Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a charging control circuit, a charging circuit, and a charging control method.

Currently, a charging control circuit of a mobile power supply includes an automatic charging control circuit and a manual charging control circuit. A switch is generally disposed on the manual charging control circuit. A user may manually control closing of the switch to manually enable power output. After the mobile power supply is inserted into a charging device, the automatic charging control circuit may automatically detect a load and enable power output. The automatic charging control circuit may be implemented by an integrated circuit (Integrated Circuit, IC) or a detection circuit built by a discrete device. Because a related charging control circuit implemented by the integrated circuit IC or the detection circuit built by the discrete device is relatively complex, reliability of the related charging control circuit is relatively poor.

It can be learned that the related charging control circuit has a problem of relatively poor reliability.

<CIT> discloses a multi-port power switch device may intelligently detect whether a portable electronic device is connected to one of the output ports provided. The output ports can automatically be switched on and off as needed depending on whether they are connected to a portable electronic device.

<CIT> discloses a power source resident in furniture provides power to at least one charging port or socket used to provide power to an electronic device. The furniture may be an articulated furniture having at least one motor. The furniture may have at least one type of switch that manages the power to the charging port. The switch may reduce wasted energy consumption due to heat lost at the charging port.

<CIT> discloses a power saving device with power supply, comprising a charger power circuit, a receptacle, a plug detection unit, an ON/OFF control circuit and a power output enable circuit. The plug detection unit uses a mechanical or electrical detection apparatus to detect whether a plug-in device is inserted or not. When there is no plug-in device in the receptacle, the power output enable circuit will cut off the power to the charger power circuit.

<CIT> discloses an improved mobile power charging interface, the charging interface is a USB interface, which comprises: a plastic seat and a metal shell wrapped around the plastic seal). The plastic seat extends to form a tongue plate, and four terminals are evenly disposed on the upper surface of the tongue plate, and a jumper terminal is disposed on the lower surface of the tongue plate, and the jumper terminal has an outwardly convex elasticity. In the contact portion, when the charging interface is plugged into an external USB plug, the jumper terminal will be in contact with the metal housing of the USB plug to form a conduction.

<CIT> discloses a portable power source device, and it comprises: USB female seat, MCU; described portable power source device also comprises: the priority detecting unit; the input of described priority detecting unit connects described USB female seat, the output of described priority detecting unit connects the priority detection signal input of described MCU, and described priority detecting unit detects when described USB female seat has the input of external power supply voltage and exports a detection signal to described MCU; the shell fragment peripheral clearance that arranges on described USB female seat arranges at least one fixed contact, described shell fragment forms a normal open switch and detects input with the switch of described MCU with described fixed contact and is connected, described shell fragment is in electrical contact with described fixed contact when public mouthful of USB inserts described USB female seat, described normal open switch is closed be incorporated in described switch detection input generation one level variable signal; when detecting input, the switch of described MCU receives described level variable signal, and when described MCU received from the detection signal of described priority detecting unit, described MCU controlled the external power supply voltage that described portable power source device is accepted described USB female seat access; when described MCU received only described level variable signal, described MCU controlled described portable power source device and discharges self supply voltage by described USB female seat.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a charging control circuit, a charging circuit, and a charging control method, to resolve a problem of relatively poor reliability of a related charging control circuit.

To resolve the foregoing technical problem, the present disclosure is implemented as follows:.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a charging control circuit, including:.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a charging circuit, including:
the foregoing charging control circuit and a power supply apparatus electrically connected to a communications interface of the charging control circuit.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic device, including the foregoing charging circuit.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a charging control method applied to the foregoing charging circuit. The method includes:
when it is detected that a voltage of a first conductive part changes from a first voltage to a second voltage, controlling starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to a communications interface, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a charging control circuit includes: a communications interface housing, a communications interface, and a control sub-circuit, where the communications interface housing includes a first conductive part, a second conductive part, and an insulating part, and the insulating part is disposed between the first conductive part and the second conductive part , and insulates the first conductive part from the second conductive part; the first conductive part is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part is connected to a second voltage terminal, the second voltage terminal is configured to access a second voltage, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; and the control sub-circuit is connected to the first conductive part and the communications interface, and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to the communications interface, wherein the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage when the communications interface accesses a load which conducts the first conductive part with the second conductive part, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface. In this way, by using the communications interface housing, components required by the charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability of a charging control process may be improved.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions show merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a charging control circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the charging control circuit <NUM> includes a communications interface housing <NUM>, a communications interface <NUM>, and a control sub-circuit <NUM>, where the communications interface housing <NUM> includes a first conductive part <NUM>, a second conductive part <NUM>, and an insulating part <NUM>, and the insulating part <NUM> is disposed between the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM>; the first conductive part <NUM> is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part <NUM> is connected to a second voltage terminal, and the second voltage terminal is configured to input a second voltage; and the control sub-circuit <NUM> is connected to the first conductive part <NUM> and the communications interface <NUM>, and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus (not shown in the figure) electrically connected to the communications interface <NUM>, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the power supply apparatus may be a mobile power supply apparatus including a power supply control chip and a charging power supply. The communications interface may include a universal serial bus (Universal Serial Bus, USB) interface, and the communications interface housing may be a USB interface housing.

