery. 
     Based on the above, the hot plugging type power module of the disclosure is adapted for all kinds of electronic devices. The hot plugging type power module has a main battery and an assistant battery. The main control unit and the main battery are directly hot-plugged, and the assistant battery is in-built in the circuit board. When the main battery is removed or the capacity is depleted, the main control unit is automatically switched to be electrically connected to the assistant battery to supply power to the electronic device, preventing the electronic device from entering low power consumption mode. Since the power storage capacity of the assistant battery is much larger than the existing super capacity, the assistant battery supplies the electronic device to operate normally for a period of time, thereby overcoming the insufficient battery life of the existing super capacity. 
     In addition, the disclosure detects the relative position between the main battery and the circuit board through the detection unit, and monitors the capacity of the main battery through the main control unit. When the main battery meets any of the conditions of removal, displacement or the capacity being less than the first preset value, the assistant battery is switched to maintain an uninterruptible power supplying function of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a hot plugging type power module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  powered by a main battery. 
         FIG. 1D  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  switching to be powered by an assistant battery. 
         FIG. 1E  is a circuit block diagram of the main battery and the assistant battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  stopping supplying power. 
         FIG. 1F  is a circuit block diagram of combining a charging unit to the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1G  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module powering on the charging unit of  FIG. 1F . 
         FIG. 1H  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module powering off the charging unit of  FIG. 1F . 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module shown of  FIG. 1A  locked at a base taken along a sectional line A-A. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 2A  unlocked from the base. 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A  connected to a circuit board taken along a sectional line B-B. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 3A  detached from the circuit board. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a hot plugging type power module according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1B  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a hot plugging type power module  100  of this embodiment is adapted for being coupled to an electronic device  200 , and the electronic device  200  is, for example, a notebook computer, a tablet computer or a similar portable electronic appliance. The hot plugging type power module  100  includes a circuit board  110 , a main battery  120 , an assistant battery  130 , a main control unit  140 , and a detection unit  150 . 
     The circuit board  110  is adapted for being installed inside the electronic device  200  to carry various electronic parts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , the main battery  120  is demountably disposed at the circuit board  110 . Specifically, the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110  are coupled to each other through corresponding connection ports (not shown in the figure), and the main battery  120  may be directly hot-plugged to be completely separated from the circuit board  110 , thereby facilitating replacement of the damaged main battery  120 . The assistant battery  130  is disposed at the circuit board  110 , and the assistant battery  130  is soldered on the circuit board  110  and cannot be replaced. 
     In this embodiment, both the main battery  120  and the assistant battery  130  are lithium ion batteries or other types of charge batteries. For example, the total power storage capacity of the main battery  120  and the assistant battery  130  is 5000 mAh, and the power storage capacity of the main battery  120  is 4000 mAh, and the power storage capacity of the assistant battery  130  is 1000 mAh. In other embodiments, the ratio of the power storage capacity of the main battery to the power storage capacity of the assistant battery and the total power storage capacity may be adjusted according to needs. For example, the power storage capacity of the main battery  120  is 3000 mAh, and the power storage capacity of the assistant battery  130  is 2000 mAh, and the total power storage capacity is greater or less than 5000 mAh. 
     The main control unit  140  is disposed at the circuit board  110  and selectively and electrically connects the main battery  120  or the assistant battery  130  to the electronic device  200 . The main control unit  140  may detect the capacity of the main battery  120  and the capacity of the assistant battery  130 . 
     Furthermore, the main control unit  140  adopts, for example, a microcontroller. The function of the main control unit  140  includes the following. The main control unit  140  performs calculation analysis on various electronic signals to determine whether the electronic signals meet preset parameters. If yes, the main control unit  140  triggers corresponding commands and detects various information of the hardware in real time to monitor the operation status thereof. When the hardware generates an error or experiences failure, the issue may be eliminated or the operation may be stopped in real time. At the same time, after determining that the hardware has generated an error or experienced failure, the main control unit  140  may send failure information to a display or activate a buzzer, and may display the failure information through the display or activate the buzzer to generate a warning sound. 
     In this embodiment, the main control unit  140  detects the voltage, current, or temperature of the main battery  120  and the assistant battery  130  in real time. Here, the main control unit  140  uses a corresponding voltage current sensor and a temperature sensor to derive the above information. The main control unit  140  may determine the capacity level through voltage and current, and switch between modes of the hot plugging type power module  100  supplying power to the electronic device  200 . The main control unit  140  may determine the operating status of the main battery  120  and the assistant battery  130  according to temperature. When the temperature is normal, power supply is maintained, and when the temperature is too high, the battery enters a sleep mode to stop the power supply. In short, the main control unit  140  has a function of detecting power storage capacity and temperature, and is used to switch between power supply and power off of the main battery  120  and the assistant battery  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the detection unit  150  is disposed at the circuit board  110  and is coupled to the main control unit  140  and the main battery  120  to detect the relative position between the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110  and determine whether the main battery  120  is displaced or is to be removed. Before the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110  are disconnected, the assistant battery  130  may be switched to in real time for power supply to avoid power failure of the electronic device  200 . 
