In a bridge communication device that receives information for statuses of a battery from a monitoring device that monitors the statuses, an upstream communication port can transmit the information to an upstream bridge communication device; a downstream communication port can transmit the information to a downstream bridge communication device; a master communication module can transmit the information to a controller if the master communication module is enabled to communicate with the controller; and a slave communication module can operate in an upstream mode or a downstream mode if the master communication module is not enabled to communicate with the controller. In the upstream mode, the slave communication module transmits the information to the controller through the upstream communication port and the upstream bridge communication device. In the downstream mode, the slave communication module transmits the information to the controller through the downstream communication port and the downstream bridge communication device.
G01R 31/371 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
G01R 31/382 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
A power management system includes a first switching regulator, a second switching regulator, and a power delivery (PD) controller. The first switching regulator is configured to convert a first input power generated by a power source circuit to a first output power provided to a first connector, and generate a synchronization signal. The second switching regulator is configured to convert a second input power generated by the power source circuit to a second output power provided to a second connector, and synchronize its operating state with an operating state of the first switching regulator according to the synchronization signal. The PD controller is configured to control the first switching regulator to adjust the first output power according to a first negotiation signal provided by the first connector, and control the second switching regulator to adjust the second output power according to a second negotiation signal provided by the second connector.
H02M 3/158 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
In a battery monitoring device, a power management unit manages the power supplied to the battery monitoring device. A monitoring circuit monitors a status of a corresponding battery and measures power consumption of the power management unit. A communication interface receives a first command and a second command from a host through an adjacent monitoring device, and transmits, to the host through the adjacent monitoring device, information for the status of the corresponding battery in response to the first command and information for the measured power consumption in response to the second command. The communication interface also receives a third command, through the adjacent monitoring device, that is generated by the host based on the information for the measured power consumption and information for power consumption of the adjacent monitoring device. A balance module adjusts the power consumption of the power management unit according to the third command.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED string and a second LED string includes a power input terminal operable for receiving electric power from a boost converter, a power output terminal operable for providing electric power to the light source module through a buck converter, a first input terminal operable for receiving a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a second input terminal operable for receiving a second PWM signal, and a width monitoring terminal operable for receiving a width monitoring signal indicating a duration of a first state of the first PWM signal and a duration of a first state of the second PWM signal. The controller is operable for turning off the light source module if the width monitoring signal is greater than a width threshold signal.
H05B 45/34 - Voltage stabilisationMaintaining constant voltage
H05B 45/345 - Current stabilisationMaintaining constant current
H05B 45/375 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using buck topology
H05B 45/38 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using boost topology
H05B 45/52 - Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDsCircuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to LED lifeProtective circuits in a parallel array of LEDs
In a battery monitoring circuit, a bypath circuit includes a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell and a second terminal coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell. A resistive component includes a third terminal coupled to the second terminal of the bypath circuit, and includes a fourth terminal coupled to a reference signal source that controls the resistive component to generate a reference voltage. A controller controls turning on and off the bypath circuit and the reference signal source, monitors a status of the battery cell when the bypath circuit and the reference signal source are off, senses a test voltage between the first terminal and the fourth terminal when the bypath circuit and the reference signal source are on, and generates a status signal indicative of an operating status of the battery monitoring circuit according to the test voltage.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED array and a second LED array includes a first driving terminal and a second driving terminal. The controller is operable for turning on a switch between a power converter and the first LED array by the first driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the first LED array in a first sequence of discrete time slots, and for turning on a second switch between the power converter and the second LED array by the second driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the second LED array in a second sequence of discrete time slots, where the first sequence of discrete time slots and the second sequence of discrete time slots are mutually exclusive.
An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
G01R 31/3835 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC involving only voltage measurements
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H03K 5/24 - Circuits having more than one input and one output for comparing pulses or pulse trains with each other according to input signal characteristics, e.g. slope, integral the characteristic being amplitude
In a status detection system, a data acquisition circuit monitors statuses of a battery to generate status data. A storage medium stores a set of lookup tables. A lookup table of the lookup tables includes a set of datasets corresponding to a set of time frames. Each dataset includes digital values of parameters of the battery obtained in a corresponding time frame of the time frames. A controller receives the status data and updates the lookup tables based on the status data. The controller also obtains a current dataset of the parameters based on the status data, searches the lookup table for a previous dataset that matches the current dataset, compares a current value of a parameter in the current dataset with a previous value of the parameter in the previous dataset, and determines whether a potential fault is present in the battery based on a result of the comparison.
G01R 31/367 - Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
G01R 31/374 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
G01R 31/3842 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC combining voltage and current measurements
A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.
In a portable device, a first battery has a positive terminal coupled to, through a first switch, an interface used to receive input power, and a negative terminal coupled to a reference terminal. A second battery has a positive terminal coupled to the interface, and a negative terminal coupled to the reference terminal through a second switch, and to the first battery's positive terminal through a third switch. A control circuitry controls the switches such that the device has multiple operation modes including at least a one-battery charging mode and a two-battery-in-series charging mode. In the one-battery charging mode, the circuitry turns off the third switch, and controls the other switches such that one battery is charged by the input power. In the two-battery-in-series charging mode, the control circuitry turns on the third switch and turns off the other switches, such that two batteries are charged by the input power.
An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
G01R 31/3835 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC involving only voltage measurements
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H03K 5/24 - Circuits having more than one input and one output for comparing pulses or pulse trains with each other according to input signal characteristics, e.g. slope, integral the characteristic being amplitude
12.