Because the insulating part <NUM> is disposed between the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM>, without assistance of another object, the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM> are in a disconnected state. In this case, the voltage accessed by the first conductive part <NUM> is the first voltage. When the communications interface <NUM> accesses a load, the accessed load may conduct the first conductive part <NUM> with the second conductive part <NUM>, so that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage. The accessed load may be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer.

When the control sub-circuit <NUM> detects that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, it indicates that a charging wire used to charge the load is accessed onto the communications interface <NUM>, and the charging voltage needs to be provided to the communications interface <NUM>. Therefore, when it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, the control sub-circuit <NUM> controls starting of the power supply apparatus, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a charging control circuit includes a communications interface housing, a communications interface, and a control sub-circuit, where the communications interface housing includes a first conductive part, a second conductive part, and an insulating part, and the insulating part is disposed between the first conductive part and the second conductive part , and insulates the first conductive part from the second conductive part; the first conductive part is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part is connected to a second voltage terminal, the second voltage terminal is configured to access a second voltage, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; and the control sub-circuit is connected to the first conductive part and the communications interface, and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to the communications interface, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface, wherein the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage when the communications interface accesses a load which conducts the first conductive part with the second conductive part. In this way, by using the communications interface housing, components required by the charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability of a charging control process may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a charging control circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the charging control circuit <NUM> includes a communications interface housing <NUM>, a communications interface <NUM>, a control sub-circuit <NUM>, and a load detection sub-circuit <NUM>, where the communications interface housing <NUM> includes a first conductive part <NUM>, a second conductive part <NUM>, and an insulating part <NUM>, and the insulating part <NUM> is disposed between the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM>; the first conductive part <NUM> is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part <NUM> is connected to a second voltage terminal, and the second voltage terminal is configured to input a second voltage; and the control sub-circuit <NUM> is connected to the first conductive part <NUM> and the communications interface <NUM>, and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus (not shown in the figure) electrically connected to the communications interface <NUM>, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

The load detection sub-circuit <NUM> is connected to the control sub-circuit <NUM> and the communications interface <NUM>; the control sub-circuit <NUM> is also configured to send, after it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, a load detection control signal to the load detection sub-circuit <NUM>; the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> is configured to detect, when the load detection control signal is received, whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to a load, and send, to the control sub-circuit <NUM> when it is detected that the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load, a signal indicating that the load is not accessed; and the control sub-circuit <NUM> is further configured to control, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the power supply apparatus to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the load detection control signal is used to trigger the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> to detect whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load. For example, after the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> receives the load detection control signal, whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load may be detected based on whether there is a current on the communications interface <NUM>. If the current on the communications interface <NUM> exceeds a first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load, and if the current on the communications interface <NUM> is less than the first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load. When the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load, it indicates that the charging voltage does not need to be provided, and needs to be turned off. Therefore, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the control sub-circuit <NUM> controls the power supply apparatus to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

It should be supplemented that the charging control circuit shown in <FIG> further includes a current-limiting resistor <NUM>. The first conductive part <NUM> is electrically connected to the current-limiting resistor <NUM>, and the first voltage is accessed to the first conductive part <NUM> through one terminal of the current-limiting resistor <NUM>. When the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM> are both in a disconnected state, the second voltage is accessed to the second conductive part <NUM>, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage. In a special case, the second conductive part <NUM> may be grounded. In this case, the second voltage is <NUM>. When a charging wire is accessed onto the communications interface <NUM>, the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM> are in a conductive state. Because a resistance of the current-limiting resistor <NUM> is relatively large, a current-limiting function can be played. In this case, the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, and the control sub-circuit <NUM> may detect that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage.

