Portable computer

Abstract

The utility model provides a portable computer which comprises a charging circuit, and the charging circuit comprises a control module, a power supply protocol module, a power conversion module, a load switch module, a USB connection interface and a battery. The control module is electrically connected with the power supply protocol module and the power conversion module, the power conversion module is electrically connected with the battery, the control module, the power supply protocol module and the load switch module, and the USB connection interface is electrically connected with the load switch module and the power supply protocol module. And the battery supplies power to the control module and the power supply protocol module through the power supply conversion module when the portable computer enters a battery shutdown mode, so that the portable computer enters a deep sleep power-saving mode. And the power supply protocol module enters a working state when identifying that the external equipment is inserted into the USB connection interface, and enables the control module to enter the working state so as to promote the power supply conversion module to charge the external equipment. According to the utility model, external charging can be realized in a battery shutdown mode, and the shutdown power consumption is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of computers, in particular to a portable computer. Background Art

[0002] In this era of booming information technology, electronic devices such as portable computers have become quite popular in people's work and life, and have become indispensable office and entertainment devices for people.

[0003] The main advantage of a portable computer is that it is easy to carry, convenient for users to use anytime and anywhere, and the battery capacity of a portable computer is relatively large, usually larger than that of electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers. Therefore, in the absence of an external power supply, it can be used to charge electronic devices that urgently need to be charged. Currently, most portable computers can charge other external electronic devices in the powered-on state, but most portable computers can only charge external electronic devices in the powered-on state and cannot charge external electronic devices in the powered-off state.

[0004] Specifically, currently most portable computers have a Type-C interface for data transmission and internal and external power supply. When supplying external power, it can be mainly used to charge electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets with a Type-C interface. However, these functions are only available in the operating condition of the portable computer being powered on, and cannot be used in the battery-off mode (without an external power supply). That is to say, a portable computer cannot supply power to an external device in the battery-off mode. The main reason is that when the portable computer is in the battery-off mode, the power consumption of the battery needs to be extremely low, such as within 20 mW, to avoid over-discharge of the battery due to excessive power consumption. Therefore, in the battery-off mode, the chips on the motherboard of the portable computer are in a non-powered and non-operating state, making the portable computer unable to supply external power in the powered-off state. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a portable computer that can achieve external charging in the battery-off mode and has low power consumption when powered off.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides a portable computer, including a charging circuit. The charging circuit includes a control module, a power supply protocol module, a power conversion module, a load switch module, a USB connection interface, and a battery. The control module is electrically connected to the power supply protocol module and the power conversion module respectively. The power conversion module is electrically connected to the battery, the control module, the power supply protocol module, and the load switch module respectively. The USB connection interface is electrically connected to the load switch module and the power supply protocol module respectively;

[0007] Wherein, when the portable computer enters the battery shutdown mode, the battery supplies power to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module outputs a first voltage to the control module and outputs the first voltage and a second voltage to the power supply protocol module. When receiving the first voltage, the control module and the power supply protocol module enter the deep sleep power saving mode. The second voltage is used for the power supply protocol module to identify whether an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface;

[0008] When the power supply protocol module identifies that an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface, it exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a first enable signal to the control module. When receiving the first enable signal, the control module exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a second enable signal to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module outputs a third voltage to the load switch module, and charges the external device through the load switch module and the USB connection interface.

[0009] Preferably, the control module is also electrically connected to the load switch module. When receiving the second enable signal, the power conversion module outputs the third voltage to the load switch module and outputs a third voltage good signal to the control module. When receiving the third voltage good signal, the control module outputs a third enable signal to the load switch module, so that the load switch module is turned on to output the third voltage to the external device through the USB connection interface to charge the external device.

[0010] Preferably, the control module is also electrically connected to the battery. When receiving the first enable signal, the control module exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, reads the current battery power data from the battery, and when the power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, sends the second enable signal to the power conversion module.

[0011] Preferably, during the process that the power conversion module outputs the third voltage to the load switch module and charges the external device through the load switch module and the USB connection interface, the control module reads the current battery power data, and when the power data is less than the preset power data, stops outputting the second enable signal to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module stops outputting the third voltage to the load switch module.

[0012] Preferably, when the power supply protocol module identifies that the external device inserted into the USB connection interface is unplugged, it enters the deep sleep power saving mode again. Correspondingly, the control module is disabled and enters the deep sleep power saving mode.