Controller and method for detecting battery cell voltage
A controller for detecting voltages of battery cells in a battery pack includes converters coupled to the battery cells and switching units. An anode of each battery cell is coupled to a respective converter through a respective first path, and a cathode of each battery cell is coupled to the respective converter through a respective second path. The switching units are coupled between the battery cells and the converters. The converters are coupled to anodes of the battery cells through the switching units. When a switching unit corresponding to a battery cell is turned on, an anode of the battery cell provides an operating current and a sampling current through a respective first path to a respective converter, and the operating current flows from the anode of the battery cell through the respective converter to ground.
In a portable device, a load module includes a discharge switch for discharging a battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects a protection signal to control the discharge switch. A charge module includes a charge switch for charging the battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects the protection signal to control the charge switch. The battery pack includes a protection terminal that provides the protection signal, and protection circuitry that sets the protection signal to a state according to the battery pack's status. The protection signal turns the charge switch on and the discharge switch off if the protection signal is in a first state, turns the charge switch off and the discharge switch on if it's in a second state, turns the charge and discharge switches off if it's in a third state, and turns the charge and discharge switches on if it's in a fourth state.
A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.
In a status detection system, a data acquisition circuit monitors statuses of a battery to generate status data. A storage medium stores a set of lookup tables. A lookup table of the lookup tables includes a set of datasets corresponding to a set of time frames. Each dataset includes digital values of parameters of the battery obtained in a corresponding time frame of the time frames. A controller receives the status data and updates the lookup tables based on the status data. The controller also obtains a current dataset of the parameters based on the status data, searches the lookup table for a previous dataset that matches the current dataset, compares a current value of a parameter in the current dataset with a previous value of the parameter in the previous dataset, and determines whether a potential fault is present in the battery based on a result of the comparison.
G01R 31/367 - Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
G01R 31/374 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
G01R 31/3842 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC combining voltage and current measurements
16.
Open cell detection method and open cell recovery detection method in a battery management system
An open cell detection method includes: (a) generating a control signal by a control unit, to turn on a first balance switch for a first time period; (b) generating the control signal with the control unit, to turn off the first balance switch for a second time period; (c) measuring a voltage value on a first capacitor, with a measure unit; (d) if the voltage value on the first capacitor is less than an open cell threshold, then determining with the control unit that the first cell has an open cell failure; (e) for each cell of the cells, repeating steps (a)-(d); and (f) if at least one cell of the cells has an open cell failure, then determining with the control unit that the battery management system has an open cell failure.
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
17.
Battery management controllers capable of determining estimate of state of charge
In a battery management controller, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry converts analog signals, indicative of a battery voltage, a battery current, and a battery temperature, to digital signals. A memory stores a remaining-capacity lookup table that includes multiple groups of data. Each group of data includes a voltage, a current, a temperature, and a parameter associated with a remaining capacity corresponding to the voltage, the current and the temperature. A processor searches the lookup table for a current parameter value and an end-of-discharge parameter value based on the digital signals, and determines a full available charge capacity of the battery based on the current parameter value and the end-of-discharge parameter value. The processor also counts the number of charges flowing through the battery based on a battery current. The processor further determines an available state of charge of the battery according to the full available charge capacity and the number of charges.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED array and a second LED array includes a first driving terminal and a second driving terminal. The controller is operable for turning on a switch between a power converter and the first LED array by the first driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the first LED array in a first sequence of discrete time slots, and for turning on a second switch between the power converter and the second LED array by the second driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the second LED array in a second sequence of discrete time slots, where the first sequence of discrete time slots and the second sequence of discrete time slots are mutually exclusive.
A method for detecting whether a battery management system is abnormal includes: calculating a value of a theoretical time constant corresponding to a first cell; determining a preset range of the theoretical time constant; controlling a first switch to turn off for a first time period, turn on for a second time period, turn off for a third time period; measuring a voltage on a first capacitor at end of first time period, to produce a measured voltage of first cell; measuring voltages on first capacitor at least at one time point in third time period, to produce measured capacitance voltages; determining a value of a measured time constant according to at least one of measured capacitance voltages and the measured voltage of first cell; and determining the battery management system is abnormal, if the value of the measured time constant exceeds the preset range of the theoretical time constant.
G01R 1/36 - Overload-protection arrangements or circuits for electric measuring instruments
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
G01R 31/385 - Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A light source driving circuit includes a rectifier operable for rectifying an AC voltage from a TRIAC dimmer and providing a rectified voltage, a power converter coupled to the rectifier and operable for receiving the rectified voltage and providing an output current, a dimmer controller operable for controlling the power converter based on the rectified voltage to adjust the output current, and a light source module coupled to the power converter and powered by the output current. The light source module includes a first light source having a first color, a second light source having a second color, and a current allocation unit coupled to the first light source and the second light source. The current allocation unit is operable for adjusting a current through the first light source and a current through the second light source based on the output current.
A system for driving a light source includes a power converter and control circuitry coupled to the power converter. The power converter converts input power to an output voltage to power the light source. The control circuitry senses the output voltage and senses current of the light source. The control circuitry generates a control signal based on a voltage feedback signal indicative of a combination of said output voltage and said current of said light source, and controls the power converter by the control signal to adjust the output voltage.
A flyback converter includes a transformer and a controller. The transformer is configured to receive an input voltage from a power source. The controller is coupled to the transformer via a switch, and is configured to receive a first signal indicating a first voltage, generate a second signal indicating a second voltage according to a first current flowing through the transformer, and generate a control signal to control the switch according to a comparison result of the first signal and the second signal, where the second voltage varies inversely to variations in the input voltage.
H02M 1/08 - Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
H02M 3/325 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
23.
A FLYBACK CONVERTER AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FLYBACK CONVERTER
A flyback converter includes a transformer and a controller. The transformer is configured to receive an input voltage from a power source. The controller is coupled to the transformer via a switch, and is configured to receive a first signal indicating a first voltage, generate a second signal indicating a second voltage according to a first current flowing through the transformer, and generate a control signal to control the switch according to a comparison result of the first signal and the second signal, where the second voltage varies inversely to variations in the input voltage.
