Charging method, apparatus and system, charger, and chargeable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190849-A1
Application number	US-201514868996-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A charging method, a charging apparatus, a charger, a chargeable device, and a charging system are provided. The charging method includes: acquiring a control current wave from a chargeable device, wherein the control current wave is a positive current pulse, a negative current pulse, or a current having a current value equal to a reference current value; if the control current wave is the positive current pulse, adjusting an output voltage of a charger to be greater than a present output voltage; if the control current wave is the negative current pulse, adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be less than the present output voltage; and if the control current is the current having the current value equal to the reference current value, maintaining the output voltage unchanged. Accordingly, an output capability of the charger is fully used, thus achieving fast charging.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A charging method, comprising:
acquiring a control current wave from a chargeable device, wherein the control current wave is a positive current pulse, a negative current pulse, or a current having a current value equal to a reference current value; if the control current wave is the positive current pulse, adjusting an output voltage of a charger to be greater than a present output voltage of the charger; if the control current wave is the negative current pulse, adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be less than the present output voltage of the charger; and if the control current is the current having the current value equal to the reference current value, maintaining the output voltage of the charger unchanged; wherein the positive current pulse refers to a pulse which has a current value greater than the reference current value and lasts at least for a first preset time length; wherein the negative current pulse refers to a pulse which has a current value less than the reference current value and lasts at least for a second preset time length; and wherein the reference current value is greater than zero.

2 . The charging method according to claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a detecting current sent from the chargeable device; and sending a feedback signal to the chargeable device when a time period of receiving the detecting current reaches a preset value, where the control current wave is acquired after the feedback signal is sent to the chargeable device.

3 . The charging method according to claim 1 , further comprising: after the output voltage of the charger is adjusted, resetting the output voltage of the charger to a default output voltage when a current value of the control current wave becomes zero.

4 . The charging method according to claim 1 , wherein adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be greater than the present output voltage of the charger comprises:
selecting, in a preset voltage adjustment table, a minimum voltage value greater than a value of the present output voltage, wherein the selected minimum voltage value serves as the value of the adjusted output voltage of the charger; and
adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be less than the present output voltage of the charger comprises: selecting, in the preset voltage adjustment table, a maximum voltage value less than the value of the present output voltage, wherein the selected maximum voltage value serves as the value of the adjusted output voltage of the charger.

5 . The charging method according to claim 1 , wherein adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be greater than the present output voltage of the charger comprises:
implementing a subtraction to the current value of the positive current wave and the reference current value, so as to obtain a first current value deviation; obtaining a first adjusted output voltage value based on the first current value deviation and a first mapping table, wherein the first mapping table represents mapping between current value deviations and adjusted output voltage values, wherein in the first mapping table, the current value deviations correspond to the present output voltage, and the adjusted output voltage values are greater than the present output voltage; and adjusting the output voltage value of the charger to be the first adjusted output voltage value; and
adjusting the output voltage of the charger to be less than the present output voltage of the charger comprises: implementing a subtraction to the current value of the negative current wave and the reference current value, so as to obtain a second current value deviation; obtaining a second adjusted output voltage value based on the second current value deviation and a second mapping table, wherein the second mapping table represents mapping between current value deviations and adjusted output voltage values, wherein in the second mapping table, the current value deviations correspond to the present output voltage, and the adjusted output voltage values are less than the present output voltage; and adjusting the output voltage value of the charger to be the second adjusted output voltage value.

6 . A charging apparatus, comprising:
an acquiring unit configured to acquire a control current wave from a chargeable device, wherein the control current wave is a positive current pulse, a negative current pulse, or a current having a current value equal to a reference current value; and an adjusting unit configured to: if the control current wave is the positive current pulse, adjust an output voltage of the charger to be greater than a present output voltage of the charger, if the control current wave is the negative current pulse, adjust the output voltage of the charger to be less than the present output voltage of the charger, and if the control current is the current having the current value equal to the reference current value maintain the output voltage of the charger unchanged; wherein the positive current pulse refers to a pulse which has a current value greater than the reference current value and lasts at least for a first preset time length; wherein the negative current pulse refers to a pulse which has a current value less than the reference current value and lasts at least for a second preset time length; and wherein the reference current value is greater than zero.

7 . The charging apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a detecting unit, wherein the detecting unit is configured to: receive a detecting current from the chargeable device; and send a feedback signal to the chargeable device when a time period of receiving the detecting current reaches a preset value.

8 . The charging apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a resetting unit, wherein the resetting unit is configured to: reset the output voltage of the charger to a default output voltage when a current value of the control current wave becomes zero.

9 . A charger, comprising: a detecting circuit, a feedback circuit, and a voltage converter;
wherein the detecting circuit comprises a comparing unit and a resistor; wherein the resistor has a first end coupled with a current input terminal of the charger, and a second end coupled with ground; wherein the comparing unit comprises at least three comparators which have different threshold values, first input terminals of the at least three comparators are input with a voltage drop of the resistor, second input terminals of the at least three comparators are respectively input with the corresponding threshold values thereof, and output terminals of the at least three comparators are coupled with the feedback circuit; wherein the feedback circuit is disposed between the detecting circuit and the voltage converter, and is configured to: convert comparison results of the at least three comparators into control signals, and send the control signal to the voltage converter; and wherein the voltage converter is coupled with the feedback circuit, and is configured to adjust an output voltage of the charger based on the control signals.

10 . The charger according to claim 9 , wherein the detecting circuit further comprises a logic controller and a switching unit;
wherein the logic controller is coupled with the output terminals of the comparators, and is configured to: receive the comparison results of the comparators, start recording time if a first number of comparators have a threshold value less than a value of the voltage drop of the resistor, where the first number of comparators is obtained based on the comparison results, and switch on the switching unit when the recorded time reaches a preset value; and whe

Assignees

• Spreadtrum Comm Shanghai Co

Inventors

• Chen Liangjin

Classifications

• H02J7/953

  in response to charge current gradient · CPC title

• H02J7/875 Primary

  Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation · CPC title

• H02J7/927 Primary

  with introduction of pulses during the charging process · CPC title

• H02J2207/20

  Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title