US-12627161-B2 - Charger integrated circuit for charging battery device and electronic device including same

Abstract

A charger integrated circuit for charging a battery device including a first battery and a second battery includes; a first charger configured to generate a first charging current from an input voltage when the input voltage is received from an input voltage terminal, and a battery switch configured to provide the first charging current to the battery device, the battery switch comprising a plurality of transistors for connecting the first battery and the second battery in series or in parallel based on the input voltage, a first both-end voltage of the first battery and a second both-end voltage of the second battery.

Inventors

• Sungwoo Lee
• MINKYU KWON
• Hyoungseok OH
• Yonghwan Cho

Assignees

• SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230117

Priority Date

20200309

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electronic device comprising: a charger configured to generate a current from an input voltage received from an input voltage terminal; and a switch configured to provide the current to a first component and a second component, the switch comprising a plurality of transistors for connecting the first and second components in series or in parallel based on the input voltage, a first both-end voltage of the first component, and a second both-end voltage of the second component, wherein the plurality of transistors comprises: a first transistor connected between a first node and a ground terminal, the first node being configured to connect a negative terminal of the first component; a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node, the second node being configured to connect a positive terminal of the second component; a third transistor connected to a third node configured to connect a positive terminal of the first component; and a fourth transistor connected between the second node and the third transistor, wherein when the input voltage has a variable voltage level, the second transistor is turned ON, and the first component and the second component are connected in series, and wherein when the input voltage has a fixed voltage level, the first transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are turned ON, and the first component and the second component are connected in parallel, and wherein at least one of the plurality of transistors performs a current control function limiting at least one of a first current applied to the first component and a second current applied to the second component.
2. 2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the switch are implemented in a single chip.
3. 3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the charger and the switch are separately implemented in different chips.
4. 4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first component includes a first battery, and the second component includes a second battery, and wherein the current is a charging current, the first current is a first battery current, and the second current is a second battery current.
5. 5 . An electronic device, comprising: a switching charger connectable to a first component and a second component and configured to generate a first current applied to the first component and the second component when activated in a first charging mode and when a travel adapter is connected to an input voltage terminal; a direct charger configured to generate a second current applied to the first component and the second component when activated in a second charging mode different from the first charging mode and when the travel adapter is connected to the input voltage terminal; and a switch including a first transistor connected between a first node and a ground terminal, the first node being configured to connect a negative terminal of the first component, a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node, the second node being configured to connect a positive terminal of the second component, a third transistor connected to a third node configured to connect a positive terminal of the first component, and a fourth transistor connected between the second node and the third transistor, wherein when the second transistor is turned ON, the first component and the second component are connected in series, and when the first transistor, third transistor and fourth transistors are turned ON, the first component and the second component are connected in parallel, and the switching charger and the direct charger are inactivated in a discharging mode when the travel adapter is not applied to the input voltage terminal and the first component charges the second component.
6. 6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein in the discharging mode, the second transistor is turned OFF, the first transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are turned ON, and the first component and the second component are connected in parallel.
7. 7 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein when a first both-end voltage of the first component is less than a second both-end voltage of the second component, the first component is charged by the second component.
8. 8 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein when a first both-end voltage of the first component is greater than a second both-end voltage of the second component, the second component is charged by the first component.
9. 9 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the first component includes a first battery, and the second component includes a second battery, and wherein the first current is a first charging current, and the second current is a second charging current.
10. 10 . A charger integrated circuit (IC) comprising: a first charger configured to generate a first charging current from an input voltage when the input voltage is received from an input voltage terminal; and a switch comprising: a first transistor connected between a first node and a ground terminal, the first node being configured to connect a negative terminal of a first component; a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node, the second node being configured to connect a positive terminal of a second component; a third transistor connected to a third node configured to connect a positive terminal of the first component; and a fourth transistor connected between the second node and the third transistor, wherein when the second transistor is turned ON, the first component and the second component are connected in series, wherein when the first transistor, third transistor and fourth transistors are turned ON, the first component and the second component are connected in parallel, and wherein a resistance value of the at least one of the first transistor and the third transistor is adjusted such that a first current applied to the first component does not exceed a first reference value or a resistance value of the fourth transistor is adjusted such that a second current applied to the second component does not exceed a second reference value.
11. 11 . The charger IC of claim 10 , wherein the switch further comprises a fifth transistor connected between a fourth node and an output node, the fourth node being between the third and fourth transistors, and the output node being configured to connect a load.
12. 12 . The charger IC of claim 10 , wherein when a first both-end voltage of the first component is about equal to a second both-end voltage of the second component, the second transistor is turned ON, the first transistor and the third transistor are turned OFF, and the first component and the second component are connected in series.
13. 13 . The charger IC of claim 12 , wherein: in a charging mode, the fourth transistor is turned OFF, and in a discharging mode, the fourth transistor is turned ON.
