Patent Description:
Document <CIT> discloses a device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In general, this disclosure is directed to devices that include dual on-board regulated chargers. A controller of a device with a regulated main charger and an unregulated parallel charger may regulate an amount of power provided by the unregulated parallel charger by adjusting an amount of power provided by an external power source that is supplying power to the device. For example, the controller may measure an input current of the parallel charger and output a request to the external power source to increase or decrease an amount of current provided to the device based on the measured input current. However, such a scheme may present one or more disadvantages. As one example, communicating with the external power source may introduce latency. As another example, the input current of the parallel charger may not be an accurate representation of how much current is actually being provided to the one or more power storage devices (e.g., as some of the current provided by the parallel charger may be used by an electrical load that includes other system components). These disadvantages may result in an inconsistent amount of power being provided to the one or more power storage devices, which may be undesirable.

In accordance with one or more techniques of this disclosure, a device may include a regulated parallel charger and a controller that regulates operation of the parallel charger based on an amount of current actually being provided to the one or more power storage devices. In this way, the controller may reduce the latency and/or smooth out the amount of power being provided to the one or more power storage devices.

In one example according to the invention, a device according to claim <NUM> is described.

In another example according to the invention, a method according to claim <NUM> is described.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are illustrative and are intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the claims.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system <NUM> that includes a mobile device <NUM> and a power adapter <NUM>, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. Power adapter <NUM> may be an AC adapter, AC/DC adapter, or AC/DC converter. Power adapter <NUM> may be a type of external power supply, enclosed in a case (e.g., an AC plug). Power adapter <NUM> may also be a plug pack, plug-in adapter, adapter block, domestic mains adapter, line power adapter, wall wart, power brick, and power adapter. Power adapter <NUM> may contain a transformer to convert the mains electricity voltage to a lower voltage. As shown in <FIG>, power adapter <NUM> may output a direct current (DC) power signal to mobile device <NUM> having voltage level VBUS_IN and current level IBUS_IN.

Mobile device <NUM> may represent any device that includes a power storage device capable of being recharged by an external power adapter, such as power adapter <NUM>. Examples of mobile device <NUM> include, but are not limited to, a mobile phone (including a so-called "smartphone"), smart glasses, a smart watch, a portable speaker (including a portable smart speaker), a laptop computer, a portable gaming system, a wireless gaming system controller, and the like. In some examples, mobile device <NUM> may be a foldable device in that components of mobile device <NUM> may be distributed across two housings joined by a hinge. As shown in the example of <FIG>, mobile device <NUM> may include main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, processing circuitry <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM>.

Processing circuitry <NUM> may represent circuitry configured to support operation of mobile device <NUM> and may execute software (or, in other words, a set of instructions) that may enable execution of hierarchical software layers to present various functionalities for use by a user. Processing circuitry <NUM> may, for example, execute a kernel forming a base layer by which an operating system may interface with various other processing units, such as a camera, microphones, sensors, etc. Processing circuitry <NUM> may also execute the operating system which presents an application space in which one or more applications (e.g., first party and/or third-party applications) may execute to present graphical user interfaces with which to interact with the user.

Processing circuitry <NUM> may include one or more of a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an accelerated processing unit (APU), an application processor (AP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or equivalent discrete or integrated logic circuitry. The functions attributed to processing circuitry <NUM> in this disclosure may be embodied as software (as noted above), firmware, hardware and combinations thereof. Although example mobile device <NUM> of <FIG> is illustrated as including one processing circuitry <NUM>, other example mobile devices according to this disclosure may include multiple processors (or multiple so-called "cores," which is another way to refer to processors when packaged together) configured to execute one or more functions attributed to processing circuitry <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> individually or in different cooperative combinations.