H02M 1/08 - Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
24.
Method and apparatus for wirelessly receiving power
Method and apparatus for a receiving device to wirelessly receive electric power from a transmitting device. A power capacity is configured at the receiving device, based on a default power capacity known by both the receiving device and the transmitting device. A first value of a dependent parameter is read. The dependent parameter is associated with the electric power and varies in accordance with an independent parameter adjustable by the transmitting device. A second value of the dependent parameter is then read. A maximum power capacity of the transmitting device is identified based on at least the first and second values and a predetermined threshold. The electric power is then received from the transmitting device.
H02J 7/02 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
A laterally-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor includes a first well of a first conductivity type, a source of a second conductivity type formed in the first well, a drift region of the second conductivity type formed in the first well, and a second well of the second conductivity type formed in the first well and below the drift region. The drift region is separated from the source. The LDMOS transistor further includes a drain of the second conductivity type formed in the drift region, and includes a concentrator of the second conductivity type formed in the drift region and separated from the drain. A distance between the concentrator and the source is less than a distance between the drain and the source.
A controller for a DC/DC converter includes multiple signal generators and a control circuit. The signal generators generate multiple pulse signals, each signal generator generating a corresponding pulse signal of the pulse signals and controlling the corresponding pulse signal to have a predetermined pulse width by counting a same preset number of cycles of a same oscillating signal. The control circuit selectively activates the signal generators according to an output of the DC/DC converter to generate the pulse signals.
G05F 1/577 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices for plural loads
G05F 1/40 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is actually regulated by the final control device is AC using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices as final control devices
A signal input circuit and method and chip are disclosed. The signal input circuit includes a control signal input terminal configured for receiving a control signal; at least one common signal input terminal each configured for receiving a corresponding common signal; at least one first signal output terminal each configured for outputting a corresponding first signal; at least one first signal unit each configured for receiving said corresponding common signal and outputting said corresponding common signal as said corresponding first signal under control of said control signal; at least one second signal output terminal each configured for outputting a corresponding second signal; and at least one second signal unit each configured for receiving said corresponding common signal and outputting said corresponding common signal as said corresponding second signal under control of said control signal.
An operational amplifier with different power supply voltages includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage includes a current source for providing a bias current, and a differential input circuit for receiving the bias current and differential input voltage signals, and converting the differential input voltage signal to differential input currents. The input stage is supplied by a first power supply voltage. The output stage includes a load circuit coupled to the differential input voltage signal and for receiving the differential input currents, and outputting a single ended output voltage signal. The output stage is supplied by a second power supply voltage. The second power supply voltage is lower than the first power supply voltage.
A controller for a battery management system includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and communication circuitry. The first terminal receives power from a battery in the battery management system. The second terminal receives a clock signal. The communication circuitry coupled to the first and second terminals detects the clock signal, and generates a first switching signal according to a result of detecting the clock signal to control the battery management system to switch from operating in a ship mode to operating in a non-ship mode according to the first switching signal. The detecting and generating are performed with the battery management system in the ship mode. The battery management system disables controlling of charging and discharging of the battery in the ship mode, and the battery management system enables controlling of charging and discharging of the battery in the non-ship mode.
A flexible dual mode battery charger that charges a battery in two different modes, depending on the difference between the adapter voltage and the battery voltage, with a smooth transition between these two modes and the charging current remains relatively constant during the transition is provided in this application. At a lower battery level, the dual mode battery charger charges the battery as a LDO charger and when battery voltage is very close to the adapter voltage, the charger migrates its operating mode from the LDO mode to the boost mode and charges the battery as a boost charger. This flexible battery charger uses one common control circuit for controlling the operations of the LDO charger and the boost charger. The switching operation from one operation mode to other operation mode is smooth.
In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.
A battery management chip may include a battery management unit and a vertical bus circuit. The battery management unit can monitor a cell status of multiple cells in a battery module coupled to the battery management chip in response to an instruction from a host processor. The vertical bus circuit may transfer the instruction from the host processor to the battery management unit. The vertical bus circuit may include a first receiver, a command processor and a first transmitter. The first receiver can receive a first pair of differential input data signals. The command processor can process the first pair of differential input data signals. The first transmitter can output a first pair of differential output data signals.
A system may include multiple chips and a host processor. The host processor can be coupled to the multiple chips and send an enumerate command. The multiple chips can propagate an enumerate packet including the enumerate command from chip-to-chip, and each chip can use information in the enumerate packet to determine its own unique address.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computerOutput arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
G06F 15/177 - Initialisation or configuration control
34.
Individual cell voltage detection circuit for charge and discharge control in a battery pack
A battery management system for a battery pack comprises a battery module and a controller. The controller comprises a voltage detection and control circuit, wherein the controller comprises a voltage to current converter. A cell voltage is converted to current and produces a voltage detected at an input to one or more logic devices. The level of voltage detected is dependent upon the current output of the voltage to current converter and a threshold current. The output of the one or more logic devices is received by a controller, and the controller is operable to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell based on the logic device output.
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes an input channel for receiving the analog signal, and includes a first and second sampling-integrating units. The first sampling-integrating unit receives the analog signal, samples the analog signal, integrates a superposition of a first feedback signal and a sampled signal of the analog signal, and generates a first output signal. The second sampling-integrating unit receives the first output signal, samples the first output signal, integrates a superposition of a second feedback signal and a sampled signal of the first output signal, and generates a second output signal. The ADC includes a feedback circuit for generating the digital signal according to the second output signal and for providing the first and second feedback signals indicative of the digital signal to the first and second sampling-integrating units respectively.
