Multi-foldable electronic device and driving method thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-foldable electronic device and a driving method thereof, and the method may comprise: detecting that a charger (power adapter) is connected to an electronic device; identifying a battery level and a charging section of each of a first battery, a second battery, and a third battery; identifying whether a charging section of a first reference battery which has the lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery is a constant current (CC) section; if the charging section of the first reference battery is the CC section, performing multi-CC charging for preferentially CC-charging the remaining batteries except for a second reference battery which has the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; and if the charging section of the first reference battery is a constant voltage (CV) section, performing multi-CV charging for preferentially CV-charging the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery.

Description

Multi-foldable electronic device and its driving method

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-foldable electronic device and a method of driving the same.

[0002] An electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet PC) can receive power from another electronic device (a power supply device (e.g., a power adapter)) via a wired cable (e.g., a USB cable) and charge a battery mounted on the electronic device using the received power. The electronic device can supply power from the battery or power received from the power supply device via the USB cable to a system (in other words, a load circuit) of the electronic device. The system is a general term for electronic components mounted on the electronic device that are driven using the supplied power, and may include, for example, a display, a processor, a speaker, a communication circuit, and a memory. The system can perform a given operation using the supplied power.

[0003] Multi-foldable electronic devices are expected to be next-generation electronic devices that can expand the display area when unfolded while reducing the volume when folded, thereby enhancing user convenience. The multi-foldable electronic device may include a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing that are foldably coupled to each other. For example, the first housing and the second housing may be foldably coupled to each other, and the second housing and the third housing may be foldably coupled to each other.

[0004] The above information may be provided as background information to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the above is applicable as prior art in connection with the present disclosure.

[0005] A multi-foldable electronic device may include three or more batteries. The multi-foldable electronic device may include a first battery disposed in a first housing, a second battery disposed in a second housing, and a third battery disposed in a third housing. As the multi-foldable electronic device includes three or more batteries, the direct current (DC) resistance of a charging path for charging the batteries may increase. As the direct current resistance of the charging path for charging the batteries increases, the multi-foldable electronic device may perform an operation for increasing a charging voltage (e.g., a system offset voltage) for charging the batteries.

[0006] When a multi-foldable electronic device increases the charging voltage, overvoltage lockout (OVLO) of the charging voltage may occur, which may reduce the stability of the system (e.g., load circuit). If a multi-foldable electronic device sets the charging voltage to a low value to prevent OVLO, the relatively high DC resistance of the charging path may reduce the charging current required to simultaneously charge the batteries, slowing the charging speed.

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a multi-foldable electronic device and a driving method thereof that can increase the speed of charging three or more batteries while maintaining high stability of the system (e.g., load circuit).

[0008] The technical problems to be achieved in the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from the description below.

[0009] An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing, a first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator, a second power conversion circuit configured to increase a current input from an external device by a specified ratio and output it while lowering a voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and outputting it, a first battery disposed in the first housing, a second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through a first flexible circuit board, a third battery disposed in the third housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, at least one processor including processing circuitry, and a memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to detect that a power adapter is connected to the electronic device, and to: The battery level and charging section of each of the second battery and the third battery are checked, and the charging section of the first reference battery having the lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery is checked to be a CC (constant current) section, and if the charging section of the first reference battery is the CC section, multi-CC charging is performed to preferentially charge the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery having the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, and if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section,It is possible to perform multi-CV charging that gives priority to CV charging of the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of an electronic device comprises: a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing; a first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator; a second power conversion circuit configured to increase a current input from an external device by a specified ratio and output it, and to decrease a voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and output it; a first battery disposed in the first housing; a second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through a first flexible circuit board; and a third battery disposed in the third housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, wherein the method comprises: an operation of detecting that a charger (power adapter) is connected to the electronic device; an operation of checking a battery level and a charging section of each of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; and an operation of determining a charging section of a first reference battery having a lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery. The method may include: an operation of checking whether the charging section of the first reference battery is a CC (constant current) section; an operation of performing multi-CC charging to preferentially charge CC of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery having the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section; and an operation of performing multi-CV charging to preferentially charge CV of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section.

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure can increase the speed of charging three or more batteries while maintaining high stability of the system (e.g., load circuit).

[0012] Other aspects, features and advantages according to specific embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the corresponding description.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a fully unfolded state of a multi-foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an intermediate state of a multi-foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a fully folded state of a multi-foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating at least a portion of a second power conversion circuit according to one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating multi-CC charging of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CC charge some of the batteries according to a linear charge-buck mode.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CC charge some of the batteries according to a no charge buck mode.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CC charge batteries through a cell balancing power path.

[0024] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts illustrating multi-CV charging of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously charge batteries using CV.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a charging path when a power supply device is not connected to a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a power supply device supporting a PPS function is connected to a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 17 is a graph showing a charging profile of a multi-foldable electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0029] Each of the embodiments described with reference to the drawings of the present disclosure can be independently configured as a single embodiment. For example, the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can each be independently configured. Each of the embodiments described with reference to the drawings of the present disclosure can operate independently as a single embodiment. For example, the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can each operate independently.

[0030] At least two embodiments described with reference to the drawings of the present disclosure may be combined and configured. For example, at least a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and at least a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be combined and configured. At least two embodiments described with reference to the drawings of the present disclosure may be combined and operated. For example, at least a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and at least a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be combined and operated.

[0031] When at least two embodiments described with reference to the drawings of the present disclosure are combined, at least some of the components and / or at least some of the operations included in each embodiment may be omitted. For example, when the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of FIG. 2 are combined, at least some of the components and / or at least some of the operations included in the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be omitted, and at least some of the components and / or at least some of the operations included in the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be omitted.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with at least one of the electronic device (104) or the server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0033] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or calculations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or a secondary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor)) that can operate independently or together therewith. For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and a secondary processor (123), the secondary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a specified function. The secondary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0034] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0035] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0036] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0037] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0038] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0039] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. In one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0040] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0041] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0042] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0043] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0044] A haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. In one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0045] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0046] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented, for example, as at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0047] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0048] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0049] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0050] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device through the selected at least one antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0051] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0052] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0053] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0054] Electronic devices according to various embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0055] The various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in the present disclosure to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present disclosure, each of the phrases "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0056] The term "module" used in various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0057] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more commands stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one command among the one or more commands stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one command called. The one or more commands may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the method according to various embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between sellers and buyers as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or may be provided through an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones), online distribution (e.g., downloading or uploading). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily created in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0059] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0060] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrams illustrating operating states of a multi-foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates a fully unfolded state of a multi-foldable electronic device (101). For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an intermediate state of a multi-foldable electronic device (101). For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a fully folded state of a multi-foldable electronic device (101).

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may include a first housing (210), a second housing (220) rotatably connected to the first housing (210) in a direction (e.g., in the x-axis direction) toward one side (e.g., right) of the first housing (210) with respect to a first folding axis (F1), and a third housing (230) rotatably connected to the first housing (210) in a direction (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) toward the other side (e.g., left) of the first housing (210) with respect to a second folding axis (F2). In one embodiment, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may include a flexible display (240) arranged to be supported by at least a portion of the first, second, and third housings (210, 220, 230). In one embodiment, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may include a sub-display (250) disposed in the third housing (230).