Power storage device <NUM> may be configured to store electrical energy for use by components of mobile device <NUM>. Examples of power storage device <NUM> include batteries, such as secondary cell rechargeable batteries, and the like. Some examples of batteries include a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or any other type of rechargeable battery such as nickel-metal hydride, lead acid or lithium ion polymer. In some examples, power storage device <NUM> may represent an array of power storage devices. For instance, where mobile device <NUM> is a foldable device, power storage device <NUM> may include a first battery in a first housing of the foldable device and a second battery in a second housing of the foldable device.

Main charger <NUM> may represent a circuit configured to generate a power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> and/or provide power to other components of mobile device <NUM>. For instance, main charger <NUM> may operate as a DC/DC power converter. Main charger <NUM> may be a regulated power converter in that a voltage and/or a current of the power signal output by main charger <NUM> may be adjusted through operation of components of main charger <NUM>. Examples of such a power converter include DC/DC converters such as buck, boost, buck-boost, Cuk (also known as a two-inductor inverting converter), flyback, or any other type of regulated DC/DC converter.

In operation, main charger <NUM> may generate heat as a byproduct of the power conversion process. For instance, where main charger <NUM> is a buck type power converter, the amount of heat generated by main charger <NUM> may be positively correlated with the voltage of the input power signal received from power adapter <NUM> (e.g., higher voltages may result in greater amounts of heat). Components of main charger <NUM> may be selected to produce an acceptable amount of heat at a particular voltage of the input power signal (e.g., at <NUM> volts). However, some charging standards may allow for increased voltage levels of the input power signal to, e.g., decrease charging time. To enable mobile device <NUM> to take advantage of such increased voltage levels, mobile device <NUM> may include a second charger circuit, such as parallel charger <NUM>, that may generate less heat at higher voltage levels of the input power signal than main charger <NUM>.

Parallel charger <NUM> and main charger <NUM> may be configured such that only one of parallel charger <NUM> and main charger <NUM> provides a power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> at any given time. For instance, main charger <NUM> may generate, during a first time period and using electrical energy received from a power source external to the device (e.g., power adapter <NUM>), a first power signal to charge power storage device <NUM>. Parallel charger <NUM> may generate, during a second time period that is non-overlapping with the first time period, using electrical energy received from the power source, a second power signal to charge power storage device <NUM>. As discussed in further detail below, in some examples, parallel charger <NUM> and main charger <NUM> may operate at the same time (e.g., contemporaneously) to accomplish different tasks. For instance, at a particular time, parallel charger <NUM> may convert a power signal received from power adapter <NUM> to charge power storage device <NUM> while main charger <NUM> generates a power signal to charge another device (e.g., such that mobile device <NUM> may simultaneously charge power storage device <NUM> and provide power to another device via wireless transfer).

In some examples, parallel charger <NUM> may be an unregulated power converter. For instance, parallel charger <NUM> may be a <NUM>:<NUM> switch-capacitor power converter that converts the input power signal into an output power signal with half the voltage and twice the current (e.g., VBUS_OUT=VBUS_IN/<NUM> and IBUS_OUT=<NUM>*IBUS_IN). In examples where parallel charger <NUM> is an unregulated power converter, processing circuitry <NUM> may provide regulation of the amount of current provided to power storage device <NUM> via communication with power adapter <NUM>. For instance, parallel charger <NUM> may output a representation of the amount of current flowing through parallel charger <NUM>. Based on the amount of current flowing through parallel charger <NUM>, processing circuitry <NUM> may output a request to power adapter <NUM> to change the voltage (VBUS_IN) of the power signal provided by power adapter <NUM>. While enabling some regulation, this control loop may include one or more disadvantages. As one example, the latency of feedback and control command may be quite large, such that the bandwidth of the whole control scheme is below <NUM>. As another example, the amount of current flowing through parallel charger <NUM> may not be an accurate representation of how much current is actually being provided to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., as some of the current provided by parallel charger <NUM> may be used by an electrical load that includes other system components, such as processing circuitry <NUM>). These disadvantages may result in an inconsistent amount of power being provided to power storage device <NUM>, which may be undesirable. Similarly, with the electrical load siphoning power, the charging speed of power storage device <NUM> may be decreased.

