Patent Description:
Currently, most electronic devices charge a battery by acquiring direct current from a power adapter through a communication interface thereof. However, in the related art, in order to reduce charging time during charging the battery, the charging current may be enhanced by the power adapter to realize an aim of performing a quick charging on the battery. However, when charging the battery either in a conventional constant voltage mode or with increased charging current, if a charging current and/or charging voltage of the battery is too high during the charging, the battery will be damaged due to overvoltage and/or overcurrent charging. Therefore, in the related art, an overcurrent protection and/or an overvoltage protection cannot be realized for the battery when the power adapter performs a conventional charging or quick charging on the battery in the electronic device.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a power adapter, so as to solve a problem in the related art that an overcurrent protection and/or an overvoltage protection cannot be realized for a battery when the power adapter performs a conventional charging or quick charging on the battery in the electronic device.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the power adapter including the power module, the main control module, the potential adjusting module, the current detection module, the voltage detection module and the output switch module is provided for the electronic device. The main control module determines whether the output current of the power adapter is greater than the current threshold, and determines whether the output voltage of the power adapter is greater than the voltage threshold. If the output current is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage is greater than the voltage threshold, the main control module controls the output switch module to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter. In addition, if the electronic device determines that an overcurrent and/or overvoltage occurs in the output of the power adapter, and feeds back the charging stop instruction to the main control module, the main control module controls the output switch module to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter according to the charging stop instruction, such that the overcurrent and/or overvoltage protection is realized for the battery.

To make objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings in embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that, the specific embodiments described herein are merely used for explanation, but not used to limit the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a power adapter provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. For illustration purposes, only parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.

The power adapter <NUM> provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a communication interface <NUM>, the power adapter <NUM> charges a battery <NUM> in an electronic device <NUM> and performs a data communication with the electronic device <NUM> through the communication interface <NUM>.

The power adapter <NUM> includes an EMI filtering circuit <NUM>, a high-voltage rectifying and filtering circuit <NUM>, an isolation transformer <NUM>, an output filtering circuit <NUM> and a voltage tracking and controlling circuit <NUM>. After an electromagnetic interference filtering is performed on the electric supply by the EMI filtering circuit <NUM>, the high-voltage rectifying and filtering circuit <NUM> performs a rectifying and filtering process and outputs a high-voltage direct current, which is outputted to the output filtering circuit <NUM> after the electrical isolation in the isolation transformer <NUM>, for being filtered and used to charge the battery <NUM>. The voltage tracking and controlling circuit <NUM> adjusts an output voltage of the isolation transformer <NUM> according to an output voltage of the output filtering circuit <NUM>.

The power adapter <NUM> further includes: a power module <NUM>, a main control module <NUM>, a potential adjusting module <NUM>, a current detection module <NUM>, a voltage detection module <NUM> and an output switch module <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, an input end of the power module <NUM> is connected with a secondary end of the isolation transformer <NUM>. A power end of the main control module <NUM>, a power end of the potential adjusting module <NUM> and a power end of the current detection module <NUM> are collectively connected with an output end of the power module <NUM>. Both a high-level end of the main control module <NUM> and a high-level end of the potential adjusting module <NUM> are connected with a positive output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM>. The high-level end of the main control module <NUM> is connected with the positive output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM> via a second end of the twentieth resistor R20 (i.e., a direct current output end of the current detection module <NUM>). A potential adjusting end of the potential adjusting module <NUM> is connected with the voltage tracking and controlling circuit <NUM>. A direct current input end of the current detection module <NUM> is connected with the positive output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM>. A current feedback end of the current detection module <NUM> is connected with a current detecting end of the main control module <NUM>. A clock output end of the main control module <NUM> is connected with a clock input end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. A data output end of the main control module <NUM> is connected with a data input end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. A first detecting end and a second detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM> are connected with the direct current output end of the current detection module <NUM> and a negative output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM> respectively. A first output end and a second output end of the voltage detection module <NUM> are connected with a first voltage detecting end and a second voltage detecting end of the main control module <NUM> respectively. An input end of the output switch module <NUM> is connected with the direct current output end of the current detection module <NUM>; and an output end of the output switch module <NUM> is connected with a third detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A ground end of the output switch module <NUM> is connected with the negative output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM>. A controlled end of the output switch module <NUM> is connected with a switching control end of the main control module <NUM>. A power end of the output switch module <NUM> is connected with the secondary end of the isolation transformer <NUM>. Each of the negative output end of the output filtering circuit <NUM>, the output end of the output switch module <NUM> and a first communication end and a second communication end of the main control module <NUM> is connected with the communication interface <NUM> of the power adapter <NUM>.