       FIG. 1C  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  powered by the main battery.  FIG. 1D  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  switching to be powered by the assistant battery.  FIG. 1E  is a circuit block diagram of the main battery and the assistant battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1B  stopping supplying power. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , when the main control unit  140  detects that the capacity of the main battery  120  is greater than a first preset value (for example, greater than 10% or 20%), the main control unit  140  uses the main battery  120  to supply power to the electronic device  200 . At the same time, the main control unit  140  turns off the electrical connection between the assistant battery  130  and the electronic device  200 , and switches the assistant battery  130  to a sleep mode. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 1D , when the main control unit  140  detects that the capacity of the main battery  120  is less than the first preset value (for example, less than 10% or 20%) or the detection unit  150  detects that the relative position between the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110  changes, the main control unit  140  turns off the main battery  120  and stops the main battery  120  from supplying power to the electronic device  200 . At the same time, the main control unit  140  switches the assistant battery  130  from the sleep mode to a power supply mode (that is, the main control unit  140  is switched to be electrically connected to the assistant battery  130 ), and the assistant battery  130  is used to supply power to the electronic device  200 . 
     In other embodiments, the main control unit  140 , for example, switches the assistant battery  130  to the power supply mode after the capacity of the main battery  120  is fully depleted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1B to 1D , the hot plugging type power module  100  includes a main switching element  160  and a sub-switching element  170 . The main switching element  160  is coupled to the main battery  120  and the main control unit  140 . The sub-switching element  170  is coupled to the assistant battery  130  and the main control unit  140 . 
     In this embodiment, the main switching element  160  and the sub-switching element  170  adopt, for example, field effect transistors (FETs), which are mainly used for amplification, switching, voltage stabilization, modulation, and other related controls of electrical signals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , when the capacity of the main battery  120  is greater than the first preset value (10% or 20%), the main control unit  140  switches the main switching element  160  to a conductive state so that the main battery  120  starts to supply power to the electronic device  200 , and switches the sub-switching element  170  to a non-conductive state. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1D , when the capacity of the main battery  120  is less than the first preset value (10% or 20%) and the capacity of the assistant battery  130  is greater than a second preset value (50% or 60%), the main control unit  140  switches the main switching element  160  to a non-conductive state so that the main battery  120  stops supplying power to the electronic device  200 , and switches the sub-switching element  170  to a conductive state so that the assistant battery  130  starts to supply power to the electronic device  200 . 
     Also referring to  FIG. 1E , when the capacity of the main battery  120  is less than the first preset value (10% or 20%) and the capacity of the assistant battery  130  is less than the second preset value (50% or 60%), the main control unit  140  switches both the main switching element  160  and the sub-switching element  170  to a non-conductive state to stop supplying power to the electronic device  200 . In addition, since neither the main battery  120  nor the assistant battery  130  supplies power to the electronic device  200  in this case, the electronic device  200  is forced to shut down. 
     FIG. IF is a circuit block diagram of combining a charging unit to the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1G  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module powering on the charging unit of  FIG. 1F .  FIG. 1H  is a circuit block diagram of the hot plugging type power module powering off the charging unit of  FIG. 1F . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 1F , the operating voltage range of the main battery  120  and the operating voltage range of the assistant battery  130  are the same. For example, when the capacity is 100%, the operating voltage is 4.4 volts (V); when the capacity is 50%, the operating voltage is 3.8V; and when the capacity is 0%, the operating voltage is 3.4V. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1F , the hot plugging type power module  100  includes a charging unit  180 , and the charging unit  180  is coupled to the main battery  120 , the assistant battery  130 , and the main control unit  140 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1G , when the operating voltage (4.2V) of the main battery  120  is higher than the operating voltage (3.6V) of the assistant battery  130  and the capacity of the main battery  120  is greater than the first preset value, the main battery  120  maintains the power supply mode and the assistant battery  130  maintains the sleep mode (the main control unit  140  interrupts the current transmission path between the sub-switching element  170  and the electronic device  200 ) to supply power to the electronic device  200 . 