A driving circuit for powering a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a converter circuit, an energy storage element and a switch element. The converter circuit provides a first output voltage on a first power line to provide power to the LED light source and provides a second output voltage on a second power line that is less than the first output voltage. The energy storage element is charged and discharged to regulate a current through the LED light source. The switch element operates in a first state during which the energy storage element is charged and operates in a second state during which the energy storage element is discharged. The converter circuit provides the second output voltage to maintain an operating voltage across the switch element less than the first output voltage during both the first state and the second state.
In a signal monitoring system, a circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. In addition, a processor coupled to the circuit is operable for calculating a parameter indicative of an error factor of the circuit by setting a level difference between an input signal at the input terminal and an output signal at the output terminal to a predetermined level.
A signal monitoring system includes a conversion circuit and a controller coupled to the conversion circuit. The conversion circuit converts a reference input to a reference output based on a real-time level of a trim reference and converts a monitored signal to an output signal. The controller calibrates the output signal according to the reference output and according to a predefined reference. The predefined reference is determined by the reference input and by a pre-trimmed level of the trim reference.
A battery monitoring system includes a first module and a second module coupled to the first module. The first module shifts a reference signal to a first shifted signal. The second module shifts the reference signal to a second shifted signal and shifts the first shifted signal to a third shifted signal. The second module also monitors a set of cells through the first module and provides an output signal indicative of a status of the set of cells. The second and third shifted signals are usable for calibrating the output signal.
A battery management system for a battery pack that includes multiple battery cells is disclosed. The battery management system includes a detector coupled to the battery cells, multiple temperature sensors coupled to the battery cells, a current sensor coupled to the battery cells in series, and a processor coupled to the current sensor. The detector generates first monitoring signals corresponding to cell voltages across the battery cells. The temperature sensors generate second monitoring signals corresponding to temperatures of the battery cells. The current sensor generates third monitoring signals corresponding to currents of the battery cells. The processor determines whether an undesired condition is present according to the first, second, and third monitoring signals.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
41.
Battery management system with signal transmission function
A battery management system can include a battery having a plurality of cells, a plurality of devices coupled to the battery, and a control unit coupled to a first device of the devices. The devices can assess the statuses of the cells. The control unit can communicate with a destination device of the devices via a default path and can communicate with the destination device via a backup path if an undesirable condition occurs in the default path.
According to one aspect there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first device. The first device may include a first serial input port configured to receive serial data from at least one of a host MCU and a second device; a first serial output port configured to output the serial data to a third device when the third device is coupled to the first device; a first shift register configured to receive the serial data from the first serial input port; a first multiplexer configured to selectively couple the first serial output port to the first shift register or the first serial input port; and a bus controller configured to receive the serial data from the first serial input port, the bus controller further configured to control the first multiplexer to couple the first serial output port to the first serial input port or the first shift register, based at least in part on the serial data, wherein the serial data includes a command section of a command and at least a portion of a payload section of the command, wherein the command section includes a command code, a target address and an error check and the payload section includes at least one new address and at least one corresponding error check.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computerOutput arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
A driving circuit for powering a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources includes a power converter and a plurality of current balance controllers. The power converter receives an input voltage and provides a regulated voltage to the LED light sources. The current balance controllers coupled to the power converter control a plurality of currents through the LED light sources respectively. The current balance controllers receive a first reference signal indicative of a target average level and a second reference signal indicative of a maximum transient level, and regulate an average current of each of the currents to the target average level and a transient level of each of the currents within the maximum transient level.
A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery is disclosed. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.
In a signal monitoring system, a circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. In addition, a processor coupled to the circuit is operable for calculating a parameter indicative of an error factor of the circuit by setting a level difference between an input signal at the input terminal and an output signal at the output terminal to a predetermined level.
H03K 5/22 - Circuits having more than one input and one output for comparing pulses or pulse trains with each other according to input signal characteristics, e.g. slope, integral
A battery management system for a battery pack comprising multiple battery modules is disclosed. Each of the battery modules includes multiple battery cells. The battery management system includes multiple first balancing units, multiple first controllers, a second balancing unit including multiple second balancing circuits, and a second controller coupled to the battery modules and the second balancing circuits. The first controllers are operable for controlling the first balancing units to adjust voltages of battery cells in the battery module if an unbalance occurs between the battery cells. The second controller is operable for controlling said second balancing circuits to adjust voltages of said battery modules if an unbalance occurs between battery modules.
The present invention provides a control system which is used for a stacked battery of a plurality of battery packs. Each battery pack has a plurality of battery cells coupled in series. The control system is capable of reconfiguring communication among the battery packs in the stacked battery, and comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit. The processors are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent processors among the processors are able to communicate with each other though a first bus. The controllers are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent controllers among the controllers are able to communicate with each other through a second bus. The processors are capable of communicating with the controllers through a third bus. The monitoring unit is used for monitoring communications among the plurality of processors and communications among the plurality of controllers. The monitoring unit is capable of detecting communication problems on the first bus and/or the second bus. The monitoring unit further is capable of reconfiguring communication paths among the plurality of processors and communication path among the plurality of controllers.
A circuit for detecting a phase imbalance of signals includes a conversion block and a comparator coupled to the conversion block. The conversion block generates generating a direct current (DC) signal based on a first signal and a second signal. The level of the DC signal is determined by a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The comparator compares the DC signal to a reference signal and generates an alert signal if a difference between the DC signal and the reference signal is greater than a predetermined threshold.
A database for a set of orientation-matched road (OMR) sections is searched according to a calculated orientation of an object and orientations of road sections stored in the database. The OMR sections are searched for a position-matched road (PMR) set according to a calculated position of the object and positions of the OMR sections. The PMR set includes one or more PMR sections. The object is located using the PMR set.
