Power Indication Circuit Using Time-Division Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small package battery management ICs for mobile devices lack programming pins for power level thresholds due to pin limitations, leading to increased size and manufacturing costs when attempting to add such functionality.
Innovation Solution
A power indication circuit utilizing N light-emitting diode (LED) indicators, N setting resistors, and N multifunction ports, with a drive circuit that generates comparison signals to drive the LEDs, allowing for visual power level indication without increasing the number of pins by sharing pins at different time periods, suitable for batteries of different types and capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If programming pins for power level thresholds are added to small-package battery management ICs, then power level indication capability is improved, but the size of the battery management IC increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing pins to serve dual purposes: during charging operations, pins function for charge control, and during power indication operations, the same pins are reused to drive LED indicators through time-division multiplexing. This eliminates the need for dedicated programming pins while maintaining power level indication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through time-division multiplexing where pins are alternately used for charging control and power level indication in different time periods. The control circuit switches between these functions periodically, allowing the same physical pins to provide both charging functionality and visual power level feedback without interference.
2Adaptability or versatility
If programming pins for power level thresholds are added to small-package battery management ICs, then power level indication capability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By making existing pins multi-functional through time-division multiplexing, the patent reduces the total pin count required in the IC package. This reduction in pin count directly lowers manufacturing complexity and cost, as fewer pins mean simpler packaging, reduced material usage, and easier assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of existing pins by dynamically switching their function between charging control and power indication modes. This parameter switching allows the same hardware resources to provide enhanced functionality without increasing manufacturing complexity or cost.
3Measurement precision
If multiple pins are used for power level thresholds, then power level indication accuracy is improved, but the number of pins increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic time-division multiplexing to sequentially activate different LED indicators corresponding to different power levels. Each LED is driven in separate time periods through the shared pins, allowing accurate representation of multiple power levels (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) without requiring dedicated pins for each threshold, thus maintaining indication accuracy while reducing pin count.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables visual indication of battery power levels with reduced manufacturing costs by sharing pins and adapting to various battery types and capacities without increasing the pin count, improving accuracy and reducing detection deviations.
Implementation Method 1
a drive circuit coupled to the N multifunction ports and the battery, and being configured to acquire N threshold voltage signals in accordance with voltages at the N multifunction ports during a first time period of an operation cycle, and to generate N comparison signals in accordance with the N threshold voltage signals and a voltage detection signal generated by detecting a voltage of the battery
Implementation Method 2
N light-emitting diode (LED) indicators
Implementation Method 3
N light-emitting diode (LED) indicators
Data Source
AI summary
A power indication circuit for indicating different power levels of a battery, can include: N LED indicators; N setting resistors; N multifunction ports; a drive circuit coupled to the N multifunction ports and the battery, and being configured to acquire N threshold voltage signals in accordance with voltages at the N multifunction ports during a first time period of an operation cycle, and to generate N comparison signals in accordance with the N threshold voltage signals and a voltage detection signal generated by detecting a voltage of the battery, in order to drive the N LED indicators in accordance with the N comparison signals during a second time period of the operation cycle; and where each of the N setting resistors coupled in parallel to a corresponding one of the N LED indicators is respectively coupled to a corresponding one of the N multifunction ports.