In accordance with one or more techniques of this disclosure, parallel charger <NUM> may be a regulated power converter that includes a controller configured to regulate operation of parallel charger <NUM> based on an amount of current actually being provided to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., based on IPSD). For instance, the controller of parallel charger <NUM> may determine a charging current at which to charge power storage device <NUM> (e.g., if power storage device <NUM> has a capacity of 2400mAh, the controller may determine to charge power storage device <NUM> at a charging current of 2400mA to achieve a 1C charge rate). The controller of parallel charger <NUM> may determine a total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., IPSD) using any current level sensor, such as a sense resistor. The total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> may include current sourced by parallel charger <NUM> (e.g., IPC) less current sinked by the electrical load (e.g., ILOAD). The controller may adjust operation of parallel charger <NUM> such that the amount of current actually being provided to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., IPSD) is approximately equal to the determined charging current. In this way, the controller may reduce the latency and/or smooth out the amount of power being provided to power storage device <NUM>. Also, in this way, parallel charger <NUM> may reduce the amount of time needed to charge power storage device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an example of a system <NUM> that includes a mobile device <NUM> and a power adapter <NUM>, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, system <NUM> may be considered to be an example of system <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, mobile device <NUM> may include processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM>. Processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM> may respectively perform operations similar to processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM> of <FIG>.

In the example of <FIG>, parallel charger <NUM> may contain controller <NUM> and regulated power converter <NUM>. Regulated power converter <NUM> may be any type of power converter capable of producing a regulated output power signal. In some examples, regulated power converter <NUM> may be a switched-mode power converter. For instance, regulated power converter <NUM> may be a buck, a boost, a buck-boost, a Cuk (also known as a two-inductor inverting converter), a flyback, or any other type of regulated DC/DC converter.

Controller <NUM> may be configured to control operation of one or more components of parallel charger <NUM>, such as regulated power converter <NUM>. For instance, controller <NUM> may output one or more signals (e.g., signals <NUM>) to switches of regulated power converter <NUM> that regulate an amount of current supplied by regulated power converter <NUM> (e.g., IPC). Controller <NUM> may be any combination of analog and digital controllers. Examples of controller <NUM> include, but are not limited to, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), systems on a chip (SoC), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry. As one specific example, controller <NUM> may include an analog compensator.

As discussed above and in accordance with one or more aspects of this disclosure, controller <NUM> may control operation of regulated power converter <NUM> based on an amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., IPSD). For instance, controller <NUM> may regulate the current output of regulated power converter <NUM> to maintain the amount of the current flowing to power storage device <NUM> at a specified charging current, regardless of an amount of current supplied by regulated power converter <NUM> being sinked by other electrical loads (e.g., sinked by processing circuitry <NUM> as ILOAD). As such, controller <NUM> may cause regulated power converter <NUM> to generate, based on the total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM>, a power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> at the determined charging current.

As discussed above, controller <NUM> may perform operations based on an amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM>. Controller <NUM> may determine the amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> based on a signal received from current sensor <NUM> that represents a total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., IPSD). For instance, as shown in <FIG>, current sensor <NUM> may include a sense resistor in series with power storage device <NUM> (e.g., such that the current flowing to power storage device <NUM> also flows through current sensor <NUM>), and controller <NUM> may receive a representation of a voltage drop across the sense resistor. As the voltage drop across the sense resistor of current sensor <NUM> is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the sense resistor by the resistance of the sense resistor, controller <NUM> may determine the total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> based on the voltage drop across the sense resistor and the resistance of the sense resistor. The resistance of the sense resistor of current sensor <NUM> may be stored in memory of controller <NUM> or otherwise be available to controller <NUM>.

