Patent · US Active

Method and device for charging energy storage devices

US8671291B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 2011
Grant dateMar 11, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/266
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a method (200) for charging energy storage devices. The method (200) can include a battery charging method in a power supply client connected by a data bus to a power supply host. The method (200) includes the steps of: detecting (210) a state of the power supply host; determining (220) a limit of current from the host to the client; allocating (230) a portion of the limit to a battery charging current; and charging (240) a battery of the client at the battery charging current such that the current from the host is greater than a recommended limit and less than or equal to the determined amount. Thus a client device can confidently charge at a rate which causes the port current to exceed a recommended limit, such as a USB port limit of 500 mA, when allowed by conditions of the host device. Advantageously, the method can help to expedite the charging time of a client battery, notwithstanding the number of other clients connected to the same host device for charging, thus minimizing the wait time of a user.

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