The power module <NUM> obtains power supply from the isolation transformer <NUM> and provides the power supply for the main control module <NUM>, the potential adjusting module <NUM> and the current detection module <NUM>; when a quick charging is performed on the battery <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>, the potential adjusting module <NUM> drives the voltage tracking and controlling circuit <NUM> to adjust an output voltage of the isolation transformer <NUM> according to a control signal sent by the main control module <NUM>; the current detection module <NUM> detects an output current of the power adapter <NUM> and feeds back a current detecting signal to the main control module <NUM>, and the voltage detection module <NUM> detects an output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> and feeds back a voltage detecting signal to the main control module <NUM>; the output switch module <NUM> turns on or off a direct current output of the power adapter <NUM> according to a switching control signal sent by the main control module <NUM>.

When a conventional charging or a quick charging is performed on the battery <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>, the main control module <NUM> determines whether the output current of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than a current threshold according to the current detecting signal, and determines whether the output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than a voltage threshold according to the voltage detecting signal; if the output current of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the voltage threshold, the main control module <NUM> controls the output switch module <NUM> to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM>.

During the data communication between the main control module <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>, if the electronic device <NUM> determines that the output current of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the voltage threshold, and feeds back a charging stop instruction to the main control module <NUM>, the main control module <NUM> controls the output switch module <NUM> to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM> according to the charging stop instruction.

In at least one embodiment, the data communication between the main control module <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> is performed during the charging. During this process, either in the conventional charging mode or in the quick charging mode, the main control module <NUM> would send the output current and output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> determines according to the output current and output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> whether an overcurrent and/or overvoltage occur during the charging. The determine process is the same as the process in which the main control module <NUM> determines the output current and output voltage of the power adapter <NUM>, such that the electronic device <NUM> may feedback a charging stop instruction for informing the main control module <NUM> of turning off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM> when the electronic device <NUM> determines that an overcurrent and/or overvoltage occurs in the output of the power adapter <NUM>. Moreover, the electronic device <NUM> may close its communication interface actively when determining that an overcurrent and/or overvoltage occurs in the output of the power adapter <NUM>, so as to disconnect from the power adapter <NUM>, such that the overcurrent and/or overvoltage protection may be realized actively.

<FIG> is a schematic circuit diagram of a power adapter provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. For illustration purposes, only parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.

The power module <NUM> includes: a first capacitor C1, a voltage stabilizing chip U1, a second capacitor C2, a first inductor L1, a second inductor L2, a fist diode D1, a second diode D2, a third capacitor C3, a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2.

A collective node of a first end of the first capacitor C1, an input power pin Vin and an enable pin EN of the voltage stabilizing chip U1 is configured as the input end of the power module <NUM>. A second end of the first capacitor C1 and a ground pin GND of the voltage stabilizing chip U1 are collectively grounded. A switch pin SW of the voltage stabilizing chip U1 and a first end of the second capacitor C2 are collectively connected with a first end of the first inductor L1. An inside switch pin BOOST of the voltage stabilizing chip U1 and a second end of the second capacitor C2 are collectively connected with a cathode of the first diode D <NUM>. A feedback voltage pin FB of the voltage stabilizing chip U1 is connected with a first end of the first resistor R1 and a first end of the second resistor R2 respectively. A second end of the first inductor L1 and a cathode of the second diode D2 are collectively connected with a first end of the second inductor. A collective node formed by collectively connecting a second end of the second inductor L2, an anode of the first diode D1, a second end of the first resistor R1 and a first end of the third capacitor C3 is configured as the output end of the power module <NUM>. An anode of the second diode D2, a second end of the second resistor R2 and a second end of the third capacitor C3 are collectively grounded. After using the voltage stabilizing chip U1 as a core to perform a voltage converting process on a voltage at the secondary end of the isolation transformer <NUM>, the power module <NUM> outputs the voltage of +<NUM>. 3V for providing power supply for the main control module <NUM>, the potential adjusting module <NUM> and the current detection module <NUM>. The voltage stabilizing chip U1 may be a buck DC/DC converter with a Model No. MCP16301.

