Abstract: A battery pack including at least one battery cell, a switch, and battery state monitoring circuitry. The battery state monitoring circuitry may be configured to control an ON resistance of the switch to a first ON resistance when the switch is ON and the battery pack is in a stand-by-state and to control the ON resistance to a second ON resistance when the switch is ON and said battery pack is not in said stand-by-state, the first ON resistance greater than the second ON resistance. A cordless electrical device and method consistent with embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Power control circuitry and method for controlling a variable output DC power source. The power control circuitry may comprise a first comparator to compare a signal representative of an output current level of the variable output DC power source with a threshold level and provide a first output signal in response to the comparison. The power control circuitry may further comprise threshold input circuitry to provide the threshold level to the first comparator, the threshold level being a fixed threshold level if an output voltage of the variable output DC power source is less than or equal to a first fixed voltage level, the threshold level being a variable threshold level if the output voltage is greater than the first fixed voltage level.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a variable output DC power source to power control circuitry, and detecting a type of the variable output DC power source in response to the coupling operation. In one embodiment, the detecting operation may include sending an interrogation signal from the power control circuitry to the variable output DC power source, and evaluating a response to the interrogation signal to determine the type of said variable output DC power source. Power control circuitry may include source type recognition circuitry configured to detect a type of a variable output DC power source in response to a coupling of the variable output DC power source to the power control circuitry.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel.

Abstract: A method for efficiently charging a battery. The method includes producing a first signal having a voltage level dependent on the voltage of the battery, comparing the voltage level of the first signal with a settable voltage representative of a maximum battery charging current, and producing a second signal representative of a charging current to be provided to the battery, the second signal having a voltage level selected to be the lower voltage level between the first signal and the settable voltage.

Abstract: A charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a host of rechargeable batteries, wherein the host of batteries includes at least a first battery and second battery that may be coupled in parallel. The charging circuit provides for fast charging of rechargeable batteries in parallel. Independent current and voltage sensing for each battery enables parallel charging of batteries at different charging currents. The charging circuit may be configured to accept either analog or digital signals from an associated power management unit.

Abstract: A controller for a DC to DC converter. The controller may comprise linear mode circuitry and switch mode control circuitry. The linear mode control circuitry may be capable of providing a first control signal to a transistor of the DC to DC converter. The transistor may operate in a linear region in response to the first control signal to control an output voltage of the DC to DC converter. The switch mode control circuitry may be capable of providing a second control signal to the transistor of the DC to DC converter. The transistor may turn ON and OFF in response to the second control signal to control the output voltage of the DC to DC converter. One of the linear mode control circuitry and the switch mode control circuitry may be enabled to control the transistor in response to a state of an enable signal received at the controller.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit includes a first comparator configured to compare a first input signal representative of a voltage level of the DC power source with a first threshold level and provide a first output signal representative of a difference between the first input signal and the first threshold level, and a selector output circuit. The selector output circuit is configured to provide selector output signals that control selection among the DC power source and the plurality of batteries. The selector output circuit providing said selector output signals to select the DC source and deselect the plurality of batteries if the first output signal is representative of the voltage level of said DC power source being greater than the first threshold level.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel.

Abstract: A controller for a DC to DC converter. The controller may comprise linear mode circuitry and switch mode control circuitry. The linear mode control circuitry may be capable of providing a first control signal to a controlled device of the DC to DC converter. The controlled device may operate as a variable resistor in response to the first control signal to control an output voltage of the DC to DC converter. The switch mode control circuitry may be capable of providing a second control signal to the controlled device of the DC to DC converter. The controlled device may turn ON and OFF in response to the second control signal to control the output voltage of the DC to DC converter. One of the linear mode control circuitry and the switch mode control circuitry may be enabled. The controller may also include protection circuitry.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override any instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life. A power supply block including the selector circuit and an electronic device including the power supply block is also provided. The selector circuit may be integrated with a charging circuit on one integrated circuit.

Abstract: An enabling circuit for enabling a DC-DC converter having a capacitor coupled to an output terminal of the DC-DC converter to be controlled by a control signal. The enabling circuit may include a comparison circuit configured to compare a feedback signal representative of a charge on the capacitor with a signal representative of a reference charge and to provide an output to in response to the comparison to enable the DC-DC converter to be controlled by the control signal if the charge on the capacitor is less than the reference charge. The enabling circuit may also include a discharge path configured to discharge the charge on the capacitor if the charge is greater than the reference charge. A related system and method are also provided.

Abstract: An enabling circuit including a comparison circuit, a switching circuit, and an output decision circuit. The comparison circuit compares a first comparison signal representative of a charge on a capacitor of a DC to DC converter with a second comparison signal representative of a reference charge and provides a comparison output signal in response to the comparison. In response to the comparison output signal, the switching circuit provides a first switching signal in a first state if the charge on the capacitor is less than said reference charge. Finally, the output decision circuit accepts at least the first switching signal and provides an enabling signal to enable the DC to DC converter to be controlled by a control signal in response to the first switching signal in the first state.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a charging parameter provided to a rechargeable battery. The circuit includes a power control circuit configured to provide a power control signal representative of a power output level of a DC source, and a control signal generating circuit configured to reduce the charging parameter provided to the battery if the power output level exceeds a predetermined power threshold level. An electronic device having such a circuit and a method is also provided. The circuit may be used with a DC source that supplies power to recharge a rechargeable battery. The DC source may have a non-fixed output voltage level such as from a controllable DC source or a variable DC source.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel.

Abstract: An enabling circuit includes a comparison circuit configured to compare a feedback signal representative of a charge of an energy storage element of a regulating circuit with a reference charge and provide an output in response to the comparison to enable the regulating circuit to switch from a first state to a second state if the charge of the energy storage element is less than the reference charge. The enabling circuit may also be used to enable a synchronous rectifier converter to provide a charging current to a battery in a battery charging system of an electronic device thereby avoiding negative voltage transients that may otherwise occur at the output of the synchronous rectifier converter. Various methods are also provided.

Abstract: A charging circuit system includes: a power supply; a sensor configured to sense a power level of the power supply and provide a first signal representative of the power level; and a charging circuit including: at least one input signal terminal and at least one output signal terminal; and a transmitter including an amplifier, wherein the amplifier has an input coupled to at least one input signal terminal, and the amplifier has an output coupled to at least one output signal terminal, wherein at least one input signal terminal is configured to receive the first signal from the sensor, and wherein the amplifier is configured to amplify the first signal and provide a second signal. The charging circuit system may be used by a charging circuit of a laptop computer in conjunction with a docking station.

Abstract: A trimming locking circuit is provided for IC using a programmable fuse array for after-assembly trimming procedures. In one embodiment, a trimming locking circuit is provided for a single power supply input into the programmable fuse array. In another embodiment, a trimming locking circuit is provided to operate with two or more power supply inputs. The trimming locking circuit electrically isolates the programmable fuse array from over voltage conditions on the power supplies.

Abstract: A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel. A power supply block including the selector circuit and an electronic device including the power supply block is also provided. The selector circuit may be integrated with a charging circuit on one integrated circuit.

Abstract: A power supply block is configured to provide a power supply path from at least one power source to an associated system. The power supply block includes a power conversion element, e.g., a DC to DC converter, coupled to at least one battery and to a DC power source. The power conversion element includes a conductive path configured to provide a charge path from the DC power source to the at least one battery and a discharge path from the at least one battery to the associated system. As such, the number of switches in a power supply block can be reduced. In addition, a system capacitor size can also be reduced. An electronic device with at least one rechargeable battery utilizing such a power supply block is also provided.