[0013] Preferably, the power conversion module is a multi-channel power converter, including a first low-dropout linear regulator, a second low-dropout linear regulator, and a first DC-DC switching power supply. Among them, the first low-dropout linear regulator is used to output the first voltage, the second low-dropout linear regulator is used to output the second voltage, and the first DC-DC switching power supply is used to output the third voltage.

[0014] Preferably, the first voltage is 3.3V, the second voltage is 5.5V, and the third voltage is 5V.

[0015] Preferably, the USB connection interface is a Type-C connector, and the power supply protocol module is a Type-C interface PD chip.

[0016] Preferably, the control module is an embedded controller, and the embedded controller is electrically connected to the battery through an I2C bus.

[0017] Preferably, the control module is an embedded controller of model ITE5571, the power supply protocol module is a Type-C interface PD chip of model ANX7447, the power conversion module is a multi-channel power converter of model GS7225, the load switch module is a switch of model G518B1TP1U, and the USB connection interface is a Type-C connector.

[0018] Advantages of the present utility model: The portable computer of the present utility model can achieve external charging in the battery shutdown mode through the setting of the charging circuit. Moreover, when not externally charging, although power supply needs to be maintained for the control module and the power supply protocol module, both the control module and the power supply protocol module are in the deep sleep power-saving mode with very low power consumption. Therefore, the charging circuit of the present utility model has extremely low shutdown power consumption while being able to achieve external charging of the portable computer in the battery shutdown mode. Secondly, before and during the charging of the plugged external device by the charging circuit of the portable computer of the present utility model, the control module can monitor the battery power of the portable computer and read the current battery power data of the portable computer. Only when the battery power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, the charging of the external device is started and maintained, which can ensure the power supply of the portable computer itself and avoid over-discharging of the battery of the portable computer due to continuous external discharging. Furthermore, the power supply protocol module of the present utility model can adopt a Type-C interface PD chip to communicate with external devices with Type-C interfaces, enabling external devices with Type-C interfaces to directly communicate and connect with the charging circuit according to the standard protocol. In addition, the charging circuit of the portable computer of the present utility model has simple circuits and components, and can achieve external charging of the portable computer in the battery shutdown mode in a more concise implementation manner, without the need to press the power button to turn on, that is, it can provide a plug-and-play power bank function. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] In order to further understand the features and technical content of the present utility model, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present utility model. However, the drawings are only for reference and explanation purposes and are not used to limit the present utility model. In the drawings,

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the charging circuit of the portable computer of the present utility model. Detailed Embodiments

[0021] To further elaborate on the technical means and effects adopted by the present utility model, the following provides a detailed description in combination with the preferred embodiments and their drawings of the present utility model.

[0022] The present utility model provides a portable computer, including a charging circuit 10, as Figure 1As shown in the figure, the charging circuit 10 includes a control module 11, a power supply protocol module 12, a power conversion module 13, a load switch module 14, a USB connection interface 15, and a battery 16. The control module 11 is electrically connected to the power supply protocol module 12 and the power conversion module 13 respectively. The power conversion module 13 is electrically connected to the battery 16, the control module 11, the power supply protocol module 12, and the load switch module 14 respectively. The USB connection interface 15 is electrically connected to the load switch module 14 and the power supply protocol module 12 respectively.

[0023] Among them, when the portable computer enters the battery shutdown mode (without an external power supply), the battery 16 supplies power to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 outputs a first voltage to the control module 11 and outputs the first voltage and a second voltage to the power supply protocol module 12. When receiving the first voltage, the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12 enter the deep sleep power saving mode. The second voltage is used for the power supply protocol module 12 to identify whether an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface 15.

[0024] When the power supply protocol module 12 identifies that an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface 15, it exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a first enable signal to the control module 11. When receiving the first enable signal, the control module 11 exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a second enable signal to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 outputs a third voltage to the load switch module 14, and charges the external device through the load switch module 14 and the USB connection interface 15.

[0025] Thus, through the setting of the charging circuit 10, the portable computer of the present invention can achieve external charging in the battery shutdown mode. Moreover, when no external charging is carried out, although power needs to be supplied to the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12, both the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12 are in the deep sleep power saving mode, and the power consumption is very low. Therefore, the charging circuit 10 of the present invention has extremely low shutdown power consumption while being able to achieve external charging in the battery shutdown mode.