In this way, when the communications interface is not electrically connected to the load, the power supply apparatus may be controlled to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface, so that a risk of short circuiting of the charging control circuit can be reduced.

Optionally, the control sub-circuit <NUM> is further configured to: control, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, starting of the power supply apparatus at an interval of a preset time, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>; and send the load detection control signal to the load detection sub-circuit <NUM>.

In this way, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the power supply apparatus is started again at the interval of the preset time to provide the charging voltage to the communications interface, and the load detection control signal is sent to the load detection sub-circuit. After it is detected that the load is not accessed, whether the load is accessed may be detected again automatically at an interval of a preset time, so that safety of a charging process is ensured, and in addition, power consumption is reduced, and a use duration of the power supply apparatus is guaranteed.

Optionally, the control sub-circuit <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM> and a switch unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> is connected to the first conductive part <NUM> and a control terminal of the switch unit <NUM>, a first output terminal of the switch unit <NUM> is connected to the communications interface <NUM>, and a second output terminal of the switch unit <NUM> is connected to a load detection sub-circuit <NUM>; and the control unit <NUM> is configured to: after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, input a high-level signal to the control terminal of the switch unit <NUM>, conduct the switch unit <NUM>, and send a power-off control signal to the power supply apparatus through the communications interface <NUM>, where the power-off control signal is used to control the power supply apparatus to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

It should be supplemented that the control terminal of the switch unit <NUM> is also connected to a pull-down resistor <NUM>, and the pull-down resistor <NUM> may prevent the switch unit <NUM> from being damaged by the high voltage.

In this way, the control unit <NUM> controls conduction of the switch unit <NUM>, and sends the power-off control signal to the power supply apparatus. The power supply apparatus may be controlled to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>, so that a risk of short circuiting of the charging control circuit can be reduced.

Optionally, the switch unit <NUM> includes a switch transistor, a first electrode of the switch transistor is connected to the control unit <NUM>, a second electrode of the switch transistor is connected to the communications interface <NUM>, and a third electrode of the switch transistor is connected to the load detection sub-circuit <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the switch transistor includes a metal oxide MOS field effect transistor. For example, the MOS field effect transistor may be a negative-channel metal oxide semiconductor (Negative channel-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor, NMOS) field effect transistor. For example, if the switch transistor is the NMOS field effect transistor, a gate electrode of the NMOS field effect transistor is connected to the control unit <NUM>, a source electrode of the NMOS field effect transistor is connected to the load detection sub-circuit <NUM>, and a drain electrode of the NMOS field effect transistor is connected to the communications interface <NUM>. As the switch transistor, the NMOS field effect transistor has the advantages of a low cost and a simple circuit structure.

Specifically, contacts of the communications interface <NUM> may include a power cable VBUS contact, a ground cable GND contact, a positive data cable contact D+, and a negative data cable contact D-. In this embodiment, the drain electrode of the NMOS field effect transistor is connected to the power cable VBUS contact of the communications interface <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> includes a load detection unit <NUM>, a jumper resistor <NUM>, a current detection resistor <NUM>, and a filter capacitor <NUM>, the load detection unit <NUM> is connected to the control unit <NUM>, and is connected to a first terminal of the jumper resistor <NUM>, a second terminal of the jumper resistor <NUM> and a first terminal of the current detection resistor <NUM> are connected to the third electrode of the switch transistor, a first terminal of the filter capacitor <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of the jumper resistor <NUM>, a second terminal of the filter capacitor <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the current detection resistor <NUM>, and a second terminal of the current detection resistor <NUM> is grounded; and the load detection unit <NUM> is configured to detect, after the load detection control signal input by the control unit <NUM> is received, whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to a load, and send, to the control unit <NUM> when it is detected that the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load, a signal indicating that the load is not accessed. For example, after the load detection unit <NUM> receives the load detection control signal, whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load may be detected based on whether there is a current on the communications interface <NUM>. If the current on the communications interface <NUM> exceeds a first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load, and if the current on the communications interface <NUM> is less than the first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load.

In this embodiment, the control unit <NUM> and the load detection unit <NUM> may be different logic circuits integrated in a micro control unit. In this way, the circuits may be simplified. The jumper resistor <NUM> may be a zero-ohm resistor. The zero-ohm resistor can improve a protection function and is easy to connect during a debugging process.

