Multi-voltage multi-battery power management unit

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a multi-voltage multi-battery power management integrated circuit. Various aspects of the present invention provide a power management integrated circuit. The power management IC may comprise a first regulator module that receives a first battery power signal from a first battery characterized by a first battery voltage and outputs a first regulated power signal, based at least in part on the first battery power signal. The power management IC may also comprise a second regulator module that receives a second battery power signal from a second battery characterized by a second battery voltage and outputs a second regulated power signal, based at least in part on the second battery power signal. The second battery voltage may, for example, be substantially different than the first battery voltage. The power first and second regulated power signals may, for example, correspond to substantially different power supply voltages.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A power management integrated circuit comprising:
 a first voltage regulator module that operates to receive a first battery power signal characterized by a first battery voltage from a first battery and output a first regulated power signal, based at least in part on the first battery power signal, that corresponds to a first output power characterized by a first output voltage; and   a second voltage regulator module that operates to receive a second source power signal characterized by a second source voltage from a second source and output a second regulated power signal, based at least in part on the second source power signal, that corresponds to a second output power characterized by a second output voltage, wherein the second source voltage is different from the first battery voltage, and   wherein the first battery and the second source are characterized by different respective nominal voltage levels.   
     
     
         27 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , further comprising a battery-charging module that operates to, at least:
 receive input power from a power source; and   output a first battery-charging signal, based at least in part on the received input power, that corresponds to first charging power at a first charging voltage utilized to charge the first battery.   
     
     
         28 . The integrated circuit of  claim 27 , further comprising a control interface through which the integrated circuit operates to receive a first control signal from monitor circuitry and related to the first battery-charging signal, wherein the battery-charging module operates to determine the first battery-charging signal based at least in part on the first control signal. 
     
     
         29 . The integrated circuit of  claim 27 , further comprising a control interface through which the integrated circuit operates to receive first control data from monitor circuitry and related to the first battery-charging signal, wherein the battery-charging module operates to determine the first battery-charging signal based at least in part on the first control data. 
     
     
         30 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , further comprising a third voltage regulator module that operates to receive a third source power signal characterized by the second source voltage from the second source and output a third regulated power signal, based at least in part on the third source power signal, that corresponds to a third output power characterized by a third output voltage. 
     
     
         31 . The integrated circuit of  claim 30 , where the third output voltage, second output voltage and first output voltage are different from each other. 
     
     
         32 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , where the second output voltage is different from the first output voltage. 
     
     
         33 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , where the first regulated power signal comprises the first output power characterized by the first output voltage. 
     
     
         34 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , where the first regulated power signal, when applied to an external electrical circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, causes the external electrical circuit to output the first output power. 
     
     
         35 . The integrated circuit of  claim 26 , where the first output power and the second output power are simultaneously and independently provided to separate loads. 
     
     
         36 . In a power management integrated circuit, a method for controlling electrical power, the method comprising:
 receiving a first battery power signal characterized by a first battery voltage from a first battery;   outputting a first regulated power signal, based at least in part on the first battery power signal, that corresponds to a first output power characterized by a first output voltage;   receiving a second source power signal characterized by a second source voltage from a second source, wherein the second source voltage is different from the first battery voltage; and   outputting a second regulated power signal based at least in part on the second source power signal, that corresponds to a second output power characterized by a second output voltage,   wherein the first battery and the second source have different respective nominal voltage levels.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising:
 receiving input power from a power source;   generating a first battery-charging signal, based at least in part on the received input power, that corresponds to first charging power at a first charging voltage utilized to charge the first battery; and   outputting the first battery-charging signal.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising:
 receiving a first control signal from monitor circuitry external to the integrated circuit;   determining the first battery-charging signal based, at least in part, on the first control signal; and   outputting the first battery-charging signal.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 receiving first control data from a source external to the integrated circuit;   determining the first battery-charging signal based, at least in part, on the first control data; and   outputting the first battery-charging signal.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising:
 receiving a third source power signal characterized by the second source voltage from the second source; and   outputting a third regulated power signal, based at least in part on the third source power signal, that corresponds to a third output power characterized by a third output voltage.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the third output voltage, second output voltage and first output voltage are different from each other. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the second output voltage is different from the first output voltage. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first regulated power signal comprises the first output power characterized by the first output voltage. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first regulated power signal, when applied to an external electrical circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, causes the external electrical circuit to output the first output power. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first output power and the second output power are simultaneously and independently provided to separate loads.