In a power converter, a primary winding receives an input power. In addition, multiple secondary windings transform the input power into multiple charging currents to charge a set of cells via a set of paths. The multiple secondary windings further balance the set of cells based on the charging currents. A ratio between a first turn number of a first secondary winding of the secondary windings and a second turn number of a second secondary winding of the secondary windings is determined by a nominal voltage ratio between two corresponding cells of the set of cells.
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H02M 1/10 - Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from AC or DC
G05F 1/33 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is actually regulated by the final control device is AC using magnetic devices having a controllable degree of saturation as final control devices with plural windings through which current to be controlled is conducted
A circuit for detecting an input voltage includes a voltage-to-current converter and a current comparator. The voltage-to-current converter is operable for generating a monitoring current that varies in accordance with the input voltage. The current comparator coupled to the voltage-to-current converter is operable for comparing the monitoring current to a threshold current proportional to the temperature of the circuit, and for generating a detection signal indicating a condition of the input voltage based on a result of the comparison.
H03K 5/153 - Arrangements in which a pulse is delivered at the instant when a predetermined characteristic of an input signal is present or at a fixed time interval after this instant
A battery management system for a battery pack comprising multiple battery modules is disclosed. Each of the battery modules includes multiple battery cells. The battery management system includes multiple first balancing units, multiple first controllers, a second balancing unit including multiple second balancing circuits, and a second controller coupled to the battery modules and the second balancing circuits. The first controllers are operable for controlling the first balancing units to adjust voltages of battery cells in the battery module if an unbalance occurs between the battery cells. The second controller is operable for controlling said second balancing circuits to adjust voltages of said battery modules if an unbalance occurs between battery modules.
A circuit for controlling a current flowing through a battery includes a driver and a filter coupled to the driver. The driver can generate a pulse signal in a first operating mode and generate a first signal in a second operating mode to control the current through the battery. The filter can filter the pulse signal to provide a filtered DC signal to adjust an on-resistance of a switch in series with the battery based on a duty cycle of the pulse signal in the first operating mode. The filter can receive the first signal and provide a second signal to drive the switch in a linear region in the second operating mode.
A circuit for driving a light source, e.g., an LED light source, includes a converter, a sensor, and a controller. The converter converts an input voltage to an output voltage across the LED light source based upon a driving signal. A duty cycle of the driving signal determines an average current flowing through the LED light source. The sensor is selectively coupled to and decoupled from the converter based upon the driving signal. The sensor generates a sense voltage indicative of a current flowing through the LED light source when the sensor is coupled to the converter. The controller is coupled to the converter and sensor. The controller compares the sense voltage to a reference voltage indicative of a predetermined average current through the LED light source to generate a compensation signal and generates the driving signal based upon the compensation signal. The duty cycle of the driving signal is adjusted based upon the compensation signal to adjust the average current flowing through the LED light source to the predetermined average current.
A circuit used to measure cell voltages in a battery pack can include a cell voltage level shifter, a sense block, and a compensation current generator. The cell voltage level shifter selects a cell and shifts the terminal voltages of the selected cell from a first voltage level to a second voltage level. The sense block monitors the current consumed by the level shifter, and generates a signal indicative of the consumed current. The compensation current generator generates compensation currents to compensate the current consumed by the level shifter. Therefore, unbalance of the cell capacities caused by the current consumed by the level shifter can be reduced or eliminated, and thus the overall capacity of the battery pack can be improved.
The present invention provides a battery circuit including a first battery cell with a first parameter having a first value and a second battery cell with a second parameter having a second value. The second battery cell is coupled to the first battery cell in series. The battery circuit further includes a magnetic device operable for storing energy transferred from the first battery cell via a first winding coupled to the first battery cell and for releasing the stored energy to the second battery cell via a second winding coupled to the second battery cell if the first value of the first parameter is greater than the second value of the second parameter.
An apparatus includes battery gauge circuitry implemented on an integrated circuit. The battery gauge circuitry includes a plurality of switches that individually open in response to a voltage reduction on a battery cell associated with a respective one of the switches. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a logic device that determines if at least one of the switches is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a register that stores data that indicates if at least one switch is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a controller that initiates halting power delivery to a load if at least one of the switches is open. The controller also identifies the open switch.
An apparatus includes battery gauge circuitry implemented on an integrated circuit. The battery gauge circuitry includes a plurality of switches that individually open in response to a voltage reduction on a battery cell associated with a respective one of the switches. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a logic device that determines if at least one of the switches is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a register that stores data that indicates if at least one switch is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a controller that initiates halting power delivery to a load if at least one of the switches is open. The controller also identifies the open switch.
A signal processor for processing multiple satellite signals is disclosed. The signal processor includes multiple acquisition channels operable for capturing tracking information from a first plurality of satellite signals synchronously according to multiple correlations between multiple reference coarse acquisition (C/A) codes and the first plurality of satellite signals. The signal processor further includes multiple code generators coupled to the acquisition channels and operable for generating the reference C/A codes to the acquisition channels.
A vertical bus circuit includes multiple devices for transmitting signals between the bus devices. The multiple devices share multiple common voltage levels. Each of the devices includes a bus block and two input/output (I/O) devices powered by a first voltage level and a second voltage level of the common voltage levels, respectively. The bus block enables signal transmission between the two I/O devices, and the common voltage levels enable the signal transmission between the devices.
A signal processing system for demodulating navigation bits from a satellite signal is disclosed herein. The signal processing system includes a digital baseband processor for determining a boundary between two navigation bits in the navigation bits according to a first plurality of coarse acquisition (C/A) codes captured from the satellite signals, storing the first plurality of C/A codes, and demodulating a second plurality of C/A codes captured after determining the boundary to recover a first series of the navigation bits. The signal processing system further includes a complementary demodulating unit coupled to the digital baseband processor for demodulating the first plurality of C/A codes to recover a second series of the navigation bits.