Referring to <FIG> is a first structural diagram of a communications interface housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the communications interface housing <NUM> includes a first conductive part <NUM>, a second conductive part <NUM>, and an insulating part, the insulating part includes a first strip-shaped insulating part <NUM> and a second strip-shaped insulating part <NUM>, a first side face of the first conductive part <NUM> and a first side face of the second conductive part <NUM> are connected through the first strip-shaped insulating part <NUM>, and a second side face of the first conductive part <NUM> and a second side face of the second conductive part <NUM> are connected through the second strip-shaped insulating part <NUM>.

In this way, distinguished from a related communications interface housing, a communications interface housing whose insulating part is disposed between a first conductive part and a second conductive part may be provided.

Referring to <FIG> is a first structural diagram of a communications interface housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, the communications interface housing <NUM> includes a housing body, a spring plate <NUM> independent of the housing body, and an insulating base <NUM>, the housing body includes a first spring plate <NUM>, a connecting part <NUM>, and a base part <NUM>, the first spring plate <NUM> is connected to base part <NUM> through the connecting part <NUM>, the first spring plate <NUM>, the connecting part <NUM>, the base part <NUM>, and the spring plate <NUM> are made of a conductive material, the spring plate <NUM> is used as a first conductive part, the housing body is used as a second conductive part, and an insulating medium between the housing body and the spring plate is used as an insulating part.

For example, the housing body may be made of metal, and the spring plate <NUM> may be made of metal.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a charging circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The charging circuit includes a charging control circuit <NUM> and a power supply apparatus <NUM>, where the charging control circuit <NUM> includes a communications interface housing <NUM>, a communications interface <NUM>, and a control sub-circuit <NUM>; the communications interface housing <NUM> includes a first conductive part <NUM>, a second conductive part <NUM>, and an insulating part <NUM>, and the insulating part <NUM> is disposed between the first conductive part <NUM> and the second conductive part <NUM>; the first conductive part <NUM> is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part <NUM> is connected to a second voltage terminal, and the second voltage terminal is configured to input a second voltage; and the control sub-circuit <NUM> is connected to the first conductive part <NUM> and the communications interface <NUM>, and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of the power supply apparatus <NUM> electrically connected to the communications interface <NUM>, so that the power supply apparatus <NUM> provides a charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

Optionally, the power supply apparatus includes a charging power supply and a power supply control chip; and the control sub-circuit <NUM> is configured to send, when it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part <NUM> changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, a power-on control signal to the power supply control chip <NUM> through the communications interface <NUM>, to control the power supply control chip <NUM> to start the charging power supply <NUM>, so that the charging power supply <NUM> provides a charging voltage to the communications interface <NUM>.

The charging control circuit <NUM> provided in this embodiment has the same functions as those of the charging control circuit <NUM> shown in <FIG>. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.

In this embodiment, by using the communications interface housing, components required by the charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability of a charging control process may be improved.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes the foregoing charging circuit.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing electronic device may be any terminal device including dual cameras, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a mobile Internet device (Mobile Internet Device, MID), or a wearable device.

In this embodiment, the electronic device uses a communications interface housing, so that components required by a charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability of a charging control process may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> is a flowchart of a charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the method is applied to the charging circuit in the foregoing embodiment. The method includes the following step:
Step <NUM>: When it is detected that a voltage of a first conductive part changes from a first voltage to a second voltage, control starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to a communications interface, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface.

Because an insulating part is disposed between the first conductive part and a second conductive part, without assistance of another object, the first conductive part and the second conductive part are in a disconnected state. In this case, the voltage accessed by the first conductive part is the first voltage. When the communications interface accesses a load, the accessed load may conduct the first conductive part with the second conductive part, so that the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage.

When a control sub-circuit detects that the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, it indicates that a charging wire is accessed onto the communications interface, and the charging voltage needs to be provided to the communications interface. Therefore, when it is detected that the first conductive part accesses the first voltage, the control sub-circuit controls starting of the power supply apparatus, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the communications interface.

According to the charging control method in this embodiment of the present disclosure, when it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, the control sub-circuit controls starting of the power supply apparatus, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the communications interface. In this way, by using the communications interface housing, components required by the charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability of a charging process may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> is a flowchart of a charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the method is applied to the charging circuit in the foregoing embodiment.

Step <NUM>: When it is detected that a voltage of a first conductive part changes from a first voltage to a second voltage, control starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to a communications interface, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface.

For implementation processes and beneficial effects of this step, refer to the description in Step <NUM>.

Step <NUM>: After it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, a control sub-circuit sends a load detection control signal to a load detection sub-circuit.

In this embodiment, the load detection control signal is used to trigger the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> to detect whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load.