[0062] According to various embodiments, in a multi-foldable electronic device (101), in a fully unfolded state (e.g., the state of FIG. 2), the first side (211) of the first housing (210), the third side (221) of the second housing (220), and the fifth side (231) of the third housing (230) face in the same direction (e.g., the z-axis direction of FIG. 2), and the entire area of ​​the flexible display (240) can be used.

[0063] According to various embodiments, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may be in an intermediate state (e.g., the state of FIG. 3), in which the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are folded in an in-folding manner, so that the first surface (211) of the first housing (210) and the third surface (221) of the second housing (220) may face each other. In this case, the flexible display (240) may be exposed so that only the area corresponding to the third housing (230) is visible from the outside.

[0064] According to various embodiments, when the multi-foldable electronic device (101) transitions from an intermediate state to a fully folded state (e.g., the state of FIG. 3), the third housing (230) may be folded in an infolding manner so that the fourth side (222) of the second housing (220) at least partially overlaps the second housing (220), so that the fifth side (231) of the third housing (230) may face the fourth side (222) of the third housing (230). In this case, the flexible display (240) may be disposed between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) and between the second housing (220) and the third housing (230), so that it may not be visible from the outside. In one embodiment, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may help improve portability by having the first housing (210), the second housing (220), and the third housing (230) sequentially stacked in a folded state.

[0065] According to various embodiments, the multi-foldable electronic device (101) may be arranged so that, in a folded state, the second side (212) of the first housing (210) and the sixth side (232) of the third housing (230) are visible from the outside. Accordingly, the sub-display (250) may also be arranged so that it is visible from the outside through the sixth side (232) of the third housing (230).

[0066] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 5, a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “electronic device (101)”) may include a power conversion circuit (510, 520) that receives a power voltage (e.g., VBUS) from an external device (e.g., a power adapter or a wireless power transmitter) through a charging interface (e.g., a connection terminal (178) of FIG. 1), a first battery (531), a second battery (532), and a third battery (533), a first current limiting circuit (572), a second current limiting circuit (573), a first flexible circuit board (561), a second flexible circuit board (562), and a third flexible circuit board (563).

[0068] According to one embodiment, the power conversion circuit (510, 520) may include a first power conversion circuit (510) and a second power conversion circuit (520). According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) may be disposed in a first housing. According to one embodiment, the first housing may be a housing disposed at the far left when the electronic device is in an unfolded state (e.g., the state of FIG. 2), for example, the third housing (230) of FIG. 2. According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may be disposed in a second housing. According to one embodiment, the second housing may be a housing disposed in the middle when the electronic device is in an unfolded state (e.g., the state of FIG. 2), for example, the first housing (510) of FIG. 2.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) may include a switching converter (or switching regulator) including a FET (511) and an inductor (512), and a battery switch (513) (e.g., QBAT). According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) may be connected to a power input node to which a power voltage (e.g., VBUS) is input. The battery switch (513) may serve to control the connection of the batteries (531, 532, 533) and the system. The battery switch (513) may serve as a current limiting circuit that limits the current supplied to the first battery (531).

[0070] According to one embodiment, the switching converter of the first power conversion circuit (510) can regulate the power supply voltage (e.g., VBUS) to a specified voltage and output it. For example, the switching converter can regulate the power supply voltage (e.g., VBUS) to a specified voltage and output the adjusted voltage.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the voltage output from the first power conversion circuit (510) can be used to charge the batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0072] For example, the electronic device (101) can supply the charging current generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) to the first battery (531) (e.g., main battery) disposed in the first housing.

[0073] For example, the electronic device (101) can supply a charging current generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) to a second battery (532) (e.g., a first sub-battery) disposed in the second housing via the first flexible circuit board (561).

[0074] For example, the electronic device (101) may supply the charging current generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) to a third battery (533) (e.g., a second sub-battery) disposed in a third housing via the first flexible circuit board (561) and the second flexible circuit board (562). According to one embodiment, the third housing may be a housing disposed at the far right when the electronic device is in an unfolded state (e.g., the state of FIG. 2), and may be, for example, the second housing (220) of FIG. 2.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the voltage output from the first power conversion circuit (510) can be used to drive the system. The system may refer to components included in the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) can generate a driving voltage using a power voltage (e.g., VBUS) and supply the generated driving voltage to the system. According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) can receive voltage from batteries (531, 532, 533) and supply the input voltage to the system.

[0076] For example, the electronic device (101) can supply voltage generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) or output from batteries (531, 532, 533) to a first system (e.g., a first load circuit) disposed in the first housing.

[0077] For example, the electronic device (101) may supply voltage generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) or output from batteries (531, 532, 533) to a second system (e.g., a second load circuit) disposed in the second housing via the first flexible circuit board (561).

[0078] For example, the electronic device (101) can supply voltage generated by the first power conversion circuit (510) or output from batteries (531, 532, 533) to a third system (e.g., a third load circuit) disposed in the third housing via the first flexible circuit board (561) and the second flexible circuit board (562).

[0079] According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) may be a component integrated into an interface-integrated (IF) power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0080] According to one embodiment, the first power conversion circuit (510) may be disposed in the first housing (310). For example, the first power conversion circuit (510) and the first battery (531) may be disposed in the first housing (310). Since the first battery (531) is disposed in the first housing (310) together with the first power conversion circuit (510), the first battery (531) may be referred to as a “main battery,” and the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) may be referred to as “sub batteries.”

[0081] According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may receive a power voltage (e.g., VBUS) through the third flexible circuit board (563). According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may be a direct charger that supports direct charging (hereinafter, “DC charging”) using a switched cap (capacitor) divider method. According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may include a power converter that lowers an input voltage input from an external device (e.g., a charger) by a specified ratio and outputs it, and increases an input current input from the external device by the specified ratio and outputs it. According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may be a component integrated in a DC IC (direct charging integrated circuit).

[0082] According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may include at least one capacitor and / or at least one semiconductor device (e.g., a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)).

[0083] In one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may include a switched capacitor converter. In one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may include a 2:1 voltage divider that reduces the input voltage by half and increases the input current by two times. In various embodiments, the second power conversion circuit (520) is not limited to including a 2:1 voltage divider, but may be variously designed to include a 3:1 voltage divider that reduces the input voltage by one-third and increases the input current by three times, or a 4:1 voltage divider that reduces the input voltage by one-quarter and increases the input current by four times.

[0084] In one embodiment, the first current limiting circuit (572) may be configured to reduce the current flowing to the second battery (532). For example, the first current limiting circuit (572) may block the charging path to prevent current from flowing to the second battery (532) when the voltage of a node connected to the second battery (532) is above a threshold (e.g., about 4.8 V).

[0085] In one embodiment, the second current limiting circuit (573) may be configured to reduce the current flowing to the second battery (532)(533). For example, the second current limiting circuit (573) may block the charging path to prevent current from flowing to the third battery (533) when the voltage of the node connected to the third battery (533) is above a threshold value (e.g., approximately 4.8 V).

[0086] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can control the first power conversion circuit (510) to perform pack sensing for each of the batteries (531, 532, 533) to detect the battery voltage of each of the batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, pack sensing can mean a method of detecting the voltage of a battery pack.

[0087] For example, the first power conversion circuit (510) can sense (541) the voltage of a battery pack corresponding to the first battery (531) and perform voltage regulation of the voltage supplied to the first battery (531) based on the sensed voltage of the battery pack.

[0088] For example, the first power conversion circuit (510) can sense (542) the voltage of a battery pack corresponding to the second battery (532) and perform voltage regulation of the voltage supplied to the second battery (532) based on the sensed voltage of the battery pack.

