초록 ▼

A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional

A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A power supply topology comprising: a first path configured to be coupled to a controllable DC power source; a second path configured to be coupled to a rechargeable battery; a third path configured to be coupled to a system load, wherein said first, second, and third paths a

What is claimed is: 1. A power supply topology comprising: a first path configured to be coupled to a controllable DC power source; a second path configured to be coupled to a rechargeable battery; a third path configured to be coupled to a system load, wherein said first, second, and third paths are coupled to a common node; a unidirectional switch coupled to said first path to allow selective coupling of said controllable DC power source to said system load via said common node; a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to said second path to allow selective coupling of said battery to said common node; and a power management control circuit configured to monitor the voltage of said battery and control the output voltage of said controllable DC power source to be within a selected tolerance range of said voltage of said battery, said power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit configured to receive a first signal representative of a charging current level provided to said rechargeable battery via a fourth path and a second programmable signal representative of a predetermined wake up current level and to provide a comparison output signal in response to said first and second signals, said wake up circuit further including an output decision circuit configured to receive at least said comparison output signal and a selector signal from a selector circuit, said output decision circuit is configured to provide one of said comparison output signal or said selector signal to said selectively unidirectional switch to control the charging current level provided to said rechargeable battery by controlling the state of said selectively unidirectional switch, said selectively unidirectional switch is responsive to said comparison output signal to enter an intermediate conduction state to provide a current level to said battery representative of said predetermined wake up current level. 2. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein when said unidirectional switch is in a closed position to enable said controllable DC power source to supply power to said system load via said common node and said selectively unidirectional switch is in a first closed position to enable said rechargeable battery to supply power to said system load via said common node and to prevent a current flow from said controllable DC power source to said rechargeable battery, said controllable DC power source and said rechargeable battery are coupled in parallel with said system load in a parallel power supply mode to permit both said controllable DC power source and said rechargeable battery to concurrently supply power to said system load. 3. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein said comparison output signal comprises a voltage signal, said selectively unidirectional switch comprising a field effect transistor having a gate terminal receiving said voltage signal. 4. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being an enabling signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said enabling signal to provide said comparison output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said enabling signal is in a first state. 5. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being a battery voltage signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said battery voltage signal to provide said selector output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said battery voltage signal is representative of a voltage level of said battery greater than a threshold voltage level. 6. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being a maximum wake up charge time signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said maximum wake up charge time signal to provide said selector output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said maximum wake up charge signal is representative of a continuous time of said output decision circuit provide said comparison output signal exceeding a maximum time interval. 7. The power supply topology according to claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit comprises an error amplifier, said error amplifier is further configured to receive said first signal and said second signal and providing said comparison output signal. 8. A power supply topology comprising: a power management control circuit configured to monitor the voltage of a rechargeable battery and control the output voltage of a controllable DC power source to be within a selected tolerance range of said voltage of said battery; said power management control circuit is further configured to control a conduction state of a unidirectional switch to a closed position to enable said controllable DC power source to supply power to a system load via a common node, said power management control circuit is further configured to control the conduction state of a selectively unidirectional switch to a first closed position to enable said rechargeable battery to supply power to said system load via said common node and to prevent a current flow from said controllable DC power source to said rechargeable battery, said power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit configured to receive a first signal representative of a charging current level provided to said rechargeable battery and a second programmable signal representative of a predetermined wake up current level and to provide a comparison output signal in response to said first and second signals, said wake up circuit further including an output decision circuit configured to receive at least said comparison output signal and a selector signal from a selector circuit, said output decision circuit is configured to provide one of said comparison output signal or said selector signal to said selectively unidirectional switch to control the charging current level provided to said battery by controlling the state of said selectively unidirectional switch, said selectively unidirectional switch responsive to said comparison output signal to enter an intermediate conduction state to provide a current level to said battery representative of said predetermined wake up current level. 9. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein when said unidirectional switch is in said closed position and said selectively unidirectional switch is in said first closed position, said controllable DC power source and said rechargeable battery are coupled in parallel with said system load in a parallel power supply mode to permit both said controllable DC power source and said rechargeable battery to concurrently supply power to said system load. 10. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein said comparison output signal comprises a voltage signal, said selectively unidirectional switch comprising a field effect transistor having a gate terminal receiving said voltage signal. 11. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being an enabling signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said enabling signal to provide said comparison output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said enabling signal is in a first state. 12. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being a battery voltage signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said battery voltage signal to provide said selector output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said battery voltage signal is representative of a voltage level of said battery greater than a threshold voltage level. 13. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein said output decision circuit is further configured to receive at least one additional input signal in addition to said comparison output signal and said selector signal, said at least one additional input signal being a maximum wake up charge time signal, said output decision circuit responsive to said maximum wake up charge time signal to provide said selector output signal to said selectively unidirectional switch if said maximum wake up charge signal is representative of a continuous time of said output decision circuit providing said comparison output signal exceeding a maximum time interval. 14. The power supply topology according to claim 8, wherein said comparison circuit comprises an error amplifier, said error amplifier is further configured to receive said first signal and said second signal and provide said comparison output signal.