The main control module <NUM> includes: a main control chip U2, a third resistor R3, a reference voltage chip U3, a fourth resistor R4, a fifth resistor R5, a fourth capacitor C4, a sixth resistor R6, a seventh resistor R7, a first NMOS transistor Q1, an eighth resistor R8, a ninth resistor R9, a tenth resistor R10, an eleventh resistor R11, a twelfth resistor R12, a thirteenth resistor R13 and a fourteenth resistor R14.

A power pin VDD of the main control chip U2 is configured as the power end of the main control module <NUM>. A ground pin VSS of the main control chip U2 is grounded. A first input/output pin RA0 of the main control chip U2 is suspended. A first end of the third resistor R3 is connected with the power pin VDD of the main control chip U2. A second end of the third resistor R3 and a first end of the fourth resistor R4 are collectively connected with a cathode CATHODE of the reference voltage chip U3. An anode ANODE of the reference voltage chip U3 is grounded. A vacant pin NC of the reference voltage chip U3 is suspended. A second end of the fourth resistor R4 is connected with a second input/output pin RA1 of the main control chip U2. A third input/output pin RA2 of the main control chip U2 is configured as the current detecting end of the main control module <NUM>. A fourth input/output pin RA3 of the main control chip U2 is connected with a first end of the fifth resistor R5. A second end of the fifth resistor R5 and a first end of the fourth capacitor C4 are collectively connected with the power pin VDD of the main control chip U2. A second end of the fourth capacitor C4 is grounded. A fifth input/output pin RA4 of the main control chip U2 is configured as the switching control end of the main control module <NUM>. A sixth input/output pin RA5 of the main control chip U2 is connected with a first end of the sixth resistor R6. A second end of the sixth resistor R6 and a grid electrode of the first NMOS transistor Q1 are collectively connected with a first end of the seventh resistor R7. A second end of the seventh resistor R7 and a source electrode of the first NMOS transistor Q1 are collectively grounded. A drain electrode of the first NMOS transistor Q1 is connected with a first end of the eighth resistor R8. A second end of the eighth resistor R8 is configured as the high-level end of the main control module <NUM>. A seventh input/output pin RC0 and an eighth input/output pin RC1 of the main control chip U2 are configured as the clock output end and the data output end of the main control module <NUM> respectively. A ninth input/output pin RC2 and a tenth input/output pin RC3 of the main control chip U2 are configured as the first voltage detecting end and the second voltage detecting end of the main control module <NUM> respectively. An eleventh input/output pin RC4 and a twelfth input/output pin RC5 of the main control chip U2 are connected with a first end of the ninth resistor R9 and a first end of the tenth resistor R10 respectively. A first end of the eleventh resistor R11 and a first end of the twelfth resistor R12 are connected with a second end of the ninth resistor R9 and a second end of the tenth resistor R10 respectively. A second end of the eleventh resistor R11 and a second end of the twelfth resistor R12 are collectively grounded. A first end of the thirteenth resistor R13 and a first end of the fourteenth resistor R14 are connected with the second end of the ninth resistor R9 and the second end of the tenth resistor R10 respectively. A second end of the thirteenth resistor R13 and a second end of the fourteenth resistor R14 are collectively connected with the power pin VDD of the main control chip U2. The second end of the ninth resistor R9 and the second end of the tenth resistor R10 are configured as the first communication end and the second communication end of the main control module <NUM> respectively. The main control chip U2 may be a single chip microcomputer with a Model No. PIC12LF1822, PIC12F1822, PIC16LF1823 or PIC16F1823, and the reference voltage chip U3 may be a voltage reference device with a Model No. LM4040.

The potential adjusting module <NUM> includes: a fifteenth resistor R15, a sixteenth resistor R16, a digital potentiometer U4, a seventeenth resistor R17, an eighteenth resistor R18, a fifth capacitor C5, a sixth capacitor C6 and a nineteenth resistor R19.