[0089] For example, the first power conversion circuit (510) can sense (543) the voltage of a battery pack corresponding to the third battery (533) and perform voltage regulation of the voltage supplied to the third battery (533) based on the voltage of the sensed battery pack.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can control the second power conversion circuit (520) to perform cell sensing on each of the batteries (531, 532, 533) to detect the battery voltage of each of the batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, cell sensing may refer to a method of detecting the voltage of a battery cell arranged inside a battery pack.

[0091] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can sense (551) the voltage of a battery cell corresponding to the first battery (531) and adjust the voltage supplied to the third battery (533) based on the voltage of the sensed battery cell.

[0092] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can sense (552) the voltage of a battery cell corresponding to the second battery (532) and adjust the voltage supplied to the second battery (532) based on the voltage of the sensed battery cell.

[0093] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can sense (553) the voltage of a battery cell corresponding to the third battery (533) and adjust the voltage supplied to the third battery (533) based on the voltage of the sensed battery cell.

[0094] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating at least a portion of a second power conversion circuit (520) according to one embodiment.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 6, the second power conversion circuit (520) according to one embodiment may include at least one sensing block (630) for performing cell sensing for each of the batteries (531, 532, 533). Although FIG. 6 illustrates a sensing block (630) for sensing the voltage of any one of the battery cells of the first battery (531), the battery cells of the second battery (532), and the battery cells of the third battery (533), the second power conversion circuit (520) may include a plurality of sensing blocks (630).

[0096] According to one embodiment, the sensing block (630) may include a comparator (631) that receives the voltage of the battery cell as a differential signal. The comparator (631) may receive a negative signal (BATN) and a positive signal (BATP) of the voltage of the battery cell, and output a result of comparing them. The sensing block (630) may further include a comparator for performing overvoltage protection and a comparator for performing voltage regulation based on the output voltage of the comparator (631).

[0097] According to one embodiment, the second power conversion circuit (520) may include a charge pump (610) that receives (641) the voltage of a battery cell sensed by a sensing block (630) and generates a regulation voltage based on the input voltage of the battery cell.

[0098] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0099] The operations illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed by instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory of FIG. 1). For example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor of FIG. 1) including processing circuitry, may cause the electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0100] At least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 7 may be omitted. At least some of the operations mentioned with reference to other drawings in this disclosure may be additionally inserted before or after at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0101] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed sequentially.

[0102] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 7 can be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0103] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed with their order changed.

[0104] In operation 711, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may detect that a charger (e.g., a power adapter) is connected. In this document, the term "charger" may be interchangeably used with terms such as "power adapter," "travel adapter," "external device," and "external electronic device."

[0105] In operation 713, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check the SOC (state of charge) (or battery level) and battery voltage of the batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, the electronic device (101) can check the SOC (or battery level) and battery voltage of the first battery (531). For example, the electronic device (101) can check the SOC (or battery level) and battery voltage of the second battery (532). For example, the electronic device (101) can check the SOC (or battery level) and battery voltage of the third battery (533).

[0106] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can determine a first reference battery having the lowest battery level (or battery voltage) among a plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0107] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the first battery (531) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the first battery (531) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0108] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the second battery (532) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the second battery (532) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0109] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the third battery (533) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the third battery (533) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0110] In this document, the term "first reference battery" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "minimum battery" and "minimum level battery."

[0111] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can determine a second reference battery having the highest battery level (or battery voltage) among a plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0112] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the first battery (531) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0113] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the second battery (532) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0114] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the third battery (533) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0115] In this document, the term "second reference battery" may be interchangeably used with terms such as "maximum battery" and "maximum level battery".

[0116] In operation 715, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check the charging sections of the batteries (531, 532, 533). The electronic device (101) can check the charging sections of each of the plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, the electronic device (101) can check the charging section of the first battery (531), the charging section of the second battery (532), and the charging section of the third battery (533). The charging sections are sections predefined by the charging profile of the batteries, and the electronic device (101) can check the charging section based on the SOC (or battery level) of each battery.

[0117] In operation 717, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check whether the charging section of a first reference battery having the lowest battery level among a plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533) is a CC section.

[0118] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the charging section of the first battery (531) is a CC section when the battery level of the first battery (531) is the lowest among the plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0119] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the charging section of the second battery (532) is a CC section when the battery level of the second battery (532) is the lowest among the plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0120] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the charging section of the third battery (533) is a CC section when the battery level of the third battery (533) is the lowest among the plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0121] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 719 when the charging section of the first reference battery is a CC section (e.g., the result of operation 717 is yes). For example, when the first battery (531) is the first reference battery, the electronic device (101) may check whether the charging section of the first battery (531) is a CC section. For example, when the second battery (532) is the first reference battery, the electronic device (101) may check whether the charging section of the second battery (532) is a CC section. For example, when the third battery (533) is the first reference battery, the electronic device (101) may check whether the charging section of the third battery (533) is a CC section.

[0122] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 721 when the charging section of the first reference battery is not a CC section (e.g., when the result of operation 717 is NO and the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV section). For example, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 721 when the first battery (531) is the first reference battery and the charging section of the first battery (531) is a CV section. For example, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 721 when the second battery (532) is the first reference battery and the charging section of the second battery (532) is a CV section. For example, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 721 when the third battery (533) is the first reference battery and the charging section of the third battery (533) is a CV section.

[0123] In operation 719, an electronic device (101) according to an embodiment may charge batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charging CC section. Charging batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charging CC section may mean that the electronic device (101) preferentially CC-charges batteries (531, 532, 533) having relatively low battery levels among the batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0124] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can preferentially CC charge the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery having the highest battery level among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) in the multi-charging CC section.

[0125] For example, in a multi-charge CC section, when the battery level of the first battery (531) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) can perform multi-CC charging by setting the first battery (531) as the second reference battery and preferentially charging the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) excluding the first battery (531).

[0126] For example, in a multi-charge CC section, when the battery level of the second battery (532) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) may perform multi-CC charging by setting the second battery (532) as the second reference battery and preferentially charging the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) excluding the second battery (532).

[0127] For example, in a multi-charge CC section, when the battery level of the third battery (533) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) can perform multi-CC charging by setting the third battery (533) as the second reference battery and preferentially charging the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) excluding the third battery (533).

[0128] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can perform operation 717 again after charging the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to the multi-charging CC section.

[0129] In operation 721, an electronic device (101) according to an embodiment may charge batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CV section and perform cell balancing. Charging the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to the multi-charge CV section may mean that the electronic device (101) preferentially CV-charges two preset batteries among the batteries (531, 532, 533). The combination of the two preset batteries may be varied in various ways, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may, in a multi-charge CV section, preferentially charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and then, after the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) are fully charged, charge the third battery (533) through CV.

[0131] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may, in a multi-charge CV section, preferentially charge the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and then charge the first battery (531) after the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) are fully charged.

[0132] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may, in a multi-charge CV section, preferentially charge the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and then, after the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) are fully charged, charge the second battery (532) through CV.

[0133] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can perform cell balancing to uniformly adjust the voltage of the batteries (531, 532, 533) after charging the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CV section.

[0134] In operation 723, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may determine that all of the batteries (531, 532, 533) are fully charged.

[0135] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment is configured to vary the charging method according to the voltage state of each of the batteries (531, 532, 533) as the number of cases for cell balancing increases by including three or more batteries (531, 532, 533) and is designed to enable self-repair by the consumer. The electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can charge the batteries (531, 532, 533) in the manner described in FIG. 7 and increase the charging speed as the battery capacity of each of the batteries (531, 532, 533) increases.