[0026] Specifically, the battery 16 is the battery of the portable computer, which is used to supply power to the main board of the portable computer when the portable computer is not connected to an external power supply. In the present invention, it is used to supply power to the charging circuit 10 when the portable computer is in the battery shutdown mode and can charge an external device connected to the charging circuit 10 (the portable computer) through the charging circuit 10.

[0027] The USB connection interface 15 is used for plugging in external devices, so that the charging circuit 10 (the portable computer) forms a connection with the external device. In a preferred embodiment, the USB connection interface 15 can be a Type-C connector for plugging in external devices with a Type-C interface.

[0028] The power supply protocol module 12 is used to identify whether an external device is plugged into the USB connection interface 15 and can establish a communication connection with the external device plugged into the USB connection interface 15 based on the power supply protocol. In the present invention, the power supply protocol module 12 can still identify whether an external device is plugged into the USB connection interface 15 based on the second voltage (keeping corresponding pins such as the configuration channel (CC) pins in a working state) in the deep sleep power saving mode. When it is recognized that an external device is plugged into the USB connection interface 15, it triggers waking up, thereby exiting the deep sleep power saving mode and entering the normal working state. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply protocol module is a PD (Power Delivery) chip. If the USB connection interface 15 is a Type-C connector, the power supply protocol module 12 is correspondingly a Type-C interface PD chip.

[0029] The power conversion module 13 is used to convert the power supplied by the battery 16 to provide the power (voltage and current) required by the charging circuit 10 and the external device. In a preferred embodiment, the power conversion module 13 is a multi-channel power converter, including a first low dropout regulator (LDO), a second low dropout regulator, and a first DC-DC switching power supply. Among them, the first low dropout regulator is used to output the first voltage to supply power to the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12; the second low dropout regulator is used to output the second voltage for the power supply protocol module 12 to identify whether an external device is plugged into the USB connection interface 15; the first DC-DC switching power supply is used to output the third voltage for supplying power to the external device. Preferably, the first voltage can be 3.3V (correspondingly, the current can be 100mA), the second voltage is 5.5V (correspondingly, the current can be 100mA), and the third voltage is 5V (correspondingly, the current is preferably 3A).

[0030] In addition, the multi-channel power converter may further include other power supplies, such as a 3.3V DC-DC switching power supply, to meet other power consumption requirements of the portable computer motherboard, which will not be elaborated here. That is to say, the multi-channel power converter may integrate multiple linear power supplies such as 3.3V_LDO and 5V_LDO, as well as multiple switching power supplies such as 5V_DCDC and 3.3V_DCDC.

[0031] The load switch module 14 is used to connect the power conversion module 13 and the USB connection interface 15, and is used to turn on or off the power supply of the power conversion module 13 to the external device.

[0032] The control module 11 is used to control the power supply of the power conversion module 13 to the external device.

[0033] Furthermore, the control module 11 may also be electrically connected to the load switch module 14, and is used to control the turning on and off of the load switch module 14, so that the load switch module 14 turns on or off the power supply of the power conversion module 13 to the external device. Specifically, when the power conversion module 13 receives the second enable signal, it outputs the third voltage to the load switch module 14 and outputs a third voltage good signal (i.e., Power Good Signal) to the control module 11. When the control module 11 receives the third voltage good signal, it outputs a third enable signal to the load switch module 14, so that the load switch module 14 turns on to output the third voltage to the external device through the USB connection interface 15 to charge the external device.

[0034] Thus, the present utility model can perform switch control on the load switch module 14 through the control module 11, and only when the third voltage good signal of the power conversion module 13 is received, the load switch module 14 is turned on, so that the third voltage provided by the power conversion module 13 can be output to the external device through the load switch module 14 and the USB connection interface 15. If the control module 11 does not receive the third voltage good signal of the power conversion module 13, the load switch module 14 is not turned on to ensure that the power conversion module 13 can provide a stable third voltage to charge the external device.

[0035] Furthermore, the control module 11 may also be electrically connected to the battery 16. When the control module 11 receives the first enable signal, it enters the working state, reads the current battery power data from the battery 16, and when the power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, it sends the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13.

[0036] That is to say, the control module 11 can also be used for power management of the battery, reading the current power data of the battery 16, and only supplying power externally when the current power data of the battery meets certain conditions. Specifically, in one embodiment, it is required that the power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, for example, the battery power percentage is 30%, to send the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 can output the third voltage to supply power to the external device. If the current power data of the battery 16 is less than the preset power data, for example, the battery power percentage is 30%, the control module 11 will not send the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13, and the power conversion module 13 will not output the third voltage to the load switch module 14. Therefore, the charging circuit 10 will not charge the external device, thereby ensuring the power supply of the portable computer itself.