As discussed above, controller <NUM> may control operation of regulated power converter <NUM>. For instance, controller <NUM> may output signals <NUM> that control operations of switches of regulated power converter <NUM>. In some examples, signals <NUM> may be pulse width modulated (PWM) signals and controller <NUM> may adjust a duty cycle of signals <NUM> to control the amount of current output by regulated power converter <NUM> (e.g., adjust the duty cycles to adjust IPC).

In operation, an electrical load of mobile device <NUM> may sink some of the current supplied by parallel charger <NUM>. For instance, processing circuitry <NUM> may sink an amount of current denoted as ILOAD. As such, all of the current generated by regulated power converter <NUM> may not flow to power storage device <NUM> (i.e., IPC may not equal IPSD). Therefore, if controller <NUM> were to control regulated power converter <NUM> to generate IPC to equal a desired charging current of power storage device <NUM>, power storage device <NUM> may not consistently be charged at the desired charging current. This may present various problems as discussed above (e.g., increased wear on power storage device <NUM>, increased charging duration, etc.).

As discussed above and in accordance with one or more techniques of this disclosure, controller <NUM> may control operation of regulated power converter <NUM> to compensate for the dynamic power usage of the electrical load such that the amount of power flowing to power storage device <NUM> is relatively consistent and approximately equal to the desired charging current. For instance, controller <NUM> may continuously or periodically monitor the amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> based on signals generated by current sensor <NUM>. If ILOAD increases, perhaps due to a display of mobile device <NUM> being used or additional computations being performed by processing circuitry <NUM> during charging, IPSD may begin to decrease from a desired charging current. Controller <NUM> may sense the increase in ILOAD as a decrease in IPSD. Controller <NUM> may adjust a duty cycle or other parameters of signals <NUM> to cause regulated power supply <NUM> to compensate for the change in ILOAD. As one example, as IPSD decreases (e.g., where ILOAD increases), controller <NUM> may raise the duty cycle of signals <NUM> to increase IPC and correspondingly increase IPSD. As another example, as IPSD increases (e.g., where ILOAD decreases), controller <NUM> may lower the duty cycle of signals <NUM> to decrease IPD and correspondingly degrease IPSD. Controller <NUM> may implement this control loop at any sufficient frequency. As one specific example, controller <NUM> may implement the control loop (i.e., adjust operation of regulated power converter <NUM> based on IPSD) at <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an example of a system <NUM> that includes a mobile device <NUM> and a power adapter <NUM> in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, system <NUM> may be considered to be an example of system <NUM> of <FIG> and/or system <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, mobile device <NUM> may include processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, power storage device <NUM>, wireless power module <NUM> and switch <NUM>. Processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM> and power storage device <NUM> may respectively at least perform operations similar to processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM> of <FIG>.

As also shown in <FIG>, mobile device <NUM> may include a wireless power module <NUM> and wired power interface <NUM>. Wireless power module <NUM> may be a wireless power interface such as an inductive power interface that utilizes inductive power transfer to power from or to wireless power module <NUM>. Wireless power module <NUM> may use inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, magnetodynamic coupling, microwave coupling or light wave coupling. Wireless power module <NUM> may be used to transfer power to or from an external device <NUM>. Wired power interface may be any wired connection over-which power may be transferred to or from mobile device <NUM>. Examples of wired power interface <NUM> include, but are not limited to, USB ports (e.g., micro-USB, USB C, Thunderbolt, etc.), proprietary connectors, tip and sleeve ports, and the like.

Mobile device <NUM> may couple with external device <NUM>. External device <NUM> may be connected to either wired power interface <NUM> (e.g., in place of power adapter <NUM>) or wirelessly coupled to wireless power module <NUM>. External device <NUM> may include a USB charger, for USB cable charging such as a USB cable coupled to a computer or a power brick or USB cable charging with a programable power supply, such as power adapter <NUM> through wired power interface <NUM>. External device <NUM> may be on on-the-go USB load, such as a headset, flash thumb drive, etc. or a wireless device such as a headset or a wireless charger.