Step <NUM>: When the load detection control signal is received, the load detection sub-circuit detects whether the communications interface is electrically connected to a load, and sends, to the control sub-circuit when it is detected that the communications interface is not electrically connected to the load, a signal indicating that the load is not accessed.

For example, after the load detection sub-circuit <NUM> receives the load detection control signal, whether the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load may be detected based on whether there is a current on the communications interface <NUM>. If the current on the communications interface <NUM> exceeds a first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the load, and if the current on the communications interface <NUM> is less than the first preset current threshold, it is determined that the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load.

Step <NUM>: After the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, control the power supply apparatus to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface.

In this embodiment, when the communications interface <NUM> is not electrically connected to the load, it indicates that the charging voltage does not need to be provided, and needs to be turned off. Therefore, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the control sub-circuit <NUM> sends a power-off control signal to a power supply control chip, to control the power supply control chip to turn off the power supply apparatus.

It should be supplemented that after step <NUM>, the method may further include the following steps:
after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, controlling, by the control sub-circuit, starting of the power supply apparatus at an interval of a preset time, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the communications interface; and sending the load detection control signal to the load detection sub-circuit.

In this way, after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the power supply apparatus is started again at the interval of the preset time to provide the charging voltage to the communications interface, the load detection control signal is sent to the load detection sub-circuit, and whether the load is accessed may be detected again automatically based on the load detection control signal, so that safety of a charging process is ensured, and in addition, power consumption is reduced, and a use duration of the power supply apparatus is guaranteed.

According to the charging control method in this embodiment of the present disclosure, when it is detected that a voltage of a first conductive part changes from a first voltage to a second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus electrically connected to a communications interface is controlled, so that the power supply apparatus provides a charging voltage to the communications interface; after it is detected that the voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, a control sub-circuit sends a load detection control signal to a load detection sub-circuit; when the load detection control signal is received, the load detection sub-circuit detects whether the communications interface is electrically connected to a load, and sends, to the control sub-circuit when it is detected that the communications interface is not electrically connected to the load, a signal indicating that the load is not accessed; and after the signal indicating that the load is not accessed is received, the power supply apparatus is controlled to stop providing the charging voltage to the communications interface. In this way, by using the communications interface housing, components required by the charging control circuit may be reduced, the charging control circuit may be simplified, and reliability and safety of a charging control process may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> is a flowchart of a charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the method is applied to the charging circuit in the foregoing embodiment. It should be supplemented that a communications interface in the charging circuit is specifically a USB interface, and a communications interface housing is specifically a USB interface housing; the USB interface housing includes a first conductive part, a second conductive part, and an insulating part, and the insulating part is disposed between the first conductive part and the second conductive part; the first conductive part is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage; the second conductive part is connected to a second voltage terminal, the second voltage terminal is configured to access a second voltage, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; a charging power supply is connected to the communications interface through a power supply control chip; a control sub-circuit is connected to the first conductive part and the communications interface; and a load detection sub-circuit is connected to the control sub-circuit and the USB interface.

Step <NUM>: Insert a load into the USB interface.

In this embodiment, the load may be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer. For example, a load such as a mobile phone may be accessed to the USB interface through a USB cable.

Step <NUM>: Provide a charging voltage to the USB interface, and detect a current value of the USB interface.

Step <NUM> may include the following steps: when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, controlling, by the control sub-circuit, starting of a power supply apparatus, so that the power supply apparatus provides the charging voltage to the USB interface; and detecting, by the load detection sub-circuit, the current value of the USB interface.

Step <NUM>: The detected current value exceeds a second preset current threshold.

In this embodiment, the second preset current threshold may be set. When the detected current value exceeds the second preset current threshold, it is determined that the detected current value is over-current.

Step <NUM>: Stop providing the charging voltage to the USB interface.

Step <NUM> may include the following steps:
sending, by the control sub-circuit, a power-off control signal to the power supply control chip, to control the power supply control chip to turn off the charging power supply; and stopping providing the charging voltage to the USB interface.

Step <NUM>: The detected current value is a normal current value.

In this embodiment, the normal current value may be preset. The normal current value is a current value when the load is normally charged through the USB interface, and may be a current value range.

Step <NUM>: Continue to monitor the current value of the USB interface, and stop providing the charging voltage to the USB interface after the load is fully charged.

In this way, safety of a charging process may be ensured, and power consumption may be reduced.

Step <NUM>: The detected current value is lower than a third preset current threshold.