[0136] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can check the voltage difference between the three batteries (531, 532, 533) instead of charging the three batteries (531, 532, 533) simultaneously when the charging section of the batteries (531, 532, 533) is a CC section. If there is a voltage difference between the three batteries (531, 532, 533), the electronic device (101) can charge two batteries preferentially for cell balancing. If there is no voltage difference between the three batteries (531, 532, 533), the electronic device (101) can charge the three batteries (531, 532, 533) simultaneously.

[0137] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may not charge three batteries (531, 532, 533) simultaneously when the charging sections of the batteries (531, 532, 533) are in the CV section. For example, if two of the three batteries (531, 532, 533) first enter the CV section, the electronic device (101) may first fully charge the two batteries and then charge the remaining one battery. The electronic device (101) may lower the charging voltage (e.g., system offset voltage) for charging the batteries (531, 532, 533) and prevent OVLO (over voltage lock out) of the charging voltage, thereby increasing the stability of the system (e.g., load circuit).

[0138] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (101) may include a cell sensing circuit in each of batteries (531, 532, 533) when a programmable power supply (PPS) charger is connected, so that a second power conversion circuit (520) may perform cell sensing for each of the batteries (531, 532, 533). A PPS charger may refer to a charger that supports a PPS function. A PPS charger may be a charger that can output voltage and current by dynamically adjusting them. A PPS charger may vary an output voltage in units of about 20 mV in a range of, for example, about 3.3 V to about 21 V, and may transmit power of about 25 W or more. A PPS charger may be referred to as an "ultra-fast charger."

[0139] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can sense battery voltage more accurately by performing cell sensing compared to pack sensing (or battery pack sensing), and thus can perform CC charging for a longer period of time. As the period of CC charging increases, the charging time of the batteries (531, 532, 533) can be reduced.

[0140] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating multi-CC charging of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0141] The operations illustrated in FIG. 8 may be performed by instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory of FIG. 1). For example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor of FIG. 1) including processing circuitry, may cause the electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0142] At least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 8 may be omitted. At least some of the operations mentioned with reference to other drawings in this disclosure may be additionally inserted before or after at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0143] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 8 may be performed sequentially.

[0144] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 8 can be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0145] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 8 may be performed with their order changed.

[0146] In operation 811, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may start charging batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CC section.

[0147] In operation 813, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check the voltage of a multi-battery. The electronic device (101) can check the voltage of each of the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0148] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can determine a first reference battery having the lowest battery level (or battery voltage) among a plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0149] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the first battery (531) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the first battery (531) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0150] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the second battery (532) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the second battery (532) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0151] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the third battery (533) as the first reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the third battery (533) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0152] In this document, the term "first reference battery" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "minimum battery" and "minimum level battery."

[0153] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can determine a second reference battery having the highest battery level (or battery voltage) among a plurality of batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0154] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the first battery (531) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0155] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the second battery (532) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0156] For example, the electronic device (101) may determine the third battery (533) as the second reference battery when the battery level (or battery voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0157] In this document, the term "second reference battery" may be interchangeably used with terms such as "maximum battery" and "maximum level battery".

[0158] In operation 815, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can determine whether the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage. For example, the first reference voltage may be approximately 0.2 V, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0159] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) is greater than the first reference voltage of about 0.2 V when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0160] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the second battery (532) and the voltage of the third battery (533) is greater than the first reference voltage of about 0.2 V when, among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the lowest.

[0161] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the third battery (533) and the voltage of the first battery (531) is greater than the first reference voltage of about 0.2 V when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0162] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 817 if the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage (e.g., the result of operation 815 is yes).

[0163] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 833 if the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is less than or equal to the first reference voltage (e.g., the result of operation 815 is NO).

[0164] In operation 817, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set a charging target. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may set the remaining two batteries, excluding the second reference battery having the highest battery voltage, as charging targets (e.g., charging targets).

[0165] For example, the electronic device (101) may set the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) as charging targets when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0166] For example, the electronic device (101) may set the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) as charging targets when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0167] For example, the electronic device (101) may set the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) as charging targets when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0168] In operation 819, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check whether the first battery (531), which is the main battery, is included in the charging target.

[0169] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 821 if the first battery (531), which is the main battery, is included in the charging target (e.g., the result of operation 819 is yes).

[0170] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 823 if the first battery (531), which is the main battery, is not included in the charging target (e.g., the result of operation 819 is NO).

[0171] In operation 821, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may charge batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to charging targets in a linear charge-buck mode. The linear charge-buck mode may refer to a state in which the electronic device (101) charges one of the first battery (531), which is a main battery, and the second battery (532) or the third battery (533), which is a sub-battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510). In this document, the term "linear charge-buck mode" may be used interchangeably with the term "first buck mode."

[0172] For example, when the electronic device (101) sets the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) as charging targets, the first power conversion circuit (510) can be controlled to supply charging current to the first battery (531) and the second battery (532).

[0173] For example, when the electronic device (101) sets the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) as charging targets, the first power conversion circuit (510) can be controlled to supply charging current to the first battery (531) and the third battery (533).

[0174] In operation 823, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may charge the batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to the charging target in a no charge-buck mode. The no charge-buck mode may refer to a state in which the electronic device (101) charges the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), which are the sub-batteries (532, 533) other than the first battery (531), which is the main battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510). In this document, the term "no charge-buck mode" may be used interchangeably with the term "second buck mode."

[0175] For example, when the electronic device (101) sets the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) as charging targets, the first power conversion circuit (510) can be controlled to supply charging current to the second battery (532) and the third battery (533).

[0176] In steps 825 and 827, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set an initial value of a charging voltage (e.g., system offset voltage) for charging batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to the charging target. The electronic device (101) may set the initial value of the charging voltage by considering the set value of the charging current and the DC resistance of the charging path. The electronic device (101) may set the initial value of the charging voltage to a value lower than a threshold voltage that causes OVLO (over voltage lock out).

[0177] In operation 829, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform CC charging on batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to charging targets.

[0178] For example, the electronic device (101), when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), sets the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) as charging targets, and can CC charge the second battery (532) and the third battery (533).

[0179] For example, the electronic device (101) may set the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) as charging targets when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and may CC charge the first battery (531) and the third battery (533).

[0180] For example, the electronic device (101) may set the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) as charging targets when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and may CC charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532).

[0181] In operation 831, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can determine whether the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is less than a second reference voltage. For example, the second reference voltage may be approximately 0.1 V, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0182] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) is less than a second reference voltage of about 0.1 V when the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the lowest among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0183] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the second battery (532) and the voltage of the third battery (533) is less than a second reference voltage of about 0.1 V when, among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the second battery (532) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the lowest.

[0184] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether the voltage difference between the voltage of the third battery (533) and the voltage of the first battery (531) is less than a second reference voltage of about 0.1 V when, among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the third battery (533) is the highest and the voltage (e.g., cell voltage) of the first battery (531) is the lowest.

[0185] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 833 if the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is less than the second reference voltage (e.g., the result of operation 831 is yes).

[0186] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 829 again if the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is greater than or equal to the second reference voltage (e.g., the result of operation 831 is NO).