In the example of <FIG>, parallel charger <NUM> may include additional components and/or functionality as compared to the example of parallel charger <NUM> in <FIG>. For instance, in the example of <FIG>, parallel charger <NUM> may be configured to operate as a bi-directional regulated power converter. As such, parallel charger <NUM> may be configured to selectively generate a first power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> using power sourced from an external power source (e.g., sourced from power adapter <NUM> through wired power interface <NUM>) and/or generate a second power signal to provide power to an external device <NUM> that is coupled to mobile device <NUM> (e.g., using electrical energy sourced from power storage device <NUM>).

Parallel charger <NUM> may include components configured to direct the flow of electrical energy between parallel charger <NUM> and external components. For instance, parallel charger <NUM> may include power switch structure <NUM>. As shown in the example of <FIG>, power switch structure <NUM> may include two back-to-back load switches <NUM> and back-to-back load switches <NUM>. Load switches <NUM> and <NUM> may act as a multiplexer enabling power signals generated by regulated power converter <NUM> to be selectively routed to various destinations (e.g., power storage device <NUM> and external devices <NUM> through wireless power module <NUM> or through wired power interface <NUM>) and enabling regulated power converter <NUM> to generate said power signals using electrical energy received from various sources (e.g., power adapter <NUM> and external devices <NUM>). As one example, load switches <NUM> may enable regulated power converter <NUM> to selectively source electrical energy from power adapter <NUM> through wired power interface <NUM>. As another example, load switches <NUM> may enable regulated power converter <NUM> to selectively source electrical energy from, or provide electrical energy to, external devices <NUM>. Examples of load switches <NUM> and <NUM> include transistors (such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET)), vacuum tubes, logic gates, or network switches. While illustrated as each including two switches, in some examples, each of load switches <NUM> and <NUM> may include a single switch.

It may be desirable for mobile device <NUM> to operate in a wide variety of charging scenarios, including both scenarios where mobile device <NUM> is receiving power from an external source (e.g., from power adapter <NUM> through wired power interface <NUM>), where mobile device <NUM> is providing power to an external device, and where mobile device <NUM> is simultaneously receiving power from an external source and providing power to an external device. Power transfer in such scenarios may occur over a variety of connection types, including both wireless (e.g., inductive wireless charging including wireless charging using the Qi standard) and wired links (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), including USB power delivery (USB-PD)). Both main charger <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM> may be capable of bidirectional power transfer. As discussed below, mobile device <NUM> may allocate operation to main charger <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM> to most efficiently handle each charging scenario.

As shown in <FIG>, switch <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> may enable selective connection of main charger <NUM> to wireless power module <NUM>. Main charger <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM> may handle charging external devices <NUM>, such as cable charging, USB OTG/headset, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging and charging power storage device <NUM> as well in co-existence use cases. Main charger <NUM> may also charge external devices through switch <NUM> or parallel charger <NUM> may charge external devices <NUM> through load switches <NUM> of power switch structure <NUM>. In one example, main charger <NUM> may handle standard cable charging and wireless charging of power storage device <NUM>, while parallel charger <NUM> may handle fast cable charging of power storage device <NUM> and powering external devices (e.g., USB OTG/headset or reverse wireless charging) through power switch structure <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, there are three load switches (<NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>) to multiplex all internal and external charging and use cases.

Table <NUM> shows a listing of possible charging scenarios and corresponding operations of main charger <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM>. In the discussion below, the acronyms USB CHG represents using a main charger for USB cable charging such as a USB cable coupled to a computer or a power brick. Parallel CHG represents using parallel charger <NUM> for USB cable charging with a programable power supply, such as power adapter <NUM>. OTG represents on-the-go USB load, such as a headset, flash thumb drive, etc. WLC Rx represents a wireless receiver for normal wireless charging. WTx represents a wireless transmitter for reverse wireless charging.