14. 14 . The charger IC of claim 10 , wherein when a difference between a first both-end voltage of the first component and a second both-end voltage of the second component is greater than or equal to a reference value, the first transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are turned ON, the second transistor is turned OFF, and the first component and the second component are connected in parallel.
15. 15 . The charger IC of claim 14 , wherein: when the first both-end voltage of the first component is greater than the second both-end voltage of the second component, a resistance value of the fourth transistor is adjusted such that the second current does not exceed a second reference value, or the first charger is further configured to limit the first charging current such that the first current is less than the second current.
16. 16 . The charger IC of claim 14 , wherein: when the second both-end voltage of the second component is greater than the first both-end voltage of the first component, a resistance value of the first transistor is adjusted such that the first current does not exceed a first reference value, or the first charger is further configured to limit the first charging current such that the first current is greater than the second current.
17. 17 . The charger IC of claim 10 , wherein when the first charger does not receive the input voltage at the input voltage terminal, the first transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are turned ON, the second transistor is turned OFF, and the first component and the second component are connected in parallel.
18. 18 . The charger IC of claim 17 , wherein: when a second both-end voltage of the second component is greater than a first both-end voltage of the first component, a resistance value of the first transistor is adjusted such that a first current applied to the first component does not exceed a first reference value, and when the first both-end voltage of the first component is greater than the second both-end voltage of the second component, a resistance value of the fourth transistor is adjusted such that a second current applied to the second component does not exceed a second reference value.
19. 19 . The charger IC of claim 10 , further comprising: a second charger configured to generate a second charging current from the input voltage when the input voltage is from the input voltage terminal, wherein: when the input voltage has a fixed voltage level, the first charger is inactivated, the second charger is activated, and the switch connects the first component and the second component in parallel, and when the input voltage has a variable voltage level, the first charger is activated.
20. 20 . The charger IC of claim 19 , wherein the second charger comprises a switching charger, wherein the switching charger comprises: a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch connected in series between the input voltage terminal and a ground terminal; an inductor connected between a switching node and an output node, the switching node disposed between the second switch and the third switch, and the output node being configured to connect a system load; and a fourth switch connected between the output node and the switch.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/011,065, filed Sep. 3, 2020, and a claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0029162, filed on Mar. 9, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND The inventive concept relates to charger integrated circuits, and more particularly, to charger integrated circuits capable of charging a battery device including multiple batteries using a battery switch. The inventive concept also relates to electronic devices including this type of charger integrated circuit. Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones include batteries. The power demands placed upon mobile phone batteries has gradually increased over time, and now faces further increase with the advent of 5G technology and applications. And it is possible that current battery technology, battery power storing capacity and battery charging approaches may unduly limit the operating performance of emerging mobile phones. Accordingly, improved battery technology, improved battery charging efficiency, increased battery power storage capacities, as well as longer, useful battery lives are subjects of ongoing research and developmental. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a charger integrated circuit (IC) for charging a battery device including a first battery and a second battery that includes; a first charger configured to generate a first charging current from an input voltage when the input voltage is received from an input voltage terminal, and a battery switch configured to provide the first charging current to the battery device, the battery switch comprising a plurality of transistors for connecting the first battery and the second battery in series or in parallel based on the input voltage, a first both-end voltage of the first battery and a second both-end voltage of the second battery. According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a charger IC for charging a battery device including a first battery and a second battery that includes; a direct charger configured to generate a first charging current from an input voltage received from an input voltage terminal, a switching charger configured to generate a second charging current from the input voltage, and a battery switch configured to provide one of the first charging current and the second charging current to the battery device, wherein the battery switch comprises a plurality of transistors for connecting the first battery and the second battery in series or in parallel based on the input voltage, a first both-end voltage of the first battery, and a second both-end voltage of the second battery, wherein at least one of the plurality of transistors performs a current control function limiting one of a first battery current applied to the first battery and a second battery current applied to the second battery. According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a battery switch connectable to a battery device including a first battery and second battery and including; a first transistor connected between a first node and a ground terminal, the first node being configured to connect a negative terminal of the first battery, a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node, the second node being configured to connect a positive terminal of the second battery, a third transistor connected to a third node connectable to a positive terminal of the first battery, and a fourth transistor connected between the second node and the third transistor, wherein when the second transistor is turned ON, the battery switch connects the first battery and the second battery in series, when the first transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are turned ON, the battery switch connects the first battery and the second battery in parallel, and at least one of the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor and the fourth transistor performs a current control function limiting at least one of a first battery current applied to the first battery and a second battery current applied to the second battery. According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided an electronic device including; a battery device including a first battery and a second battery, a charger configured to generate a charging current from an input voltage received from an input voltage terminal, and a battery switch configured to provide the charging current to the battery device, the battery switch comprising a plurality of transistors for connecting the first and second batteries in series or in parallel based on the input voltage, a first both-end voltage of the first battery, and a second both-end voltage of the second battery, wherein at least one of the plurality of transistors performs a current control fun