A navigation system for detecting error on Doppler frequencies of a plurality of satellite signals measured by the navigation system is disclosed herein. The navigation system includes an offset calculator for calculating offsets of the Doppler frequencies of the satellite signals during a predetermined time period and calculating an average value of the offsets. The navigation system further includes an error detecting unit coupled to the offset calculator. The error detecting unit compares the offsets of the Doppler frequencies of the satellite signals with the average value of the offsets and determines whether the satellite signals are unavailable according to corresponding comparison results.
A fuse circuit includes a fuse having an intact state and a blown state. The fuse can be switched to the blown state by enabling a blowing current to flow through the fuse. The fuse is coupled between a first transistor and a second transistor in series. The first transistor and the second transistor are complementary transistors and operable for reducing an electrostatic discharge current flowing through the fuse. The first transistor and the second transistor are turned on to enable the blowing current to flow through the fuse.
H01H 37/76 - Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material
H01H 85/00 - Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
Circuits and methods for battery charging are disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery charging circuit comprises an AC to DC converter, a charging control switch, and a charger controller. The AC to DC converter provides a charging power to a battery pack. The charging control switch is coupled between the AC to DC converter and the battery pack. The charging control switch transfers the charging power to the battery pack. The charger controller detects a battery status of the battery pack and controls the charging control switch to charge the battery pack in a continuous charging mode or a pulse charging mode according to the battery status. The charger controller also controls the AC to DC converter to regulate the charging power according to the battery status.
H02J 7/04 - Regulation of the charging current or voltage
H02J 7/16 - Regulation of the charging current or voltage by variation of field
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
A temperature detection circuit includes a sensor, an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and a resistor. The sensor is operable for sensing a temperature. The IC chip can compare a sense voltage indicative of the temperature with a threshold voltage indicative of a temperature threshold to determine a temperature condition. The IC chip has a substantially constant parameter. The resistor is externally coupled to the IC chip. The IC chip maintains a current ratio, including a ratio of a first current flowing through the sensor to a second current flowing through the resistor, equal to the substantially constant parameter.
G01K 7/01 - Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat using semiconducting elements having PN junctions
66.
Multi-channel converter with self-diagnosis functionality
An apparatus includes a plurality of channels, a converter, a control block and a counter. The channels can be used to measure a first plurality of signals. The converter can be used to convert the first plurality of signals into a second plurality of signals. The control block can be used to control the channels and the converter and to determine if any of the channels and the converter experience an abnormal condition. The counter can be used to count the number of times the channels and the converter experience an abnormal condition.
A cell balancing circuit for balancing battery cells includes a transformer and a switching controller. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The switching controller can select a first cell coupled to the primary winding and select a second cell coupled to the secondary winding. The first cell and the second cell are coupled in series. The first cell has a cell voltage that is greater than the second cell. The cell balancing circuit further includes a controller coupled to the primary winding. The controller controls energy from the first cell to the primary winding so as to transfer the energy from the first cell to the second cell to balance the battery cells.
A voltage detection circuit can include a status sensing network and a comparing network. The status sensing network can simultaneously detect a cell voltage for each battery cell of a plurality of battery cells. The comparing network can simultaneously compare the detected cell voltages with a predetermined voltage threshold by comparing the maximum of the cell voltages with a first (high-voltage) threshold, and by comparing the minimum of the cell voltages with a second (low-voltage) threshold. The comparing network can also generate an indication signal when a cell voltage does not satisfy the respective voltage threshold.
G01N 27/27 - Association of two or more measuring systems or cells, each measuring a different parameter, where the measurement results may be either used independently, the systems or cells being physically associated, or combined to produce a value for a further parameter
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A system for cell balancing comprises battery modules and a controller. Each of the battery modules comprises battery cells, balance circuits and a battery management module. The battery management module in each of the battery modules is coupled to the battery cells and for acquiring cell voltages of battery cells. The balance circuits are coupled to the battery cells and for performing balance operation on the battery cells under control of the battery management module. The controller is coupled to the battery modules and for generating a reference signal based on the cell voltages provided by each of the battery modules. The battery management module in each of the battery modules can control the balance circuits to balance the battery cells according to the reference signal, thereby achieving cell balance among the battery modules.
A protection circuit includes a detection block, a timer and a protection enable block. The detection block is used to compare a monitoring signal with a reference signal and generate an alert signal if a difference between the monitoring signal and the reference signal exceeds a threshold for a first predetermined duration. The timer coupled to the detection block is used to generate an enabling signal for a second predetermined duration in response to the alert signal. The protection enable block coupled to the timer is used to generate a triggering signal for a first time duration determined by the second predetermined duration in response to the enabling signal so as to perform a protection function.
A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.
A battery management system can include a battery having a plurality of cells, a plurality of devices coupled to the battery, and a control unit coupled to a first device of the devices. The devices can assess the statuses of the cells. The control unit can communicate with a destination device of the devices via a default path and can communicate with the destination device via a backup path if an undesirable condition occurs in the default path.
A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.
A battery management system with synchronized data sampling for a battery pack including multiple battery cells is disclosed. The battery management system includes a plurality of local monitors coupled to a plurality of battery cells and operable for sampling status information for the battery cells. The battery management system further includes a central controller coupled to the local monitors and operable for broadcasting a sample command to the local monitor synchronously, wherein the local monitors start to sample the status information for the battery cells in response to the sample command.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
G08B 21/00 - Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
G05B 21/02 - Systems involving sampling of the variable controlled electric
A power conversion circuit includes a solar panel and a power converter. The solar panel is operable for providing electric power having an output voltage. The power converter coupled to the solar panel is capable of selectively operating in a charging mode and a powering mode. The power converter transfers the electric power from the solar panel to a power source and maintains the output voltage at a threshold voltage in the charging mode. The power converter delivers power from the power source to a load in the powering mode.