In scenario <NUM> where a USB charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM> and power storage device <NUM> is a "dead battery" (e.g., < ~<NUM>. 6V), parallel charger <NUM> is used to charge power storage device <NUM> through USB charging, such as wired power interface <NUM>. No charging of external device(s) <NUM> occurs due to the low power storage device voltage.

In scenario <NUM> where a USB charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM>, and the user desires to use reverse wireless charging, then main charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM> may be used for the reverse wireless charging through wireless power module <NUM>.

In scenario <NUM> where a wireless charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM>, then main charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> through wireless power module <NUM> and switch <NUM>.

In scenario <NUM> where a wireless charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM> as well as a USB on-the-go (OTG) external device, main charger <NUM> may charge wirelessly through wireless power module <NUM> and switch <NUM> while parallel charger <NUM> powers the OTG device through switch <NUM>.

In scenario <NUM>-<NUM>, where a USB OTG device is coupled to the mobile device <NUM>, then parallel charger <NUM> may power the OTG device. However, main charger <NUM> may alternate with parallel charger <NUM> to power the OTG device as shown in scenario <NUM>-<NUM>.

In scenario <NUM>-<NUM>, where reverse wireless charger device is coupled to the mobile device <NUM>, then main charger <NUM> may power the reverse wireless charger. However, parallel charger <NUM> may alternate with main charger <NUM> to power the reverse wireless charger as shown in scenario <NUM>-<NUM>.

In scenario <NUM>-<NUM>, where reverse wireless charger device and an USB OTG device is coupled to the mobile device <NUM>, then main charger <NUM> may power the reverse wireless charger and parallel charger <NUM> may power the OTG device. However, parallel charger <NUM> may alternate with main charger <NUM> to power the reverse wireless charger and main charger to power the USB OTG device as shown in scenario <NUM>-<NUM>.

Scenario <NUM> displays a scenario where no devices are coupled including power adapter <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example operation of a parallel charger circuit providing electrical charge for one or more power storage devices in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, the operations shown in <FIG> are described in the context of mobile device <NUM> of <FIG>. However, other mobile devices may perform the operations of <FIG>.

During a first time period, main charger <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> may generate a first power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> using electrical energy received from a power source <NUM> (<NUM>). For instance, where a USB charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM>, and the user desires to use reverse wireless charge, then main charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> and parallel charger <NUM> may be used for the reverse wireless charging through wireless power module <NUM>, main charger <NUM> may generate a power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> using electrical energy received from power adapter <NUM> via wired power interface <NUM>.

During a second time period (e.g., that is different than and non-overlapping with the first time period), it may be desirable for parallel charger <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> to generate the power signal to charge power storage device <NUM>. For instance, where a USB charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM> and power storage device <NUM> is a "dead battery", parallel charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> through USB charging, such as wired power interface <NUM>, it may be desirable for parallel charger <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> to generate a second power signal to charge power storage device <NUM>. To generate the second power signal, parallel charger <NUM> may determine a charging current at which to charge power storage device <NUM> (<NUM>). For instance, controller <NUM> of parallel charger <NUM> may determine a desired value for IPSD. As one example, controller <NUM> may determine the charging current based on a capacity of power storage device <NUM>, such as a 1C charge rate as discussed above. In some examples, the charging current determined by controller <NUM> may be the same as the charging current provided by main charger <NUM> during the first time period. In some examples, the charging current determined by controller <NUM> may be different than the charging current provided by main charger <NUM> during the first time period.

Parallel charger <NUM> may determine a total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> that includes current sourced by parallel charger <NUM> less current sinked by an electrical load (<NUM>). For instance, controller <NUM> may determine the amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> based on a signal received from current sensor <NUM> that represents a total amount of current flowing to power storage device <NUM> (e.g., IPSD).

