Patent ID: 7425815

Claim:
A method of charging a battery using a plurality types of power sources, comprising: providing a first current from a first type of power source to the battery via a path extending from a selection module to the battery responsive to the selection module coupling the first type of power source to the battery; providing a second current from a second type of power source to the battery via the same path extending from the selection module to the battery responsive to the selection module coupling the second type of power source to the battery; determining whether a power source coupled to the path is of the first type or of the second type; generating a periodic control signal including a plurality of periods, wherein each period includes a first duration during which the control signal is in a first state and a second duration during which the control signal is in a second state; turning a switch on and off in accordance with the periodic control signal, the switch being turned on during the first duration to couple the power source to the battery and being turned off during the second duration to decouple the power source from the battery; sensing a temperature of an apparatus powered by the battery; responsive to the sensed temperature being in a first temperature state, decreasing the first duration relative to the second duration; and responsive to the sensed temperature being in a second temperature state, increasing the first duration relative to the second duration.