[0187] In operation 833, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can charge the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) all in a multi-charge linear charge-buck mode. The multi-charge linear charge-buck mode may refer to a state in which the electronic device (101) not only charges the first battery (531), which is the main battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510), but also charges the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), which are the remaining sub-batteries (532, 533). In this document, the term "multi-charge linear charge-buck mode" may be used interchangeably with the term "third buck mode."

[0188] In operation 835, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set the charging voltage (e.g., system offset voltage) to a minimum value. The electronic device (101) may set the charging voltage to a minimum value in a state where the voltage difference between the first reference battery and the second reference battery is smaller than the second reference voltage, i.e., in a state where the cell balancing of the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) is nearly correct, thereby minimizing power consumption of the system (e.g., load circuit) and preventing the occurrence of OVLO (over voltage lock out).

[0189] In operation 837, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may charge the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CV period. Operation 837 may be at least partially similar to or substantially identical to operation 721 described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0190] FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CC charge some of the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a linear charge-buck mode. For example, FIG. 9 may be a conceptual diagram illustrating operation 821 of FIG. 8.

[0191] Referring to FIG. 9, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can charge batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to charging targets in a linear charge-buck mode. The linear charge-buck mode may refer to a state in which the electronic device (101) charges one of the first battery (531), which is a main battery, and the second battery (532) or the third battery (533), which is a sub-battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510). For example, when the electronic device (101) sets the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) as charging targets, the first power conversion circuit (510) can be controlled to supply charging current to the first battery (531) and the second battery (532), as in 901 of FIG. 9.

[0192] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CC charge some of the batteries (531, 532, 533) in a no charge buck mode. For example, FIG. 10 may be a conceptual diagram illustrating operation 823 of FIG. 8.

[0193] Referring to FIG. 10, an electronic device (101) according to an embodiment can charge batteries (531, 532, 533) corresponding to charging targets in a no charge-buck mode. The no charge-buck mode may refer to a state in which the electronic device (101) charges the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), which are sub-batteries (532, 533) other than the first battery (531), which is the main battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510). For example, when the electronic device (101) sets the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) as charging targets, the first power conversion circuit (510) can be controlled to supply charging current to the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), as in 1001 of FIG. 10.

[0194] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously charge batteries (531, 532, 533) via a cell balancing power path. For example, FIG. 11 may be a conceptual diagram illustrating operation 833 of FIG. 8.

[0195] Referring to FIG. 11, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can charge a first battery (531), a second battery (532), and a third battery (533) in a multi-charge linear charge-buck mode. The multi-charge linear charge-buck mode may mean a state in which the electronic device (101) not only charges the first battery (531), which is the main battery, using the first power conversion circuit (510), but also charges the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), which are the remaining sub-batteries (532, 533), as shown in 1001 of FIG. 11.

[0196] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating multi-CV charging of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0197] The operations illustrated in FIG. 12 may be performed by instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory of FIG. 1). For example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor of FIG. 1) including processing circuitry, may cause the electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0198] At least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 12 may be omitted. At least some of the operations mentioned with reference to other drawings in this disclosure may be additionally inserted before or after at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0199] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 12 may be performed sequentially.

[0200] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 12 may be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0201] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 12 may be performed with their order changed.

[0202] In operation 1211, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may charge batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CV period and perform cell balancing.

[0203] In operation 1213, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may start a first stage of a multi-charge CV period. The first stage of the multi-charge CV period may be a stage of preferentially CV-charging two preset batteries among the batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0204] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can start charging according to the first stage of the multi-charge CV section in a stable state in which all three batteries maintain the same voltage.

[0205] According to one embodiment, the combination of two preset batteries can be varied in various ways, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the two batteries that are preferentially CV-charged in the multi-charge CV section are the first battery (531) and the second battery (532). For example, the electronic device (101) may preferentially CV-charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), as described below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0206] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can set the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) as CV charging targets in the first stage of the multi-charging CV section.

[0207] In operation 1215, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may control a current limiting circuit connected to the third battery (533) to block the charging current supplied to the third battery (533). For example, the electronic device (101) may turn off at least one switching element included in the current limiting circuit connected to the third battery (533).

[0208] In operation 1217, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set the charging voltage of the first power conversion circuit (510). For example, the electronic device (101) may set a system regulation offset voltage as the output voltage of the first power conversion circuit (510). The electronic device (101) may set the charging voltage so that the charging voltage does not exceed a threshold voltage that causes over voltage lock out (OVLO).

[0209] According to one embodiment, when a charging voltage is set, the electronic device (101) may CV charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) based on the set charging voltage. The electronic device (101) may not charge the third battery (533) while CV charging the first battery (531) and the second battery (532).

[0210] In operation 1219, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check whether both the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) are greater than or equal to the charging voltage.

[0211] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1221 when both the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) reach the full voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1219 is yes).

[0212] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1223 if at least one of the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) does not reach the full charge voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1219 is NO).

[0213] In operation 1221, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may terminate the first stage of the multi-charge CV period when both the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) reach the full charge voltage. According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) terminates the first stage of the multi-charge CV period, the electronic device (101) may perform the second stage of the multi-charge CV period, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0214] In operation 1223, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may CV charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) until both the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) reach a full charge voltage.

[0215] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating multi-CV charging of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0216] The operations illustrated in FIG. 13 may be performed by instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory of FIG. 1). For example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor of FIG. 1) including processing circuitry, may cause the electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0217] At least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 13 may be omitted. At least some of the operations mentioned with reference to other drawings in this disclosure may be additionally inserted before or after at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0218] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 13 may be performed sequentially.

[0219] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 13 may be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0220] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 13 may be performed with their order changed.

[0221] In operation 1311, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may start a second stage of a multi-charge CV section. The second stage of the multi-charge CV section may be a stage of CV-charging one battery among the batteries (531, 532, 533) except for the batteries (531, 532, 533) that have been CV-charged first. For example, the electronic device (101) may, in the first stage of the multi-charge CV section, preferentially CV-charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533). For example, the electronic device (101) may set the third battery (533), which is the remaining battery, as a target for CV-charging in the second stage of the multi-charge CV section.

[0222] In operation 1313, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may check whether a charger (e.g., a power adapter) is connected. For example, the electronic device (101) may check whether the charger is still connected.

[0223] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1315 if a charger (e.g., a power adapter) is connected (e.g., the result of operation 1313 is yes).

[0224] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1317 if the charger (e.g., power adapter) is not connected (e.g., no result of operation 1313). For example, a user may connect a charger (e.g., power adapter) to the electronic device (101) to charge the batteries (531, 532, 533), and may disconnect the charger from the electronic device (101) while the electronic device (101) is charging the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to a multi-charge CV period. The electronic device (101) may perform operation 1317 when it detects the disconnection of the charger.

[0225] In operation 1315, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may control a current limiting circuit connected to the first battery (531) and a current limiting circuit connected to the second battery (532) to block the charging current supplied to the second battery (532) and the third battery (533). For example, the electronic device (101) may turn off at least one switching element included in the current limiting circuit connected to the first battery (531). For example, the electronic device (101) may turn off at least one switching element included in the current limiting circuit connected to the second battery (532).

[0226] In operation 1317, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may control a current limiting circuit connected to the first battery (531) and a current limiting circuit connected to the second battery (532) to supply the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) to the system (e.g., the load circuit), and such a setting may be referred to as a “supplement setting.” For example, the electronic device (101) may control the current limiting circuit connected to the first battery (531) and the current limiting circuit connected to the second battery (532) to supply power to the system when the charger is not connected.