[0037] Further, during the process that the control module 11 outputs the third voltage to the load switch module 14 through the power conversion module 13, and charges the external device through the load switch module 14 and the USB connection interface 15, the control module 11 reads the current power data of the battery 16, and when the power data is less than the preset power data, stops outputting the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 stops outputting the third voltage to the load switch module 14, thereby avoiding over-discharge of the battery power of the portable computer due to continuous external power discharge and ensuring the power supply of the portable computer itself.

[0038] In one embodiment, the control module 11 is an embedded controller (Embedded Controller, abbreviated as EC), and the embedded controller is electrically connected to the battery 16 through an I2C bus (Inter-Integrated Circuit bus, integrated circuit bus) to read the current power data of the battery 16.

[0039] Further, when the power supply protocol module 12 recognizes that the external device inserted into the USB connection interface 15 is unplugged, it enters the deep sleep power saving mode again. Correspondingly, the control module 11 is disabled (if the enable signal is high level, when the power supply protocol module 12 enters the deep sleep power saving mode, it no longer provides a high-level enable signal, and the signal of the corresponding enable port of the control module 11 is pulled low to a low level, so that the control module 11 is disabled) and enters the deep sleep power saving mode, and the power conversion module 13 also no longer provides the third voltage. In this way, as long as there is no need to supply power to the external device, both the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12 are in the deep sleep power saving mode, so that the shutdown power consumption of the portable computer in the battery shutdown mode is extremely low.

[0040] Based on the above description, in a preferred specific embodiment, the specific working process of the charging circuit 10 of the portable computer of the present invention may include:

[0041] When the portable computer enters the battery shutdown mode, the battery 16 supplies power to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 outputs the first voltage (3.3V_LDO) to the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12. At the same time, it also outputs the second voltage (5V_LDO) to the power supply protocol module 12. When the control module 11 and the power supply protocol module 12 receive the first voltage (the first power-on), they enter the deep sleep power saving mode, and the second voltage is used for the power supply protocol module 12 to identify whether an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface 15;

[0042] When an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface 15, the power supply protocol module 12 recognizes that the USB connection interface 15 is inserted with the external device, triggers a wake-up, exits the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a first enable signal to the control module 11;

[0043] When the control module 11 receives the first enable signal, it exits the deep sleep power saving mode, enters the working state, reads the current battery power data from the battery 16, and when the power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, sends the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13 (if the power data is less than the preset power data, the control module 11 does not send the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13);

[0044] When the power conversion module 13 receives the second enable signal, it outputs the third voltage (5V_DCDC) to the load switch module 14 and outputs a third voltage good signal to the control module 11;

[0045] When the control module 11 receives the third voltage good signal, it outputs the third enable signal to the load switch module 14, so that the load switch module 14 is turned on to output the third voltage to the external device through the USB connection interface 15 to charge the external device.

[0046] During the process of the power conversion module 13 charging the external device through the load switch module 14 and the USB connection interface 15, the control module 11 reads the current power data of the battery 16, and when the power data is less than the preset power data, it stops outputting the second enable signal to the power conversion module 13, so that the power conversion module 13 stops outputting the third voltage to the load switch module 14.

[0047] Once the external device inserted into the USB connection interface 15 is unplugged, when the power supply protocol module 12 recognizes that the external device inserted into the USB connection interface 15 is unplugged, it enters the deep sleep power saving mode again. Correspondingly, the control module 11 is disabled and enters the deep sleep power saving mode, that is, it no longer outputs the second enable signal, and the power conversion module 13 no longer provides the third voltage.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the control module 11 can be implemented by an embedded controller of model ITE5571, the power supply protocol module 12 can be implemented by a Type-C interface PD chip of model ANX7447, the power conversion module 13 can be implemented by a multi-channel power converter of model GS7225, the load switch module 14 can be implemented by a switch of model G518B1TP1U, and the USB connection interface 15 can be implemented by a Type-C connector.