A collective node of a first end of the fifteenth resistor R15, a first end of the sixteenth resistor R16, a power pin VDD of the digital potentiometer U4 and a first end of the fifth capacitor C5 is configured as the power end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. A second end of the fifth capacitor C5, a first end of the sixth capacitor C6, a ground pin VSS of the digital potentiometer U4 and a first end of the seventeenth resistor R17 are collectively grounded. A second end of the sixth capacitor C6 is connected with the power pin VDD of the digital potentiometer U4. A collective node between a second end of the fifteenth resistor R15 and a serial data pin SDA of the digital potentiometer U4 is configured as the data input end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. A collective node between a second end of the sixteenth resistor R16 and a clock input pin SCL of the digital potentiometer U4 is configured as the clock input end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. An address zero pin A0 of the digital potentiometer U4 is grounded. A first potential wiring pin P0A of the digital potentiometer U4 and a first end of the eighteenth resistor R18 are collectively connected with a second end of the seventeenth resistor R17. A second end of the eighteenth resistor R18 and a second potential wiring pin P0B of the digital potentiometer U4 are collectively connected with a first end of the nineteenth resistor R19. A second end of the nineteenth resistor R19 is configured as the high-level end of potential adjusting module <NUM>. A potential tap pin P0W of the digital potentiometer U4 is configured as the potential adjusting end of the potential adjusting module <NUM>. The digital potentiometer U4 adjusts an internal sliding variable resistor according to the clock signal and the data signal outputted by the main control chip U2, such that the potential at the tap end of the internal sliding variable resistor (i.e., the potential tap pin P0W of the digital potentiometer U4) is changed, and then the voltage tracking and controlling circuit <NUM> adjusts the output voltage of the isolation transformer <NUM> by following the potential changes. The digital potentiometer U4 may be a digital potentiometer with a Model No. MCP45X1.

The current detection module <NUM> includes : a twentieth resistor R20, a twenty-first resistor R21, a twenty-second resistor R22, a seventh capacitor C7, an eighth capacitor C8, a current detection chip U5, a twenty-third resistor R23, a ninth capacitor C9, a tenth capacitor C10 and a twenty-fourth resistor R24.

A first end and a second end of the twentieth resistor R20 are configured as the direct current input end and the direct current output end of the current detection module <NUM> respectively. A first end of the twenty-first resistor R21 and a first end of the twenty-second resistor R22 are connected with a first end and a second end of the twentieth resistor R20 respectively. A second end of the twenty-first resistor R21 and a first end of the seventh capacitor C7 are collectively connected with a positive input pin IN+ of the current detection chip U5. A second end of the twenty-second resistor R22 and a first end of the eighth capacitor C8 are collectively connected with a negative input pin IN- of the current detection chip U5. A collective node between a power pin V+ of the current detection chip U5 and a first end of the ninth capacitor C9 is configured as the power end of the current detection module <NUM>. A vacant pin NC of the current detection chip U5 is suspended. An output pin OUT of the current detection chip U5 is connected with a first end of the twenty-third resistor R23. A second end of the twenty-third resistor R23 is configured as the current feedback end of the current detection module <NUM>. A first end of the tenth capacitor C10 and a first end of the twenty-fourth resistor R24 are collectively connected with the second end of the twenty-third resistor R23. A second end of the seventh capacitor C7, a second end of the eighth capacitor C8, a second end of the ninth capacitor C9, a second end of the tenth capacitor C10, a second end of the twenty-fourth resistor R24, a ground pin GND, a first reference voltage pin REF <NUM> and a second reference voltage pin REF2 of the current detection chip U5 are collectively grounded. The twentieth resistor <NUM> used as a current detecting resistor samples the output current of the output filtering circuit <NUM> (i.e., the output current of the power adapter <NUM>), and then the current detecting signal is outputted to the main control chip U2 by the current detection chip U5 according to the voltage between two ends of the twentieth resistor <NUM>. The current detection chip U5 may be a current shunt monitor with a Model No. INA286.

The voltage detection module <NUM> includes: a twenty-fifth resistor R25, a twenty-sixth resistor R26, an eleventh capacitor C11, a twelfth capacitor C12, a twenty-seventh resistor R27 and a twenty-eighth resistor R28.

A first end of the twenty-fifth resistor R25 is configured as the first detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A collective node of a second end of the twenty-fifth resistor R25, a first end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26 and a first end of the eleventh capacitor C11 is configured as a second output end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A second end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26 is configured as a second detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A second end of the eleventh capacitor C11, a first end of the twelfth capacitor C12 and a first end of the twenty-seventh resistor R27 are collectively connected with the second end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26. A collective node of a second end of the twelfth capacitor C12, a second end of the twenty-seventh resistor R27 and a first end of the twenty-eighth resistor R28 is configured as the first output end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. The second end of the twenty-eighth resistor R28 is configured as the third detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>.

The output switch module <NUM> includes: a twenty-ninth resistor R29, a thirtieth resistor R30, a thirteen capacitor C13, a thirty-first resistor R31, a first NPN type transistor N1, a thirty-second resistor R32, a second NPN type transistor N2, a third diode D3, a voltage stabilizing diode ZD, a thirty-third resistor R33, a thirty-fourth resistor R34, a thirty-fifth resistor R35, a second NMOS transistor Q2 and a third NMOS transistor Q3.