[0227] In operation 1319, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set the charging voltage of the first power conversion circuit (510). For example, the electronic device (101) may set a system regulation offset voltage as an output voltage of the first power conversion circuit (510). The electronic device (101) may set the charging voltage so that the charging voltage does not exceed a threshold voltage that causes an over voltage lock out (OVLO). The electronic device (101) may set the charging voltage to have a voltage that is greater than or equal to the full charge voltage of the third battery (533).

[0228] In operation 1321, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set a cell balancing current for charging the third battery (533). For example, the electronic device (101) may set a cell balancing current so that the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) all maintain the same voltage. The cell balancing current may be a current for charging the third battery (533) using the voltages of the first battery (531) and the second battery (532).

[0229] In operation 1323, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may control a current limiting circuit connected to the third battery (533) to supply charging current to the third battery (533). For example, the electronic device (101) may turn on at least one switching element included in the current limiting circuit connected to the third battery (533).

[0230] In operation 1325, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may charge the third battery (533).

[0231] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may CV charge the third battery (533) according to a set charging voltage (e.g., a system regulation offset voltage) when a charger is connected (e.g., the result of operation 1313 is yes).

[0232] In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can charge the third battery (533) according to the set cell balancing current when the charger is not connected (e.g., the result of operation 1313 is NO). For example, the electronic device (101) can supply the cell balancing current to the third battery (533) using the voltages of the first battery (531) and the second battery (532).

[0233] In operation 1327, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can check whether the voltage of the first battery (531), the voltage of the second battery (532), and the voltage of the third battery (533) are all greater than or equal to the full charge voltage.

[0234] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1329 when the voltage of the first battery (531), the voltage of the second battery (532), and the voltage of the third battery (533) all reach the full voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1327 is yes).

[0235] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may perform operation 1331 if the voltage of the first battery (531), the voltage of the second battery (532), and the voltage of the third battery (533) all do not reach the full charge voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1327 is NO).

[0236] In operation 1329, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may terminate the second stage of the multi-charge CV period when the voltage of the first battery (531), the voltage of the second battery (532), and the voltage of the third battery (533) all reach the full charge voltage.

[0237] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can substantially terminate charging of the batteries (531, 532, 533) by terminating the second stage of the multi-charge CV period.

[0238] In operation 1331, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may return to the first stage of the multi-charge CV section if the voltage of the first battery (531), the voltage of the second battery (532), and the voltage of the third battery (533) all do not reach the full charge voltage. By performing the first stage of the multi-charge CV section again, the electronic device (101) may preferentially CV-charge two preset batteries (e.g., the first battery (531) and the second battery (532)).

[0239] FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment of the present invention to simultaneously CV-charge batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, FIG. 14 may be a conceptual diagram illustrating a first step of the multi-charging CV section described with reference to FIG. 12 and a second step of the multi-charging CV section described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0240] Referring to FIG. 14, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can preferentially CV charge two preset batteries among batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0241] According to one embodiment, the combination of two preset batteries can be varied in various ways, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the two batteries that are preferentially CV-charged in the multi-charge CV section are the first battery (531) and the second battery (532). For example, the electronic device (101) may preferentially CV-charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), as shown in 1401 of FIG. 14, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0242] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can first charge two preset batteries using CV, and then charge the remaining batteries using CV. For example, the electronic device (101) can charge the third battery (533) using CV, as shown in 1402 of FIG. 14 .

[0243] FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a charging path when a power supply device is not connected to a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment. For example, FIG. 15 may be a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation performed by the electronic device (101) in FIG. 13 when a charger (e.g., a power adapter) is not connected (e.g., the result of operation 1313 is NO).

[0244] Referring to FIG. 15, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may control a current limiting circuit connected to a first battery (531) and a current limiting circuit connected to a second battery (532) so that the voltage of the first battery (531) and the voltage of the second battery (532) are supplied to a system (e.g., a load circuit), and such a setting may be referred to as a “supplement setting.” For example, when a charger is not connected, the electronic device (101) may control the current limiting circuit connected to the first battery (531) and the current limiting circuit connected to the second battery (532) so that the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) supply power to the system. For example, the electronic device (101) may control a voltage (1501) discharged from the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) to be supplied to the system.

[0245] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can charge the third battery (533) according to the set cell balancing current when the charger is not connected (e.g., the result of operation 1313 is NO). For example, the electronic device (101) can supply the cell balancing current to the third battery (533) using the voltages of the first battery (531) and the second battery (532). For example, the electronic device (101) can control the voltage (1501) discharged from the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) to be supplied to the third battery (533) as shown in 1502 of FIG. 15 .

[0246] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a power supply device supporting a PPS function is connected to a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0247] The operations illustrated in FIG. 16 may be performed by instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory of FIG. 1). For example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor of FIG. 1) including processing circuitry, may cause the electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0248] At least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 16 may be omitted. At least some of the operations mentioned with reference to other drawings in this disclosure may be additionally inserted before or after at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0249] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 16 may be performed sequentially.

[0250] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 16 can be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0251] According to one embodiment, at least some of the operations illustrated in FIG. 16 may be performed with their order changed.

[0252] In operation 1611, an electronic device (101) according to an embodiment can check the type of charger when a charger is connected. If the connected charger supports PPS charging, the electronic device (101) can perform ultra-fast charging. Ultra-fast charging may refer to charging that receives power of about 25 W or more from the charger and quickly charges the batteries (531, 532, 533) using the received power. Ultra-fast charging may refer to charging in which the electronic device (101) controls the charger and dynamically adjusts the output voltage and output current of the charger.

[0253] In operation 1613, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can perform cell sensing on each of the batteries (531, 532, 533) to determine the SOC and / or battery voltage of each of the batteries (531, 532, 533). For example, the electronic device (101) can control the second power conversion circuit (520) to perform cell sensing on each of the batteries (531, 532, 533).

[0254] In operation 1615, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may set a charging current for charging each battery and CC-charge the batteries (531, 532, 533) based on the set charging current. For example, the electronic device (101) may set a charging current for charging the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533), and control the second power conversion circuit (520) to supply the set charging current to the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533).

[0255] In operation 1617, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can determine whether the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) can detect the battery voltage while CC charging the battery using the second power conversion circuit (520). If the battery reaches the specified regulation voltage, the electronic device (101) can perform CV charging, which fixes the output voltage and lowers the current.

[0256] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may determine that the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage when any one of the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) may determine that the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage when the first battery (531) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) may determine that the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage when the second battery (532) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) may determine that the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage when the third battery (533) among the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage.

[0257] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1619 when the battery along the first path reaches the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1617 is yes).

[0258] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1615 if the battery along the first path does not reach the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1617 is NO).

[0259] In operation 1619, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may turn off charging of the battery along the first path. For example, the electronic device (101) may turn off a switching element included in a current limiting circuit connected to the battery so that charging current is not supplied to the battery along the first path.

[0260] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the first battery (531), the electronic device (101) can block the path supplying the charging current to the first battery (531).

[0261] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the second battery (532), the electronic device (101) may block the path supplying the charging current to the second battery (532).

[0262] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) may block the path supplying the charging current to the third battery (533).

[0263] In operation 1621, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may reset the battery charging current for charging the remaining two batteries except for the battery along the first path, and perform CC charging.

[0264] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the first battery (531), the electronic device (101) can re-set the charging current to be supplied to the second battery (532) and the third battery (533), and charge the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) based on the set charging current.