[0049] In summary, the portable computer of the present utility model can achieve external charging in the battery shutdown mode through the setting of the charging circuit. Moreover, when not externally charging, although power supply needs to be maintained for the control module and the power supply protocol module, both the control module and the power supply protocol module are in the deep sleep power-saving mode with very low power consumption. Therefore, the charging circuit of the present utility model has extremely low shutdown power consumption while being able to achieve external charging of the portable computer in the battery shutdown mode. Secondly, before and during the charging of the plugged external device by the charging circuit of the portable computer of the present utility model, the control module can monitor the battery power of the portable computer and read the current battery power data of the portable computer. Only when the battery power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, the charging of the external device is started and maintained, which can ensure the power supply of the portable computer itself and avoid over-discharging of the battery of the portable computer due to continuous external discharge. Furthermore, the power supply protocol module of the present utility model can adopt a Type-C interface PD chip to communicate with external devices having a Type-C interface, enabling external devices having a Type-C interface to directly communicate and connect with the charging circuit according to the standard protocol. In addition, the charging circuit of the portable computer of the present utility model has simple circuits and components, and can achieve external charging of the portable computer in the battery shutdown mode in a more concise implementation manner, without the need to press a button to turn on the machine, that is, it can provide a plug-and-play power bank function.

[0050] As described above, for those of ordinary skill in the art, various corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the technical solutions and technical concepts of the present utility model, and all such changes and deformations should fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A portable computer, characterized in that, It includes a charging circuit, and the charging circuit includes a control module, a power supply protocol module, a power conversion module, a load switch module, a USB connection interface, and a battery. The control module is electrically connected to the power supply protocol module and the power conversion module respectively. The power conversion module is electrically connected to the battery, the control module, the power supply protocol module, and the load switch module respectively. The USB connection interface is electrically connected to the load switch module and the power supply protocol module respectively; Among them, when the portable computer enters the battery shutdown mode, the battery supplies power to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module outputs a first voltage to the control module and outputs the first voltage and a second voltage to the power supply protocol module. When receiving the first voltage, the control module and the power supply protocol module enter the deep sleep power saving mode. The second voltage is used for the power supply protocol module to identify whether an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface; When the power supply protocol module identifies that an external device is inserted into the USB connection interface, it exits from the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a first enable signal to the control module; when receiving the first enable signal, the control module exits from the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, and sends a second enable signal to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module outputs a third voltage to the load switch module, and charges the external device through the load switch module and the USB connection interface.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein, The control module is also electrically connected to the load switch module. When receiving the second enable signal, the power conversion module outputs the third voltage to the load switch module and outputs a third voltage good signal to the control module. When receiving the third voltage good signal, the control module outputs a third enable signal to the load switch module, so that the load switch module is turned on to output the third voltage to the external device through the USB connection interface to charge the external device.

3. The portable computer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The control module is also electrically connected to the battery. When receiving the first enable signal, the control module exits from the deep sleep power saving mode and enters the working state, reads the current power data of the battery from the battery, and when the power data is greater than or equal to the preset power data, sends the second enable signal to the power conversion module.

4. The portable computer according to claim 3, characterized in that, During the process that the power conversion module outputs the third voltage to the load switch module and charges the external device through the load switch module and the USB connection interface, the control module reads the current power data of the battery, and when the power data is less than the preset power data, stops outputting the second enable signal to the power conversion module, so that the power conversion module stops outputting the third voltage to the load switch module.

5. The portable computer according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the power supply protocol module detects that the external device inserted into the USB connection interface is unplugged, it enters the deep sleep power saving mode again. Correspondingly, the control module is disabled and enters the deep sleep power saving mode.

6. The portable computer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power conversion module is a multi-channel power converter, including a first low dropout linear regulator, a second low dropout linear regulator, and a first DC-DC switching power supply. Among them, the first low dropout linear regulator is used to output the first voltage, the second low dropout linear regulator is used to output the second voltage, and the first DC-DC switching power supply is used to output the third voltage.

7. The portable computer according to claim 6, wherein The first voltage is 3.3V, the second voltage is 5.5V, and the third voltage is 5V.

8. The portable computer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The USB connection interface is a Type-C connector, and the power supply protocol module is a Type-C interface PD chip.

9. The portable computer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control module is an embedded controller, and the embedded controller is electrically connected to the battery through an I2C bus.

10. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein, The control module is an embedded controller of model ITE5571, the power supply protocol module is a Type-C interface PD chip of model ANX7447, the power conversion module is a multi-channel power converter of model GS7225, the load switch module is a switch of model G518B1TP1U, and the USB connection interface is a Type-C connector.

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