Abstract: A battery pack charging method and battery charging apparatus including: a plurality of charge units which charge respective battery cells of the battery pack, by outputting pulse currents, generated from a supplied DC voltage, in response to enable signal; and a plurality of signal detection units to detect a falling edge of the pulse currents and to output the enable signals to the charge units.

Abstract: A power supply device and a driving method thereof which produces and supplies electric energy from ecology-friendly “green” energy sources. The power supply device collects green energy and supplies power to a load, and includes: a main power source unit that includes a collection unit for collecting green energy and generate electric energy therefrom, a converter which converts the electric energy from the collection unit into a predetermined electric energy level and a battery unit that stores the electric energy converted by the converter and supplies power to the load; and an auxiliary power source unit that supports the main power source unit and supplies power to the load. Maximum energy may be collected from green energy sources and generate maximum amounts of electric energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control a voltage conversion mode in a voltage converter are provided. The apparatus to control a voltage conversion mode includes: a voltage converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage and having a plurality of voltage conversion modes; an input sensor which detects an input current value that is input to the voltage converter from a voltage source; an output sensor which detects an output current value that is output to a load from the voltage converter; and a controller which determines a power efficiency of the voltage converter based on the input and output current values and which switches between the voltage conversion modes of the voltage converter according to the detected power efficiency. Accordingly, an efficiency of voltage conversion is maximized, and a usage time of a mobile device can be lengthened.

Abstract: An electric power supply method and apparatus using thermoelectric conversion include an electric power supply apparatus that converts thermal energy, which is generated from a plurality of thermal sources of a device when the device operates using electric power stored in a first power source unit that supplies external power to the device, into electricity; stores the obtained electricity in a second power source unit; and supplies the stored electricity to the device. Accordingly, it is possible to recycle thermal energy generated when the device operates, thereby minimizing consumption of electric power in the device.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus implementing the method for charging a power supply device by using a plurality of thermoelectric generators includes generating electricity by converting heat generated in each of a plurality of heat sources into electricity, and charging a power supply device by connecting the generated electricity to a charging unit at different times, thereby efficiently charging the power supply device using the electricity generated in the plurality of thermoelectric generators.

Abstract: Provided are, a power supplier including an assistant power supply unit, an electronic device including the power supplier, and a method of operating the electronic device using the power supplier in a power-saving mode. The assistant power supply unit includes: a heat source to generate heat during operation of the electronic device; a cooler to dissipate the heat generated by the heat source; a thermoelectric generator interposed between the heat source and the cooler; and a secondary battery to store power generated by the thermoelectric generator.

Abstract: A computer including a CPU, a power output unit to output driving power needed for driving the CPU, a CPU state output unit to output a first state information signal when it is detected that the CPU is driven in a power saving mode, a signal switching unit to output the second state information signal when the first state information signal is maintained beyond a predetermined reference time, and a PWM control unit to control the power output unit to output the driving power having a first level corresponding to the power saving mode upon receipt of the second state information signal from the signal switching unit. Thus, embodiments of the present invention set forth a computer reducing the generation of noise from a power management of a CPU.

Abstract: A battery pack charging method and battery charging apparatus including: a plurality of charge units which charge respective battery cells of the battery pack, by outputting pulse currents, generated from a supplied DC voltage, in response to enable signal; and a plurality of signal detection units to detect a falling edge of the pulse currents and to output the enable signals to the charge units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control a voltage conversion mode in a voltage converter are provided. The apparatus to control a voltage conversion mode includes: a voltage converter which converts an input voltage to an output voltage and having a plurality of voltage conversion modes; an input sensor which detects an input current value that is input to the voltage converter from a voltage source; an output sensor which detects an output current value that is output to a load from the voltage converter; and a controller which determines a power efficiency of the voltage converter based on the input and output current values and which switches between the voltage conversion modes of the voltage converter according to the detected power efficiency. Accordingly, an efficiency of voltage conversion is maximized, and a usage time of a mobile device can be lengthened.

Abstract: A power supply system, includes a power supplying unit supplying a DC power; a DC/DC converter having a plurality of phase processing units separating the DC power supplied from the power supplying unit into a plurality of phase currents to process the plurality of phase currents, with which the DC/DC converter converts the DC power into individual power supplies in a plurality of different voltages; and a controller sensing phase currents of the phase processing units and controlling the power supplying unit so as to interrupt a power supply from the power supplying unit where a voltage corresponding to any one of the phase currents is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: A computer including a CPU, a power output unit to output driving power needed for driving the CPU, a CPU state output unit to output a first state information signal when it is detected that the CPU is driven in a power saving mode, a signal switching unit to output the second state information signal when the first state information signal is maintained beyond a predetermined reference time, and a PWM control unit to control the power output unit to output the driving power having a first level corresponding to the power saving mode upon receipt of the second state information signal from the signal switching unit. Thus, embodiments of the present invention set forth a computer reducing the generation of noise from a power management of a CPU.

Abstract: A power supply system, includes a power supplying unit supplying a DC power; a DC/DC converter having a plurality of phase processing units separating the DC power supplied from the power supplying unit into a plurality of phase currents to process the plurality of phase currents, with which the DC/DC converter converts the DC power into individual power supplies in a plurality of different voltages; and a controller sensing phase currents of the phase processing units and controlling the power supplying unit so as to interrupt a power supply from the power supplying unit where a voltage corresponding to any one of the phase currents is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.