[0265] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the second battery (532), the electronic device (101) can re-set the charging current to be supplied to the first battery (531) and the third battery (533), and charge the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) based on the set charging current.

[0266] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1617 is the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) can re-set the charging current to be supplied to the first battery (531) and the second battery (532), and charge the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) based on the set charging current.

[0267] In operation 1623, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may determine whether the battery along the second path has reached the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) may determine whether any one of the two batteries other than the battery along the first path has reached the regulation voltage.

[0268] For example, if the first battery (531) is charged to the regulation voltage first in operation 1617, then in operation 1623 the electronic device (101) can determine which of the second battery (532) and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage.

[0269] For example, if the second battery (532) is charged to the regulation voltage first in operation 1617, then in operation 1623 the electronic device (101) can determine which one of the first battery (531) and the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage.

[0270] For example, if the third battery (533) is charged to the regulation voltage first in operation 1617, then in operation 1623 the electronic device (101) can determine which one of the first battery (531) and the second battery (532) is charged to the regulation voltage.

[0271] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1625 when the battery along the second path reaches the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1623 is yes).

[0272] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1621 if the battery along the second path does not reach the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1623 is NO).

[0273] In operation 1625, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may turn off charging of the battery along the second path. For example, the electronic device (101) may turn off a switching element included in a current limiting circuit connected to the battery so that charging current is not supplied to the battery along the second path.

[0274] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1621 is the first battery (531), the electronic device (101) can block the path supplying the charging current to the first battery (531).

[0275] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1621 is the second battery (532), the electronic device (101) can block the path supplying the charging current to the second battery (532).

[0276] For example, if the battery charged with the regulation voltage in operation 1621 is the third battery (533), the electronic device (101) can block the path supplying the charging current to the third battery (533).

[0277] In operation 1627, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may reset the battery charging current for charging the remaining one battery excluding the batteries (531, 532, 533) according to the first path and the second path, and perform CC charging.

[0278] For example, the electronic device (101) can reset the charging current for charging the first battery (531) if the remaining battery that has not been charged to the regulation voltage is the first battery (531).

[0279] For example, the electronic device (101) can reset the charging current for charging the second battery (532) if the remaining battery that has not been charged to the regulation voltage is the second battery (532).

[0280] For example, the electronic device (101) can reset the charging current for charging the third battery (533) if the remaining battery that has not been charged to the regulation voltage is the third battery (533).

[0281] In operation 1629, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may determine whether the battery along the third path has reached the regulation voltage. For example, the electronic device (101) may determine whether the voltage of the remaining battery that has not been charged to the regulation voltage has reached the regulation voltage.

[0282] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1631 when the battery along the third path reaches the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1629 is yes).

[0283] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may perform operation 1627 if the battery along the third path does not reach the regulation voltage (e.g., the result of operation 1629 is NO).

[0284] In operation 1631, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may reconnect the first path and the second path that were blocked. For example, when the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) all reach the regulation voltage, the electronic device (101) may turn on the charging paths along the first path and the second path again to simultaneously CV charge them.

[0285] In operation 1633, the electronic device (101) according to one embodiment can simultaneously charge the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) according to the CV mode. For example, the electronic device (101) can charge the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) while fixing the charging voltage and lowering the charging current.

[0286] FIG. 17 is a graph showing a charging profile of a multi-foldable electronic device (101) according to one embodiment. In FIG. 17, the horizontal axis represents time. In FIG. 17, the vertical axis represents a charging current according to the charging profile. Graph 1710 in FIG. 17 shows a comparative example in which CC-CV charging is performed based on the result of the second power conversion circuit (520) sensing the voltage of the battery pack. Graph 1720 in FIG. 17 shows one embodiment of the present invention in which CC-CV charging is performed based on the result of the second power conversion circuit (520) sensing the voltage of the battery cell.

[0287] Referring to graph 1710, the second power conversion circuit (520) according to the comparative example can perform CC charging with a constant charging current for a period of 1711 based on the result of sensing the voltage of the battery pack, and perform CV charging with a fixed charging voltage and a lowered charging current for a period of 1712.

[0288] Referring to graph 1710, the second power conversion circuit (520) according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform more accurate sensing by sensing the voltage of the battery cell rather than the voltage of the battery pack.

[0289] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can perform CC charging for a period of 1721, which is longer than the period of 1711 in the comparative example.

[0290] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can reset the battery charging current for charging the remaining two batteries excluding the battery along the first path and perform CC charging, as described in operation 1621 of FIG. 16, at period 1722.

[0291] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can reset the battery charging current for charging the remaining one battery excluding the batteries (531, 532, 533) along the first path and the second path, and perform CC charging, as described in operation 1627 of FIG. 16, at period 1723.

[0292] For example, the second power conversion circuit (520) can simultaneously CV charge the first battery (531), the second battery (532), and the third battery (533) according to the CV mode, as described in operation 1633 of FIG. 16, in period 1724.

[0293] An electronic device (101) according to one embodiment of the present invention can increase the charging speed of charging batteries (531, 532, 533) by lengthening the CC charging period compared to the comparison.

[0294] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure can increase the speed of charging three or more batteries while maintaining high stability of the system (e.g., load circuit).

[0295] In addition, various effects may be provided, either directly or indirectly, through this document.

[0296] (Paraphrasing of claims to be inserted. Once the claims are confirmed, this paragraph will be inserted into the final application specification.)

[0297] An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing, a first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator, a second power conversion circuit configured to increase a current input from an external device by a specified ratio and output it while lowering a voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and outputting it, a first battery disposed in the first housing, a second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through a first flexible circuit board, a third battery disposed in the third housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, at least one processor including processing circuitry, and a memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to detect that a power adapter is connected to the electronic device, and to: The battery level and charging section of each of the second battery and the third battery are checked, and the charging section of the first reference battery having the lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery is checked to be a CC (constant current) section, and if the charging section of the first reference battery is the CC section, multi-CC charging is performed to preferentially charge the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery having the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, and if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section,It is possible to perform multi-CV charging that gives priority to CV charging of the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery.

[0298] The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to determine whether a voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than a first reference voltage in the multi-CC charging, and if the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage, to preferentially CC charge the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery, and if the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is less than or equal to the first reference voltage, to CC charge the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery simultaneously.

[0299] The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to, when preferentially CC-charging the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery in the multi-CC charging, set the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery as charging targets, and if the first battery is included in the set charging targets, set a current path for supplying charging current to any one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, and if the first battery is not included in the set charging targets, set a current path for supplying charging current to the second battery and the third battery.

[0300] The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to, while CC charging the batteries of the charging target in the multi-CC charging, check whether the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage, and if the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage, CC charge the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery simultaneously.

[0301] The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to set a charging voltage, which is an output voltage of the first power conversion circuit, to a minimum value while simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery.

[0302] The above commands, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to set two preset batteries among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery as charging targets in the multi-CV charging, and to charge the two batteries set as charging targets while not charging the remaining one battery.

[0303] The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, may cause the electronic device to, in the multi-CV charging, determine whether the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and if the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, determine whether a charger is still connected to the electronic device, and if the charger is connected to the electronic device, perform CV charging of the remaining one battery.

[0304] In the above multi-CV charging, it is possible to check whether the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all full-charge voltages, and if the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all full-charge voltages, charging can be terminated.

[0305] In the above multi-CV charging, it is possible to check whether the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and if the charger is not connected to the electronic device, charge the third battery using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery.

[0306] In the above multi-CV charging, it is possible to check whether the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and if the charger is not connected to the electronic device, to supply a driving voltage to components of the electronic device using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery.

