Patent · US Active

Bi-directional battery charging for coupled electronic devices

US7863856B2 · kind B2 · utility

56Cited by
20References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 2008
Grant dateJan 4, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 15, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for bi-directional battery charging, including a first electronic device, including a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device, and a first battery charger, and a second electronic device, including a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device, a second battery charger, a voltage boost that receives an input voltage from the first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to the second battery charger, or else to passively pass the input voltage to the second battery charger; and a controller for programmatically controlling the first and the second battery chargers and the voltage boost, wherein the second electronic device attaches to the first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein the controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of the first and the second rechargeable batteries: (i) whether to supply power to the second electronic device from the first or second rechargeable battery, (ii) whether to charge the second rechargeable battery from the first rechargeable battery, and (iii) whether to enabl…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.