     Since the operating voltage (3.6V) of the assistant battery  130  is less than a maximum value (4.4V), it means that the capacity of the assistant battery  130  is not full yet. In this case, the main control unit  140  powers on the charging unit  180 , so that part of the current of the main battery  120  passes through the charging unit  180  to enter the assistant battery  130  until the operating voltage of the assistant battery  130  is increased to the maximum value. The charging unit  180  may reduce the operating voltage of the main battery  120  to output current to the assistant battery  130 . Lowering the operating voltage of the main battery  120  may reduce the damage to the assistant battery  130  during the charging process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1G , when the operating voltage (3.8V) of the main battery  120  is lower than the operating voltage (4.0V) of the assistant battery  130  and the operating voltage of the assistant battery  130  is lower than the maximum value (4.4V), the charging unit  180  may increase the operating voltage of the main battery  120  to output current to the assistant battery  130 . Through the boosting function of the charging unit  180 , the main battery  120  may continue to charge the assistant battery  130  under a low-voltage status. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1H , when the operating voltage of the assistant battery  130  is equal to the maximum value (4.4 volts), it means that the capacity of the assistant battery  130  is full. At this time, the main control unit  140  powers off the charging unit  180 , so that the main battery  120  stops outputting current to the assistant battery  130  and the main battery  120  maintains the power supply mode. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module shown of  FIG. 1A  locked at a base taken along a sectional line A-A.  FIG. 2B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 2A  unlocked from the base. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 2A , the main battery  120  includes a plurality of locking structures  121 , a plurality of elastic members  122 , and a plurality of magnets  123 . Each locking structure  121  may be movably disposed at a side of the main battery  120  and fittingly connected to a base  210  of the electronic device  200 . Two end parts of each elastic member  122  respectively abut against the main battery  120  and each locking structure  121  to provide an elastic force so that the locking structure  121  engages with a groove G of the base  210 . Each magnet  123  is disposed in each locking structure  121  and faces the circuit board  110 , and each magnet  123  is adapted to move with each locking structure  121 . The detection unit  150  includes at least one Hall sensor H disposed at the circuit board  110  and separated from the magnets  123  of the main battery  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1B, 1D, and 2B , in the process of a user removing the main battery  120 , in the first step, the user pushes the locking structures  121  of the main battery  120 . When the locking structures  121  are unlocked from the base  210 , each magnet  123  moves in a first direction along with the locking structures  121 . At least one Hall sensor H detects the displacement of the magnets  123  and transmits a switch signal to the main control unit  140 . Accordingly, the main control unit  140  turns off the main battery  120  and stops the main battery  120  from supplying power to the electronic device  200 . The main control unit  140  is switched to be electrically connected to the assistant battery  130  so that the assistant battery  130  supplies power to the electronic device  200  (see  FIG. 1D ). 
     Specifically, at least one Hall sensor H detects the change in the magnetic field to determine the distance of the magnets  123 , and then converts the change in the magnetic field into a switch signal and transmits the switch signal to the main control unit  140 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 1A  connected to a circuit board taken along a sectional line B-B.  FIG. 3B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main battery of the hot plugging type power module of  FIG. 3A  detached from the circuit board. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1B and 3A , the main battery  120  has an area of electrical contact  124  and at least one metal strip  125 . The area of electrical contact  124  may be coupled to the detection unit  150  through at least one metal elastic sheet FP and the area of the electrical contact  124  is coupled to the main control unit  140 , and at least one metal strip  125  is coupled to the area of electrical contact  124 . The detection unit  150  has at least one metal elastic sheet FP disposed at the circuit board  110  and in contact with at least one metal strip  125 . 
     When the main battery  120  is correctly installed on the circuit board  110 , at least one metal elastic sheet FP is in contact with at least one metal strip  125 . The main control unit  140  detects that there is a conductive state between the area of electrical contact  124  and the at least one metal elastic sheet FP, so the main battery  120  maintains the power supply mode. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , when the main battery  120  is moved or removed relative from the circuit board  110 , the area of electrical contact  124  and the at least one metal strip  125  are detached from the at least one metal elastic sheet FP. The detection unit  150  outputs a switch signal to the main control unit  140 , and the main control unit  140  detects that there is a non-conductive state between at least one area of electrical contact  124  and the at least one metal elastic sheet FP. Accordingly, the main control unit  140  turns off the main battery  120  and stops the main battery  120  from supplying power to the electronic device  200 . The main control unit  140  is electrically connected to the assistant battery  130  and the assistant battery  130  supplies power to the electronic device  200 . 
     In short, when the main battery  120  is moved or removed from the circuit board  110 , the electrical connection between the at least one metal elastic sheet FP and the at least one metal strip  125  are turned off earlier than the electrical connection between the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110 . Therefore, the main control unit  140  may switch to the assistant battery  130  to supply power in real time before a non-conductive state is formed between the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110 , so as to avoid power failure of the electronic device  200 . 
     In addition, the detection unit  150  of the disclosure may detect the unlocking action of the locking structure  121  through the Hall sensor H, or the detaching action of the main battery  120  and the circuit board  110  through the metal elastic sheet FP. In terms of working sequence, the Hall sensor H works before the metal elastic sheet FP; that is, when the main battery  120  is removed, the locking structure  121  is first pushed for unlocking, and then the main battery  120  is removed from the circuit board  110 . 
     In summary, the hot plugging type power module of the disclosure is adapted for all kinds of electronic devices. The hot plugging type power module has a main battery and an assistant battery. The main control unit and the main battery may be directly hot-plugged, and the assistant battery is in-built in the circuit board. When the main battery is removed or the capacity is depleted, the main control unit automatically switches the assistant battery to the power supply mode to supply power to the electronic device, preventing the electronic device from entering low power consumption mode. Since the power storage capacity of the assistant battery is much larger than the existing super capacity, the assistant battery may supply the electronic device to operate normally for a period of time, thereby overcoming the insufficient battery life of the existing super capacity. 
     In addition, the disclosure detects changes in the relative position between the main battery and the circuit board through the detection unit, and monitors the capacity of the main battery through the main control unit. When the main battery meets any of the conditions of removal, displacement or capacity depletion, the assistant battery may be immediately switched to supply power to maintain an uninterruptible power supplying function of the electronic device.