In this embodiment, the third preset current threshold may be preset. The third preset current threshold may be a relatively small current value, or may be <NUM>. If the detected current value is lower than the third preset current threshold, it indicates that the load is not accessed to the USB interface.

Step <NUM>: Stop providing the charging voltage to the USB interface, provide the charging voltage to the USB interface at an interval of a preset time, and detect the current value of the USB interface.

Step <NUM> may include the following steps: sending, by the control sub-circuit, a power-off control signal to the power supply control chip, to control the power supply control chip to turn off the charging power supply; stopping providing the charging voltage to the USB interface; sending, by the control sub-circuit, a power-on control signal to the power supply control chip through the USB interface at the interval of the preset time, to control the power supply control chip to start the charging power supply, so that the charging power supply provides the charging voltage to the communications interface; sending a load detection control signal to the load detection sub-circuit; and detecting, by the load detection sub-circuit, the current value of the USB interface.

Step <NUM>: Stop providing the charging voltage to the USB interface after the load is fully charged.

In this embodiment, Step <NUM> may include the following steps: sending, by the control sub-circuit, the power-off control signal to the power supply control chip, to control the power supply control chip to turn off the charging power supply; and stopping providing the charging voltage to the USB interface.

According to the charging control method in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging power supply is started again at the interval of the preset time to provide the charging voltage to the USB interface, the current value of the USB interface is detected, and whether the load is accessed to the USB interface may be detected again automatically, so that safety of a charging process is ensured, and in addition, power consumption is reduced, and a use duration of the charging power supply is guaranteed.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computer readable storage medium, where the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program, when the computer program is executed by the processor, the processes of the foregoing embodiments of the charging control method are implemented, and the same technical effects can be achieved. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again. The computer readable storage medium may be a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM for short), a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM for short), a magnetic disk, a compact disc, or the like.

It should be noted that in this specification, the terms "comprise", "include" and any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, a method, an article, or an apparatus that includes a series of elements not only includes these very elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed, or also include elements inherent to this process, method, article, or apparatus. Without being subject to further limitations, an element defined by a phrase "including a. " does not exclude presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the very element.

By means of the foregoing description of the embodiments, a person skilled in the art may clearly understand that the method in the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by software with a necessary general hardware platform. Certainly, the method in the foregoing embodiments may also be implemented by hardware. However, in many cases, the former is a preferred embodiment. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of the present disclosure essentially, or the part contributing to the related technologies may be implemented in a form of a computer software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium (for example, a ROM/RAM, a magnetic disk, or a compact disc), and includes a plurality of instructions for instructing a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, a network device, or the like) to perform the method described in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

A person skilled in the art can clearly understand that to describe conveniently and concisely, for a specific working process of the system, apparatus, and unit described above, refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments.

In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners.

In addition, function units in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

When the functions are implemented in a form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of the present disclosure essentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, or some of the technical solutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes a plurality of instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some of the processes of the methods in the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by a computer program controlling related hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program runs, the processes of the methods in the embodiments are performed. The foregoing storage medium may include: a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), or the like.

It can be understood that those embodiments described in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination thereof. For implementation by hardware, the processing unit may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSP Device, DSPD), a programmable logic device (Programmable Logic Device, PLD), a field-programmable gate array (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), a general-purpose processor, a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, another electronic unit for implementing the functions of the present disclosure, or a combination thereof.

For implementation by software, technologies described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by executing function modules (for example, a process and a function) in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Software codes may be stored in the memory and executed by the processor. The memory may be implemented inside or outside the processor.

Claim 1:
A charging control circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>), characterized by comprising a communications interface housing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), a communications interface (<NUM>, <NUM>), and a control sub-circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein
the communications interface housing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), a second conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and an insulating part (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the insulating part (<NUM>, <NUM>) is disposed between the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the second conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and insulates the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) from the second conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to a first voltage terminal, and the first voltage terminal is configured to access a first voltage;
the second conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to a second voltage terminal, the second voltage terminal is configured to access a second voltage, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; and
the control sub-circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the communications interface (<NUM>, <NUM>), and is configured to control, when it is detected that a voltage of the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) changes from the first voltage to the second voltage, starting of a power supply apparatus (<NUM>) electrically connected to the communications interface (<NUM>, <NUM>), so that the power supply apparatus (<NUM>) provides a charging voltage to the communications interface (<NUM>, <NUM>); wherein
the voltage of the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) changes from the first voltage to the second voltage when the communications interface (<NUM>, <NUM>) accesses a load which conducts the first conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with the second conductive part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).