Regulating power for a wireless communication device

Abstract

A method is provided for managing power for a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving a loop current at an insertion voltage at an initial input, the loop current being generated by a power supply. The method further includes comparing a reference voltage to the insertion voltage and generating a feedback signal based at least upon the comparison of the reference voltage to the insertion voltage. The method still further includes regulating the insertion voltage based at least upon the feedback signal, delivering charging power to an electrical storage element, wherein the charging power is a function of the insertion voltage and the loop current, and storing the charging power in the electrical storage element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power management circuit for regulating an insertion voltage, the power management circuit comprising:
 an input configured to receive a loop current at the insertion voltage;   an output configured to deliver charging power to a device, wherein the charging power is based at least in part in response to a change in the loop current;   a power converter configured to regulate the insertion voltage at the input, the power converter including a feedback input; and   a comparison circuit configured to generate a feedback signal based at least in part upon the insertion voltage and a reference voltage, wherein the feedback signal is provided to the feedback input of the power converter to regulate the insertion voltage to the reference voltage, and wherein the power converter controls the insertion voltage at least in part based on the feedback signal.   
     
     
         2 . The power management circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical storage element in electrical communication with the output, wherein the electrical storage device is configured to store the charging power. 
     
     
         3 . The power management circuit of  claim 2 , further comprising a voltage converter connected to the input, wherein the voltage converter is configured to convert the insertion voltage into a source voltage for powering electronic components of the power management circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The power management circuit of  claim 3 , wherein the power converter transfers substantially all of an insertion power available, less power consumed by the voltage converter, to charge the electrical storage device. 
     
     
         5 . The power management circuit of  claim 2 , further comprising a voltage converter in electrical communication with the electrical storage device, wherein the voltage converter is configured to generate a constant regulated voltage regardless of a charge level of the electrical storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The power management circuit of  claim 2 , further comprising a voltage shunting circuit in electrical communication with the electrical storage element, wherein the voltage shunting circuit bypasses current and power in response to the electrical storage device reaching a maximum capacity. 
     
     
         7 . The power management circuit of  claim 2 , wherein the device is a wireless communication device, and wherein the wireless communication device is configured to be charged by the electrical storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The power management circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison circuit includes an amplifier having a positive input connected to the reference voltage and a negative input connected to a variable scalar, wherein the amplifier generates the feedback signal based on the reference voltage and the variable scalar. 
     
     
         9 . The power management circuit of  claim 7 , further comprising a microcontroller in electrical communication with the variable scalar, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control a voltage provided by the variable scalar. 
     
     
         10 . The power management circuit of  claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller controls the variable scalar based on either a predefined setpoint or according to an algorithm. 
     
     
         11 . The power management circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising an over-current protection circuit configured to sense a magnitude of the loop current and disable a power regulator based on the loop current reaching an over-current threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The power management circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the over-current protection circuit comprises a sense resistor and an amplifier, wherein the amplifier includes inputs that are electrically connected to opposing sides of the sense resistor. 
     
     
         13 . A method for managing power for regulating an insertion voltage, the method comprising:
 receiving a loop current at an insertion voltage at an input of a power management circuit, the loop current being generated by a power supply;   comparing a reference voltage to the insertion voltage by the power management circuit;   generating a feedback signal based at least upon the comparison of the reference voltage to the insertion voltage by the power management circuit;   regulating the insertion voltage based at least upon the feedback signal by the power management circuit; and   delivering charging power to the device at an output of the power management circuit, wherein the charging power is based at least in part in response to a change in the loop current.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising delivering charging power to an electrical storage element, wherein the charging power is a function of the insertion voltage and the loop current. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising storing the charging power in the electrical storage element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising providing an amplifier having a positive input connected to the reference voltage and a negative input connected to a variable scalar, wherein the amplifier generates the feedback signal based on the reference voltage and the variable scalar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising controlling a voltage provided by the variable scalar by a microcontroller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising controlling the variable scalar based on either a predefined setpoint or according to an algorithm by the controller. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising providing an electrical storage element in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator, wherein the electrical storage element stores the charging power. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising regulating the charging power delivered from the electrical storage element to the device.