Apparatuses and methods for over-temperature protection of energy storage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9515510-B2
Application number	US-201414212947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A charging system includes a temperature sensor to generate a temperature signal responsive to a temperature of an energy storage device. A circuit temperature sensor generates a circuit temperature signal responsive to a temperature of a semiconductor device. A charge adjuster generates a desired current signal responsive to the temperature signal and the circuit temperature signal. A comparator compares a charge-current level signal to the desired current signal to generate a charge adjustment signal. A charge controller on the semiconductor device generates and adjusts a current of a charging signal for charging the energy storage device responsive to the charge adjustment signal. The charge adjuster may generate a reduction signal when the temperature signal is above a throttle threshold, reduce a digital desired current signal responsive to the reduction signal, and convert the digital desired current signal to the desired current signal as an analog signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging system, comprising:
a temperature sensor thermally coupled with an energy storage device and configured for generating a temperature signal responsive to a temperature of the energy storage device;
a circuit temperature sensor on a semiconductor device configured for generating a circuit temperature signal responsive to a temperature of the semiconductor device;
a charge adjuster operably coupled to the temperature sensor and the circuit temperature sensor, the charge adjuster configured to:
determine when the temperature signal or the circuit temperature signal indicates an over-temperature condition;
decrement a down counter based on the determination; and
generate a desired current signal based on a value of the down counter;

a comparator configured for comparing a current level signal to the desired current signal to generate a charge adjustment signal, the current level signal indicating a level of charge current being supplied to the energy storage device; and
a charge controller on the semiconductor device and configured for generating and adjusting a current of a charging signal for charging the energy storage device responsive to the charge adjustment signal.

2. The charging system of claim 1 , wherein the charge controller comprises a pulse-width modulation controller on the semiconductor device and is configured for generating and adjusting a pulse-width of a charging signal for charging the energy storage device responsive to the charge adjustment signal.

3. The charging system of claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured for providing a predefined time delay between when the temperature signal exceeds a throttle threshold and the decrementing of the down counter.

4. The charging system of claim 3 , wherein the timer is further configured for providing the predefined time delay between when the circuit temperature signal exceeds a circuit throttle threshold and the decrementing of the down counter.

5. The charging system of claim 1 , wherein the charge adjuster further comprises:
a temperature monitor configured for generating a reduction signal when the temperature signal is above a throttle threshold;
a circuit temperature monitor configured for generating a circuit reduction signal when the circuit temperature signal is above a circuit throttle threshold;
and
a digital-to-analog converter configured for converting the value of the down counter to the desired current signal;
wherein the charge adjuster is further configured to decrement the down counter in response to the reduction signal, the circuit reduction signal, or a combination thereof.

6. The charging system of claim 5 , further comprising a timer configured for providing a predefined time delay between generation of the reduction signal and the decrementing of the down counter.

7. The charging system of claim 5 , further comprising a stop-charge module configured for:
disabling the charge controller from generating the charging signal when the temperature signal is above a maximum temperature; and
enabling the charge controller to generate the charging signal when the temperature signal is below a reset temperature.

8. The charging system of claim 7 , wherein the stop-charge module is further configured for resetting the down counter to a predetermined starting count value as part of the enabling.

9. The charging system of claim 1 , further comprising a differential amplifier configured for:
measuring the level of charge current delivered to the energy storage device; and
outputting the current level signal to the comparator.

10. A charging system, comprising:
a temperature sensor thermally coupled with an energy storage device and for generating a temperature signal responsive to a temperature of the energy storage device;
a charge adjuster coupled to the temperature sensor, the charge adjuster configured to:
determine using a temperature monitor when the temperature signal is above a throttle threshold;
generate a reduction signal when the temperature signal is above a throttle threshold;
decrement a down counter when the reduction signal is detected; and
convert, using a digital-to-analog converter, a value of the down counter to a desired current signal;

a comparator for comparing a current level signal to the desired current signal to generate a pulse-width adjustment signal, the current level signal indicating a level of charge current supplied to the energy storage device; and
a pulse-width-modulation controller for generating and adjusting a pulse-width of a charging signal for charging the energy storage device responsive to the pulse-width adjustment signal.

11. The charging system of claim 10 , further comprising a timer for providing a predefined time delay between determining when the temperature signal is above the throttle threshold and decrementing of the down counter.

12. The charging system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a circuit temperature sensor on a semiconductor device including the pulse-width-modulation controller, the circuit temperature sensor for generating a circuit temperature signal responsive to a temperature of the semiconductor device; and
wherein the charge adjuster is further configured to:
determine using a circuit temperature monitor when the circuit temperature signal is above a circuit throttle threshold;
generate a circuit reduction signal when the circuit temperature signal is above a circuit throttle threshold; and
decrement the down counter when the circuit reduction signal is detected.

13. The charging system of claim 12 , further comprising a timer for providing a predefined time delay between determining when the circuit temperature signal is above the circuit throttle threshold and the decrementing of the down counter.

14. The charging system of claim 10 , further comprising a stop-charge module for:
disabling the pulse-width-modulation controller from generating the charging signal when the temperature signal is above a maximum temperature; and
re-enabling the pulse-width-modulation controller to generate the charging signal when the temperature signal is below a reset temperature.

15. The charging system of claim 14 , wherein the stop-charge module is further configured for resetting the down counter to a predetermined starting count value as part of the enabling.

16. A method of charging an energy storage device, comprising:
sensing a temperature of the energy storage device to generate a temperature signal with a temperature sensor thermally coupled with the energy storage device;
asserting, by a temperature monitor included in a charge adjuster, a reduction signal when the temperature signal is above a throttle threshold;
decrementing, by the charge adjuster, a down counter responsive to the reduction signal;
generating, by the charge adjuster, a desired current signal based on a value of the down counter;
comparing a current level signal to the desired current signal to generate a charge adjustment signal, the current level signal indicating a level of charge current supplied to the energy storage device; and
generating a charging signal to charge the energy storage device with a current responsive to the charge adjustment signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a predefined time delay between an assertion of the reduction signal and the decrementing of the down counter.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
sensing a circuit temperature of a semiconductor device including a pulse-width-modulat

Assignees

• Integrated Device Tech

Inventors

• Newlin Trevor

Classifications

• H02J7/975 Primary

  in response to temperature · CPC title

• H02J7/0091 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic