Patent ID: 12255481

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates an example system100for charging a battery102, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, system100may include battery102, a power supply104, and a battery management system106.

Battery102may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to convert chemical energy stored within battery102to electrical energy. For example, in some embodiments, battery102may be integral to a portable electronic device and battery102may be configured to deliver electrical energy to components of such portable electronic device. Further, battery102may also be configured to recharge, in which it may convert electrical energy received by battery102into chemical energy to be stored for later conversion back into electrical energy. As an example, in some embodiments, battery102may comprise a lithium-ion battery.

Power supply104may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to supply electrical energy to battery management system106. In some embodiments, power supply104may include a direct-current (DC) power source configured to deliver electrical energy at a substantially constant voltage. Accordingly, a peak-to-average power delivered from power supply104may be approximately equal to 1. In some of such embodiments, power supply104may include an alternating current (AC)-to-DC converter/adapter, configured to convert an AC voltage (e.g., provided by an electrical socket installed in the wall of a building) into a DC voltage. In some embodiments, power supply104may be power limited in terms of a maximum amount of power that may be drawn from power supply104.

Battery management system106may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to receive electrical energy from power supply104and control delivery of such energy to battery102, such that battery102may be charged using pulsed current charging, in a manner in which a peak-to-average power delivered from battery management system106to battery102may be significantly greater than 1 (e.g., 2 or more). In some embodiments, battery management system106may comprise a battery charger, configured to deliver electrical energy to battery102in order that battery102converts the electrical energy to chemical energy that is stored in battery102. In some embodiments, battery management system106may include a wired charger configured to draw electrical energy from an electrical power outlet or from a power bank. In other embodiments, battery management system106may include a wireless charger configured to draw electrical energy via inductive coupling from a wireless charging pad or similar device.

FIG.2illustrates an example pulsed current battery management system106A (coupled to a power supply104and a battery102), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, pulsed current battery management system106A shown inFIG.2may be used to implement battery management system106ofFIG.1. As shown inFIG.2, pulsed current battery management system106A may include a first power converter202, an energy reservoir204, a second power converter206, a current controller208, a battery monitor210, and a sense resistor212.

First power converter202may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to receive electrical energy from power supply104and use such received electrical energy to charge energy reservoir204. In some embodiments, first power converter202may comprise a capacitive power converter or “charge pump.” In other embodiments, first power converter202may comprise an inductor-based power converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, or a boost converter).

AlthoughFIG.2depicts power converter202interfaced between power supply104and energy reservoir204, in some embodiments, power supply104may be coupled directly to energy reservoir204and thus configured to directly charge energy reservoir204.

In some embodiments, a bandwidth of power converter202may be designed or chosen that enables a trade-off between the peak-to-average current from power supply104and a maximum peak current/power that may be delivered to battery102.

Energy reservoir204may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to store electrical energy. For example, in some embodiments, energy reservoir204may comprise one or more capacitors. As another example, in some embodiments, energy reservoir204may comprise one or more batteries.

Second power converter206may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to, under the control of current controller208, transfer electrical energy from energy reservoir204to battery102and use such received electrical energy to charge battery102by way of an output current IOUTdelivered from second power converter206to battery102. In some embodiments, second power converter206may comprise a capacitive power converter or “charge pump.” In other embodiments, second power converter206may comprise an inductor-based power converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, or a boost converter).

Current controller208may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to, based on a sense voltage VSNSindicative of output current IOUTand a target current waveform ITGT, control second power converter206(e.g., by controlling operation of switches internal to second power converter206) in order to regulate output current IOUTin accordance with target current waveform ITGT. In some embodiments, current controller208may control output current IOUTto have a pulsed waveform such that the power transfer from power converter206to battery102has a high peak-to-average power over time. For example, in some embodiments, output current IOUTmay be a square wave with a defined peak amplitude IPEAK, defined period T, and defined duty cycle DUTY, as shown inFIG.3. However, in other embodiments, output current IOUTmay include a waveform of a different shape, including without limitation a triangular waveform, a sine wave, or any suitable combination of pulsed periodic waveforms.