A satellite navigation receiver having multiple operation states includes a processing unit and a power management interface. The processing unit is operable for locating the satellite navigation receiver based on multiple satellite signals and operable for setting multiple time durations of the operation states respectively based on a velocity of the satellite navigation receiver. The power management interface coupled to the processing unit is operable for switching the satellite navigation receiver among the operation states according to the time durations.
A power system includes a current regulator coupled to a load and for generating an output current having a substantially constant ripple magnitude, and for adjusting the output current according to a sense signal indicative of the output current. In addition, the power system includes a filter element coupled in parallel with the load and for passing an AC (alternating-current) portion of the output current. Furthermore, the power system includes a current sensor coupled between ground and the parallel-coupled filtering element and load, and for providing the sense signal indicative of the output current.
G05F 1/00 - Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
A current sensing circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a sense amplifier. The first resistor converts a current flowing through the first resistor to a voltage drop between positive and negative sides of the first resistor. The second resistor is coupled to the negative side of the first resistor. The sense amplifier is coupled to the positive side of the first resistor via a first pin of the sense amplifier, and coupled to the negative side of the first resistor through the second resistor via a second pin of the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier employs a negative feedback to generate a sensing current proportional to the current flowing through the first resistor.
G05F 1/40 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is actually regulated by the final control device is AC using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices as final control devices
G05F 1/569 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor for protection
79.
Battery charging systems with controllable charging currents
A charging path includes a charging switch for transferring a charging current from an input terminal to an output terminal. The charging path further includes a first enable terminal coupled to the charging switch. The first enable terminal receives a first enable signal to control the charging switch to operate in either a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode, based on a status of the output terminal. More specifically, in the first mode, the charging switch is fully turned off. In the second mode, an equivalent resistance of the charging switch is determined by a control terminal of the charging switch. In the third mode, the charging switch is turned off.
An amplifier that receives an input signal and outputs an amplified output signal includes an integration stage, a comparison stage, and a full bridge circuit. The integration stage is be used for receiving a constant common mode voltage, for receiving a first signal representing the input signal of the amplifier, and for generating a ramp signal. The comparison stage coupled to the integration stage is used for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to the ramp signal and according to a hysteretic signal. The full bridge circuit coupled to the comparison stage is used for receiving a power supply and the pulse width modulation signal, and for generating the output of the amplifier.
A global positioning system (GPS) system includes a clock module for providing multiple counter values at multiple time points. The GPS system also includes a system module coupled to the clock module. The system module is capable of obtaining a time value for each time point according to a set of signals from a signal source. The system module is further capable of calculating a set of parameters based on the counter values and the time value for each time point, and determining an estimated time value based on the parameters and a present counter value from the clock module.
A circuit for charging and/or discharging a battery includes a switch coupled to a battery in series, and a driving transistor coupled to the switch and operable for sensing a voltage of the battery. The driving transistor is turned on if the voltage of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold. A driving current flowing through the driving transistor determines an on-resistance of the switch.
A global positioning system and dead reckoning (GPS&DR) integrated navigation system includes a GPS receiver coupled to a moving object for periodically generating GPS navigation information of said moving object, a DR system coupled to said moving object for periodically calculating DR navigation information of said moving object, and a filter coupled to said GPS receiver and said DR system for periodically calculating navigation information of said moving object, wherein said filter gets observation information by integrating said GPS navigation information and said DR navigation information according to a weight value of said GPS navigation information and a weight value of said DR navigation information, and calculates a current navigation information by integrating said observation information with previous navigation information from a plurality of previous cycles.
G01S 19/47 - Determining position by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
A power regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes a pass device, a reference signal circuit and an error amplifier. The pass device receives the input voltage and provides the output voltage at an output terminal of the power regulator. The reference signal circuit coupled to the output terminal is powered by the output voltage to provide a reference signal. The error amplifier coupled to the pass device is powered by the output voltage to compare the reference signal with a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The error amplifier can generate a control signal according to a result of the comparison to drive the pass device.
A GPS receiver includes a demodulator for obtaining ephemeris data and almanac data from a navigation message sent by satellites, and includes a calculator. The calculator is used for calculating almanac correction parameters according to coordinate differences between ephemeris-based coordinates of the satellites and almanac-based coordinates of the satellites. The GPS receiver also includes a satellite position calculator for calculating the ephemeris-based coordinates of the satellites according to the ephemeris data, for calculating the almanac-based coordinates of the satellites according to the almanac data, and for calculating positions of the satellites according to the ephemeris data, the almanac data and the almanac correction parameters.
G01S 19/27 - Acquisition or tracking of signals transmitted by the system creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within the receiver
86.
Systems and methods for controlling output currents of power converters
A power converter can include a high-side switch coupled to a power supply terminal and selectively coupled to ground via a conduction path. During an on state duration, the high-side switch can be enabled and the conduction path can be disabled. During an off state duration, the high-side switch can be disabled and the conduction path can be enabled. During a skip state duration, the high-side switch and the conduction path both can be disabled. A controller coupled to the high-side switch can control the on state duration and the skip state duration based on a current reference. The controller can further generate a first control signal for controlling the high-side switch and the conduction path according to the on state duration and the skip state duration, and adjust an output current of the power converter to the current reference according to the first control signal.
G05F 1/613 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in parallel with the load as final control devices
87.
Capacity detector for detecting capacity of an energy storage unit
A capacity detector for detecting capacity of an energy storage unit includes a first and a second buffers and a voltage divider. The first buffer is used for generating a first threshold reference according to a first adjustable reference which is predetermined based upon chemistry of the energy storage unit. The second buffer is used for generating a second threshold reference according to a second adjustable reference which is predetermined based upon chemistry of the energy storage unit. The voltage divider coupled to the first buffer and the second buffer is used for dividing a voltage across the first threshold reference and the second threshold reference and for generating capacity references indicating capacity percentages of the energy storage unit according to a voltage versus capacity characteristic of the energy storage unit.