[0307] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of an electronic device comprises: a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing; a first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator; a second power conversion circuit configured to increase a current input from an external device by a specified ratio and output it, and to decrease a voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and output it; a first battery disposed in the first housing; a second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through a first flexible circuit board; and a third battery disposed in the third housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, wherein the method comprises: an operation of detecting that a charger (power adapter) is connected to the electronic device; an operation of checking a battery level and a charging section of each of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; and an operation of determining a charging section of a first reference battery having a lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery. The method may include: an operation of checking whether the charging section of the first reference battery is a CC (constant current) section; an operation of performing multi-CC charging to preferentially charge CC of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery having the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section; and an operation of performing multi-CV charging to preferentially charge CV of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery if the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section.

[0308] The method may include, in the multi-CC charging, an operation of checking whether a voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than a first reference voltage, an operation of preferentially CC charging the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery if the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage, and an operation of simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery if the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is less than or equal to the first reference voltage.

[0309] The method may include, in the multi-CC charging, when the remaining batteries except the second reference battery are CC-charged preferentially, an operation of setting the remaining batteries except the second reference battery as charging targets, an operation of setting a current path for supplying charging current to any one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery if the first battery is included in the set charging targets, and an operation of setting a current path for supplying charging current to the second battery and the third battery if the first battery is not included in the set charging targets.

[0310] The method may include, in the multi-CC charging, an operation of checking whether a voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than a second reference voltage while CC charging the batteries to be charged, and an operation of simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery when the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage.

[0311] The method may include an operation of setting a charging voltage, which is an output voltage of the first power conversion circuit, to a minimum value while simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery.

[0312] The method may include, in the multi-CV charging, an operation of setting two batteries preset among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery as charging targets, and an operation of not charging the remaining one battery while CV charging the two batteries set as charging targets.

[0313] The method may include, in the multi-CV charging, an operation of checking whether the voltages of two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, an operation of checking whether the charger is still connected to the electronic device if the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and an operation of CV charging the remaining one battery if the charger is connected to the electronic device.

[0314] The method may include, in the multi-CV charging, an operation of checking whether the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all full-charge voltages, and an operation of terminating charging if the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all full-charge voltages.

[0315] The method may include, in the multi-CV charging, an operation of checking whether the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and an operation of charging the third battery using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery when the charger is not connected to the electronic device.

[0316] The method may include, in the multi-CV charging, an operation of checking whether the voltages of the two batteries set as the charging target are full voltages, and an operation of supplying a driving voltage to components of the electronic device using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery when the charger is not connected to the electronic device.

Claims

1. In electronic devices, A housing comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing; A first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator; A second power conversion circuit that increases the current input from an external device by a specified ratio and outputs it, and also lowers the voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and outputs it; A first battery disposed in the first housing; A second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit via a first flexible circuit board; A third battery disposed in the third housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board; At least one processor comprising processing circuitry; and Contains memory that stores instructions, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: Detecting that a charger (power adapter) is connected to the electronic device; Check the battery level and charging period of each of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; Check whether the charging section of the first reference battery with the lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery is a CC (constant current) section, If the charging section of the first reference battery is the CC section, multi-CC charging is performed to give priority to CC charging of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery with the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, and If the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section, multi-CV charging is performed to give priority to CV charging of the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery. Electronic devices.

2. In paragraph 1, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: In the above multi CC charging, Check whether the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage, If the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage, the remaining batteries except the second reference battery are CC-charged preferentially, and If the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is less than or equal to the first reference voltage, the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are CC-charged simultaneously. Electronic devices.

3. In paragraph 2, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: In the above multi-CC charging, when charging the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery with priority, Set the remaining batteries, excluding the second reference battery, as charging targets, If the first battery is included in the set charging target, a current path is set to supply charging current to any one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, and If the first battery is not included in the set charging target, a current path is set to supply charging current to the second battery and the third battery. Electronic devices.

4. In paragraph 3, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: In the above multi CC charging, While charging the batteries to be charged, it is checked whether the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage. When the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage, the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are CC-charged simultaneously. Electronic devices.

5. In paragraph 4, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: While simultaneously charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery, the charging voltage, which is the output voltage of the first power conversion circuit, is set to the minimum value. Electronic devices.

6. In paragraph 1, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: In the above multi-CV charging, Set two batteries in advance among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery as charging targets, While the two batteries set as the above charging target are being CV charged, the remaining one battery is not charged. Electronic devices.

7. In paragraph 6, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: In the above multi-CV charging, Check whether the voltage of the two batteries set as the charging target is the full voltage, If the voltage of the two batteries set as the charging target is the full voltage, check whether the charger is still connected to the electronic device, and When the charger is connected to the electronic device, the remaining one battery is charged with CV. Electronic devices.

8. In paragraph 7, In the above multi-CV charging, Check that the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all full voltages, and When the voltages of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery are all at full voltage, charging is terminated. Electronic devices.

9. In paragraph 7, In the above multi-CV charging, Check whether the voltage of the two batteries set as the charging target is the full voltage, If the charger is not connected to the electronic device, To charge the third battery using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery, Electronic devices.

10. In paragraph 7, In the above multi-CV charging, Check whether the voltage of the two batteries set as the charging target is the full voltage, If the charger is not connected to the electronic device, To supply driving voltage to components of the electronic device using the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery, Electronic devices.

11. In the method of an electronic device, The above electronic device, A housing comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing; A first power conversion circuit disposed in the first housing and including a switching regulator; A second power conversion circuit that increases the current input from an external device by a specified ratio and outputs it, and also lowers the voltage input from the external device by the specified ratio and outputs it; A first battery disposed in the first housing; A second battery disposed in the second housing and electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board; and A third battery is disposed in the third housing and is electrically connected to the first power conversion circuit through the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, The above method, An action to detect that a charger (power adapter) is connected to the electronic device; An operation of checking the battery level and charging period of each of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; An operation for checking whether the charging section of the first reference battery having the lowest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery is a CC (constant current) section; If the charging section of the first reference battery is the CC section, an operation of performing multi-CC charging to preferentially charge the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery with the highest battery level among the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; and If the charging section of the first reference battery is a CV (constant voltage) section, an operation of performing multi-CV charging to preferentially charge the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery is included; method.

12. In paragraph 11, The above method In the above multi CC charging, An operation of checking whether the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage; When the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is greater than the first reference voltage, an operation of preferentially charging the remaining batteries except for the second reference battery; and An operation of simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery when the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery is less than or equal to the first reference voltage; method.

13. In paragraph 12, The above method In the above multi-CC charging, when charging the remaining batteries excluding the second reference battery with priority, An action to set the remaining batteries, excluding the second reference battery, as charging targets; When the first battery is included in the set charging target, an operation of setting a current path for supplying charging current to any one of the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; and An operation including setting a current path for supplying charging current to the second battery and the third battery if the first battery is not included in the set charging target; method.

14. In paragraph 13, The above method In the above multi CC charging, An operation of checking whether the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage while charging the batteries to be charged; An operation of simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery when the voltage difference between the second reference battery and the first reference battery becomes smaller than the second reference voltage; method.

15. In paragraph 14, The above method An operation of setting a charging voltage, which is an output voltage of the first power conversion circuit, to a minimum value while simultaneously CC charging the first battery, the second battery, and the third battery; method.

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