Battery monitor210may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to monitor operational parameters associated with battery102(e.g., battery voltage, battery current, and battery temperature) and based on such operational parameters, estimate one or more battery conditions (e.g., battery state of charge, battery state of health, battery impedance, and internal chemical state of battery102) associated with battery102. Such estimations may be made based on an estimate of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy or a physics-based model of battery102. Further, based on the operational parameters and/or battery conditions, battery monitor210may generate a target current waveform ITGTfor charging battery102. The algorithm for generating target current waveform ITGTis beyond the scope of this disclosure, but may comprise any suitable algorithm for optimizing (including for optimizing for tradeoffs) target current waveform ITGTin terms of efficiency, charge rate, battery useful life, and/or other factors. For example, such algorithm may seek to control output current IOUTto maximize charge rate while maintaining temperature and/or other parameters/conditions of battery102within safe operational limits. Further, in some embodiments, battery monitor210may embed signals within target current waveform ITGTdesigned to assist with obtaining operational parameters and/or estimate battery conditions.

Accordingly, current controller208and battery monitor210may operate in concert to adapt output current IOUTin accordance with operational parameters and conditions of battery102. Such adaptation may attempt to minimize an effective impedance of battery102, control a temperature associated with battery102, and/or other parameters. In some embodiments, battery monitor210may perform monitoring of battery102, estimation of conditions, and/or adapt output current IOUTwhile battery102is charging and/or when battery102is under load from a load powered by battery102.

Sense resistor212may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to generate a sense voltage VSNSindicative of output current IOUT, in accordance with Ohm's law.

FIG.4illustrates an example pulsed current battery management system106B (coupled to a power supply104, a battery102, and a system load402of battery102), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, pulsed current battery management system106B shown inFIG.4may be used to implement battery management system106ofFIG.1. Pulsed current battery management system106B shown inFIG.4may be similar in many respects to pulsed current battery management system106A shown inFIG.2. Accordingly, only certain differences between pulsed current battery management system106B and pulsed current battery management system106A are discussed below.

For example, as shown inFIG.4, pulsed current battery management system106B may include a third power converter404coupled between the output of second power converter206and a system load402of battery102. System load402may represent one or more components (e.g., of a portable electronic device including battery102) configured to be powered from battery102.

Third power converter404may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to transfer electrical energy from the output of second power converter206to system load402. Further, in the architecture shown inFIG.4, third power converter404may also transfer electrical energy from battery102to system load402. In some embodiments, third power converter404may comprise a capacitive power converter or “charge pump.” In other embodiments, third power converter404may comprise an inductor-based power converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, or a boost converter).

AlthoughFIG.4depicts third power converter404coupled between the output of second power converter206and system load402of battery102, in other embodiments, third power converter404may instead be coupled between energy reservoir204and system load402of battery102, such that third power converter404is configured to transfer electrical energy from energy reservoir204to system load402. In yet other embodiments, third power converter404may instead be coupled between power supply104and system load402of battery102, such that third power converter404is configured to transfer electrical energy from power supply104to system load402.

In any event, in these architectures, current controller208may control only a current delivered to battery102, but does not control current delivered to system load402.

FIG.5illustrates an example pulsed current battery management system106C (coupled to a power supply104, a battery102, and a system load502of battery102), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, pulsed current battery management system106C shown inFIG.5may be used to implement battery management system106ofFIG.1. Pulsed current battery management system106C shown inFIG.5may be similar in many respects to pulsed current battery management system106A shown inFIG.2. Accordingly, only certain differences between pulsed current battery management system106C and pulsed current battery management system106A are discussed below.

For example, as shown inFIG.5, pulsed current battery management system106C may include a third power converter504coupled directly between battery102and a system load502of battery102. System load502may represent one or more components (e.g., of a portable electronic device including battery102) configured to be powered from battery102.

Third power converter504may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to, transfer electrical energy from the output of battery102to system load502. In addition, third power converter504may also transfer electrical energy from the output of second power converter206to system load502. In some embodiments, third power converter504may comprise a capacitive power converter or “charge pump.” In other embodiments, third power converter504may comprise an inductor-based power converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, or a boost converter).

A notable difference between pulsed current battery management system106C shown inFIG.5versus pulsed current battery management system106B shown inFIG.4is that in pulsed current battery management system106C, current controller208may control only the sum of the current delivered to battery102and the current delivered to system load502. Thus, in pulsed current battery management system106C, when an output current limit of power converter206is exceeded, battery102may also provide electrical energy to system load502, in addition to electrical energy provided by power converter206.

As used herein, when two or more elements are referred to as “coupled” to one another, such term indicates that such two or more elements are in electronic communication or mechanical communication, as applicable, whether connected indirectly or directly, with or without intervening elements.

This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Similarly, where appropriate, the appended claims encompass all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, or component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative. Accordingly, modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described above.

Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages. Additionally, other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the foregoing figures and description.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.