A first end of the twenty-ninth resistor R29 is configured as the controlled end of the output switch module <NUM>. A second end of the twenty-ninth resistor R29 and a first end of the thirtieth resistor R30 are collectively connected with a base of the first NPN type transistor N1. A first end of the thirteenth capacitor C13, a first end of the thirty-first resistor R31 and a first end of the thirty-second resistor R32 are collectively connected with a cathode of the third diode D3. An anode of the third diode D3 is configured as the power supply end of the output switch module <NUM>. A second end of the thirty-first resistor R31 and a base of the second NPN type transistor N2 are collectively connected with a collector of the first NPN type transistor N1. The second end of the thirty-second resistor R32, a cathode of the voltage stabilizing diode ZD and a first end of the thirty-third resistor R33 are collectively connected with a collector of the second NPN type transistor N2. A second end of the thirtieth resistor R30, a second end of the thirteenth capacitor C13, an emitter of the first NPN type transistor N1, an emitter of the second NPN type transistor N2 and an anode of the voltage stabilizing diode ZD are collectively grounded. A second end of the thirty-third resistor R33, a first end of the thirty-fourth resistor R34, a first end of the thirty-fifth resistor R35, a grid electrode of the second NMOS transistor Q2 and a grid electrode of the third NMOS transistor Q3 are collectively connected. A second end of the thirty-fourth resistor R34 is configured as the ground end of the output switch module <NUM>. A drain electrode of the second NMOS transistor Q2 is configured as the input end of the output switch module <NUM>. A source electrode of the second NMOS transistor Q2 and a second end of the thirty-fifth resistor R35 are collectively connected with a source electrode of the third NMOS transistor Q3. A drain electrode of the third NMOS transistor Q3 is configured as the output end of the output switch module <NUM>. The second NMOS transistor Q2 and the third NMOS transistor Q3 are switched on or off simultaneously so as to turn on or off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM>.

Based on the above-mentioned power adapter <NUM>, embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes a battery <NUM> and is further provided with the above-mentioned power adapter <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, the power adapter <NUM> including the power module <NUM>, the main control module <NUM>, the potential adjusting module <NUM>, the current detection module <NUM>, the voltage detection module <NUM> and the output switch module <NUM> is provided for the electronic device <NUM>. The main control module <NUM> determines whether the output current of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the current threshold, and determines whether the output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the voltage threshold. If the output current of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage of the power adapter <NUM> is greater than the voltage threshold, the main control module <NUM> controls the output switch module <NUM> to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM>. In addition, if the electronic device <NUM> determines that an overcurrent and/or overvoltage occurs in the output of the power adapter <NUM>, and feeds back the charging stop instruction to the main control module <NUM>, the main control module <NUM> controls the output switch module <NUM> to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter <NUM> according to the charging stop instruction, such that the overcurrent and/or overvoltage protection is realized for the battery <NUM>.

The forgoing description is only directed to preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but not used to limit the present disclosure. resistor R25, a first end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26 and a first end of the eleventh capacitor C11 is configured as a second output end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A second end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26 is configured as a second detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. A second end of the eleventh capacitor C11, a first end of the twelfth capacitor C12 and a first end of the twenty-seventh resistor R27 are collectively connected with the second end of the twenty-sixth resistor R26. A collective node of a second end of the twelfth capacitor C12, a second end of the twenty-seventh resistor R27 and a first end of the twenty-eighth resistor R28 is configured as the first output end of the voltage detection module <NUM>. The second end of the twenty-eighth resistor R28 is configured as the third detecting end of the voltage detection module <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A power adapter (<NUM>), comprising a communication interface (<NUM>) through which the power adapter (<NUM>) charges a battery (<NUM>) in an electronic device (<NUM>) and performs a data communication with the electronic device (<NUM>), wherein, the power adapter (<NUM>) comprises a main control module (<NUM>) and an output switch module (<NUM>); wherein,
characterized in that,
the main control module (<NUM>) is configured to:
when a conventional charging or a quick charging is performed on the battery (<NUM>) in the electronic device (<NUM>), determine whether an output current of the power adapter (<NUM>) is greater than a current threshold and determine whether an output voltage of the power adapter (<NUM>) is greater than a voltage threshold; and
when the output current of the power adapter (<NUM>) is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage of the power adapter (<NUM>) is greater than the voltage threshold, control the output switch module (<NUM>) to turn off a direct current output of the power adapter (<NUM>).