Electronic device for checking battery abnormality and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10298045-B2
Application number	US-201715643171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2017
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A method of controlling an electronic device is provided which includes electrically connecting a battery with an external power source using a first switch such that a first portion of a first current supplied from the external power source is supplied to a system circuit of the electronic device and a second portion of the first current is supplied to the battery, determining whether a specified condition is satisfied, electrically disconnecting the battery from the external power source using the first switch and electrically connecting the battery with a resistor using a second switch, if the specified condition is satisfied, verifying an electrical characteristic of a current applied to the resistor while the battery is electrically disconnected from the external power source and is electrically connected with the resistor, and determining whether an operation of the battery is abnormal, based at least on a part of the electrical characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a power interface configured to receive a first current from an external power source;
a battery capable of being charged using the first current;
a system circuit configured to operate using the first current or a second current supplied from the battery;
a resistor capable of being selectively connected to the battery;
a first switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect the battery to or from the external power source;
a second switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect the battery to or from the resistor; and
a power management circuit configured to control an operation of the first switch and the second switch,
wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
electrically connect the battery with the external power source using the first switch such that a first portion of the first current supplied from the external power source is supplied to the system circuit and a second portion of the first current is supplied to the battery;
if a specified condition is satisfied, electrically disconnect the battery from the external power source using the first switch and electrically connect the battery with the resistor using the second switch;
verify an electrical characteristic of a current applied to the resistor while the battery is electrically disconnected from the external power source and is electrically connected with the resistor; and
determine whether an operation of the battery is abnormal, based at least on a part of the electrical characteristic.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
determine whether the specified condition is satisfied, based at least on a part of a result of comparing a first amount of the first current supplied from the external power source during a specified time period with a second amount of a current used by the system circuit during the specified time period.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
determine that the specified condition is satisfied, if the first amount is not less than a specified multiple of the second amount.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
increase the first current supplied from the external power source, if the specified condition is not satisfied.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
determine whether the specified condition is satisfied, for each specified period;
use a first specified condition as at least a part of the specified condition at a first time point corresponding to the specified period; and
use a second specified condition as at least a part of the specified condition at a second time point corresponding to the specified period.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
determine whether the specified condition is satisfied, for each specified period or for each period that is adjusted from the specified period based at least on a part of a usage status of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a processor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
adjust the specified period and set the specified period.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
measure a time required for a battery voltage to vary by a specified variation from a point in time when the battery is electrically connected with the resistor; and
determine whether the operation of the battery is abnormal, if the measured time is less than a specified time.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
electrically connect the battery with the resistor after the battery is electrically disconnected from the external power source and a specified time elapses.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
electrically connect the battery with the external power source using the first switch and electrically disconnect the battery from the resistor using the second switch, after determining whether the operation of the battery is abnormal.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect the battery to or from the system circuit,
wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
electrically connect the battery with the system circuit using the third switch, if the specified condition is satisfied.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a diode connected in series with the third switch,
wherein, when the battery is electrically connected with the system circuit using the third switch, the diode passes a current flowing from the battery to the system circuit and blocks a current flowing from the system circuit to the battery.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the power management circuit is further configured to:
as at least a part of the verifying of the electrical characteristic,
determine whether the external power source is electrically disconnected from the system circuit, based on an amount of the first current if the determined result indicates that the external power source is disconnected from the system circuit,
electrically disconnect the battery from the resistor using the second switch, electrically connect the battery with the external power source using the first switch, and
disconnect the battery from the system circuit using the third switch.

14. A method of controlling an electronic device by at least one processor, the method comprising:
electrically connecting a battery with an external power source using a first switch such that a first portion of a first current supplied from the external power source is supplied to a system circuit of the electronic device and a second portion of the first current is supplied to the battery;
electrically disconnecting the battery from the external power source using the first switch and electrically connecting the battery with a resistor using a second switch, if a specified condition is satisfied;
verifying an electrical characteristic of a current applied to the resistor while the battery is electrically disconnected from the external power source and is electrically connected with the resistor; and
determining whether an operation of the battery is abnormal, based at least on a part of the electrical characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
comparing a first amount of the first current, which is supplied from the external power source during a specified time period, with a second amount of a current used by the system circuit during the specified time period; and
determining whether the specified condition is satisfied, based at least on a part of a comparison result of the first amount with the second amount.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
increasing the first current supplied from the external power source, if the specified condition is not satisfied.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining whether the specified condition is satisfied, for each specified period or for each period that is adjusted from the specified period based at least on a part of a usage status of the electronic device.

18. The meth

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jung Hoon
• Do Joo Hoan
• Song Min Woo
• Moon Sung Won
• Lee Hyun Seok
• Jung Eui Chan
• Kim Moo Young
• Na Hyo Seok
• Lee Ji Woo

Classifications

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/63

  against overdischarge · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title