H03H 1/00 - Constructional details of impedance networks whose electrical mode of operation is not specified or applicable to more than one type of network
H02J 7/04 - Regulation of the charging current or voltage
A conversion system includes a conversion circuit coupled to multiple cells for generating multiple sampling signals indicative of the cell voltages of the cells respectively. Each sampling signal is with respect to the same reference level. In addition, the conversion system includes a compensation circuit coupled to the conversion circuit for generating a compensation current that flows through at least one cell of the multiple cells via the conversion circuit for balancing the currents respectively flowing through the cells.
An analog to digital converter (ADC) converts an analog signal to a digital signal. The ADC includes an input channel, a sampling circuit coupled to the input channel, an integrator coupled to the sampling circuit, and a feedback circuit coupled to the integrator. The input channel receives the analog signal. The sampling circuit samples the analog signal. The integrator receives the sampled analog signal and a feedback signal and integrates a superposition of the sampled analog signal and the feedback signal. The feedback circuit generates the digital signal according to an output of the integrator and sends the feedback signal indicative of the digital signal to the integrator.
A transistor comprises a substrate of a first conductivity type, a drain region and a source region of a second conductivity type, a gate, a gate oxide layer, an adjustment implant region of the first conductivity type and a planar junction. The drain region and the source region are disposed in the substrate. The gate is placed over the substrate between the source region and the drain region. The gate is separated from the substrate by the gate oxide layer. The adjustment implant region is disposed under the gate oxide layer and in the substrate. A second doping concentration of the adjustment implant region is higher than a first doping concentration of the substrate. The adjustment implant region and the drain region in a predetermined shape form the planar junction with a surface curvature pointing towards the drain region to relax electrical field intensity at a location of the planar junction.
In one embodiment, a cell balancing system includes a first controller for controlling cell balancing of a first set of cells coupled in series, and a second controller for controlling cell balancing of a second set of cells coupled in series. There is at least one common cell in the first set of cells and the second set of cells.
A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery cell and an RF cell monitor. The RF cell monitor is embedded in the battery cell and is operable for monitoring the battery cell and for generating an alert signal indicative of a predetermined condition of the battery cell.
An electronic system includes a plurality of primary power sources operable for powering a load and charging a secondary power source, and a power management unit coupled to the plurality of primary power sources and the secondary power source. The power management unit is operable for selectively directing power of each of the primary power sources to the load according to a power requirement of the load. The power management unit is further operable for directing power of the secondary power source to the load if the power requirement of the load exceeds a total power capacity of the plurality of primary power sources.
An apparatus for detecting temperature includes an adjustable current source operable for supplying a current, a thermistor coupled to said adjustable current source, and an auto-range hysteresis logic coupled to said thermistor and said adjustable current source operable for outputting a signal to control said adjustable current source by sensing a voltage across said thermistor. A method for detecting temperature is also disclosed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cell balancing circuit used for balancing a cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a bypass path coupled to the cell, a current regulator coupled to the bypass path, and a bleeding control switch. The current regulator is operable for producing a current and for controlling a conductance status of the bypass path. The bleeding control switch conducts the bypass path in response to the current produced by the current regulator.
A system and method for cell balancing with smart low-voltage control circuit. The cell balancing system comprises a plurality of battery cells, an external bypass path for each cell, an internal bypass path for each cell, an input terminal receiving an enable signal for each cell, an input terminal receiving a selection signal, and a cell balancing unit for generating a configuration signal to conduct the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The enable signal is configured to enable a bypass current of each cell, and the selection signal is configured to select the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The cell balancing unit is employed to receive signals from input terminals, and generate a configuration signal to control the conductance of external bypass paths or internal bypass paths.
A DC/DC converter includes a switch, an inductor, a capacitor, a resistor, and a voltage divider. The switch is coupled to the input voltage. The inductor is used for coupling the first switch to an output node of the DC/DC converter so as to generate the output voltage at the output node. The capacitor is coupled to the output voltage. The resistor is coupled to the capacitor in series, and is coupled to ground. The voltage divider is coupled across the capacitor so as to reduce the zero frequency of the DC/DC converter.
G05F 1/575 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices characterised by the feedback circuit
G05F 1/618 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series and in parallel with the load as final control devices
A charging circuit includes a pulse generator and a controller coupled to the pulse generator. The pulse generator is used to generate a plurality of pulses to control a charging switch. The controller is used to control a pulse density of the plurality of pulses. A charging current flowing through the charging switch can be adjusted according to the pulse density.
A power management system includes a battery pack having a battery controller and includes an adapter operable for charging the battery pack and powering a system load. The adapter generates a power recognition signal indicative of a maximum adapter power and receives a control signal. The battery controller in the battery pack receives the power recognition signal and generates the control signal to adjust an output power of the adapter according to a status of the battery pack and a status of the system load.
An apparatus for detecting lock status of a spread spectrum signal, having a first accumulator, a first calculation unit, a second calculation unit, a second accumulator, a multiplier and a comparator. The first accumulator accumulates an in-phase integration result and a quadrature integration result over a time period. The first calculation unit determines a first evaluation value based on the accumulated in-phase integration result and the accumulated quadrature integration result. The second calculation unit processes the in-phase integration result and the quadrature integration result. The second accumulator accumulates the output of the second calculation unit over the time period. The multiplier determines a second evaluation value by multiplying the accumulated result from the second accumulator with a predetermined value. The comparator compares the first and second evaluation results wherein the comparison result is an indicator of the lock status.
H04B 1/00 - Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
patents