Parallel charger <NUM> may generate, during the second time period that is non-overlapping with the first time period, a second power signal to charge power storage device <NUM> at the determined charging current using electrical energy received from power source <NUM> and based on the determined total amount of current (<NUM>). For instance, controller <NUM> may adjust a duty cycle of one or more switches of regulated power converter <NUM> of parallel charger <NUM> to increase or decrease IPC in order to bring IPSD closer to the determined charging current.

During a third time period (e.g., that is different than and non-overlapping with the second time period), it may be desirable for parallel charger <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> to generate a power signal to be provided to an external device (e.g., external device <NUM> of <FIG>). For instance, where a wireless charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM> as well as a USB on-the-go (OTG) external device, main charger <NUM> may charge wirelessly through wireless power module <NUM> and switch <NUM> while parallel charger <NUM> powers the OTG device through switch <NUM>, it may be desirable for parallel charger <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> to generate a third power signal to be output to external device <NUM> (e.g., OTG device). As such, parallel charger <NUM> may generate, during the third period of time that is non-overlapping with the second period of time a third power signal to power an external device that is coupled to the device using electrical energy sourced from power storage device <NUM> (<NUM>).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a schematic representation of an example of a mobile device and power adapter in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, system <NUM> may be considered to be an example of system <NUM> of <FIG> and/or system <NUM> of <FIG> and/or system <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, mobile device <NUM> may include processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, power storage device <NUM>, wireless power module <NUM>, and switch <NUM>. Processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM> and power storage device <NUM> may respectively at least perform operations similar to processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM> of <FIG> and processing circuitry <NUM>, main charger <NUM>, parallel charger <NUM>, current sensor <NUM>, and power storage device <NUM> of <FIG>. Mobile device <NUM> may couple with external device <NUM>.

In mobile devices over voltage protection (OVP) may be useful, especially in the USB path, such as during charging. As such, some mobile devices may include an OVP protection component, such as an OVP switch, in the USB path. The inclusion of such an OVP switch may present one of more disadvantages such as increased part count and board space usage. In accordance with one or more techniques of this disclosure, power flow through mobile device <NUM> may be configured such that a switch of load switches <NUM>/<NUM> may provide OVP protection. As such, mobile device <NUM> may include OVP protection without having to include an additional OVP protection component. As shown in <FIG>, switch <NUM> of load switches <NUM> may provide the OVP functionality.

In the example of <FIG>, the entire flow of power, for power received through wired power interface <NUM>, between power adapter <NUM> and mobile device <NUM> now passes through parallel charger <NUM>. Current passing from power adapter <NUM> through wired power interface <NUM> passes through OVP switch <NUM>. In an example situation similar to scenario three above, where a wireless charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM>, then main charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> through wireless power module <NUM> and switch <NUM>. In an example situation like scenario <NUM> above, where a USB charger is coupled to mobile device <NUM>, and the user desires to use reverse wireless charging for external device <NUM>, then main charger <NUM> may be used to charge power storage device <NUM> by routing power from wired power interface <NUM>, through OVP switch <NUM> to main charger <NUM> and then to power storage device <NUM>. Parallel charger <NUM> may be used for the reverse wireless charge through load switches <NUM> to wireless power module <NUM> and then wirelessly to external device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A device comprising:
a power storage device (<NUM>);
an electrical load (<NUM>);
a first circuit (<NUM>) configured to generate, during a first time period and using electrical energy received from a power source (<NUM>) external to the device, a first power signal to charge the power storage device (<NUM>); and
characterised in that the device further comprises:
a second circuit (<NUM>) configured to:
determine a charging current at which to charge the power storage device (<NUM>);
determine a total amount of current flowing to the power storage device (<NUM>) that includes current sourced by the second circuit less current sinked by the electrical load (<NUM>); and
generate, during a second time period that is non-overlapping with the first time period, using electrical energy received from the power source (<NUM>) and based on the determined total amount of current, a second power signal to charge the power storage device (<NUM>) at the determined charging current.