Multi-pack and component connectivity detection

• US 10,305,271 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Binder, Julian, Chian, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Comber, Kevin J
• Application Number:
  US15/199,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20180006444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 361 78
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/10 responsive to mechanical injury, e.g. rupture of line, breakage of earth connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/18 for batteries; for accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Techniques for enabling multi-pack and component connectivity detection are provided. In some configurations, individual PCMs can test the connectivity between components of a device without the need to operate the components. For example, PCMs configured in accordance with the present disclosure can test the connectivity between a motherboard, a display circuit, a camera, and a number of battery packs without the need to operate the motherboard, display circuit, camera, etc. In some configurations, conductors that are part of cables and connectors used to connect the components can be used to determine the state of one or more connections. When a signal that runs through the conductors meets one or more criteria, the PCMs of a device cause a predetermined delay prior to enabling one or more components. By testing the connectivity between components before each component transitions to an operational state, other problems caused by faulty connections can be mitigated.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first protection circuit module comprising one or more inputs, a first control interface, and a first output coupled to a first node, wherein the first protection circuit module defaults to a disabled state, and while in the disabled state, the first protection circuit module disables a first switch coupled to the first node, and in response to receiving a first activated signal at the first control interface for a predetermined time, the first protection circuit module transitions to an operating state, and while in the operating state, the first protection circuit module enables the first switch and monitors the one or more inputs, and while in the operating state, the first output disables the first switch when value of the signal at the one or more inputs of the first protection circuit module meets or exceeds one or more thresholds;

a second protection circuit module comprising one or more inputs, a second control interface, and a second output coupled to a second node, wherein the second protection circuit module defaults to the disabled state, and while in the disabled state, the second protection circuit module disables a second switch coupled to the second node, and in response to receiving a second activated signal at the second control interface for the predetermined time, the second protection circuit module transitions to the operating state, and while in the operating state, the second protection circuit module enables the second switch coupled to the second node and monitors the one or more inputs, and while in the operating state, the second output disables the second switch when a value of a signal at the one or more inputs of the second protection circuit module meets or exceeds the one or more thresholds;

a first conductor coupling conductive elements of one or more components;

a first battery having a cathode coupled to the first control interface through a first resistive component, wherein the first battery comprises an anode coupled to a ground node, wherein the first activated signal is received at the first control interface when the first conductor couples the first control interface to a ground node at the second protection circuit module;

a second conductor coupling the conductive elements of the one or more components or conductive elements of other components; and

a second battery having a cathode coupled to the second control interface through a second resistive component, wherein the second battery comprises an anode coupled to a ground node, wherein the second activated signal is received at the second control interface when the second conductor couples the second control interface to a ground node at the first protection circuit module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protection circuit module transitions to the disabled state in response to receiving a deactivated signal at the first control interface, wherein the deactivated signal is received at the first control interface when there is an open circuit between the first control interface to a ground node at the second protection circuit module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protection circuit module transitions to the disabled state in response to receiving a deactivated signal at the second control interface, wherein the deactivated signal is received at the second control interface when there is an open circuit between the second control interface to a ground node at the first protection circuit module.

4. The system of claim 1, while the first protection circuit module is in the operating state, the first output enables the first switch when the value of the signal at the one or more inputs of the first protection circuit module does not meet or does not exceed one or more thresholds.

5. The system of claim 1, and while in the operating state, the second output enables the second switch when the value of the signal at the one or more inputs of the second protection circuit module does not meet or does not exceed the one or more thresholds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 4 to 6 seconds.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 2 to 7 seconds.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is 5 seconds.

9. A protection circuit module comprising one or more inputs, a control interface, and an output coupled to a node, wherein the protection circuit module transitions to a disabled state upon startup, and while in the disabled state, the protection circuit module generates an activated output signal at the output, and in response to receiving an activated signal at the control interface for a predetermined time, the protection circuit module transitions to an operating state, and while in the operating state, the protection circuit module generates a deactivated output signal at the output and monitors the one or more inputs, and while in the operating state, the protection circuit module generates the activated output signal at the output when a value of a signal received at the one or more inputs meets or exceeds one or more thresholds, wherein the control interface is coupled to a conductor routed through one or more components of a device, wherein the conductor comprises a series of conductive elements coupled through the one or more components, wherein the conductor is coupled to a ground node at a component of the one or more components, wherein the component is a first battery pack, and wherein the control interface is coupled to a cathode of a second battery pack through a resistor.

10. The protection circuit module of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 4 to 6 seconds.

11. The protection circuit module of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 2 to 7 seconds.

12. The protection circuit module of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time is 5 seconds.

13. The protection circuit module of claim 9, wherein an input of a switch is coupled to the node, wherein the switch causes a high resistance path or an open circuit between two nodes when the protection circuit module generates the activated output signal, and wherein the switch causes a low resistance path or a closed circuit between the two nodes when the protection circuit module generates the deactivated output signal.

14. The protection circuit module of claim 9, wherein a break in the conductor causes an increase in a voltage at the control interface, the increase in the voltage at the control interface causes the protection circuit module to transition to a disable state.

15. A method, comprising:

transitioning a protection circuit module to a disabled state;

generating an activated output signal at an output of the protection circuit module;

receiving, at a control interface of the protection circuit module, an activated signal from a conductor routed through one or more components of a device;

causing a wait state for a predetermined time, wherein the wait state runs while the activated signal is received at the control interface;

transitioning the protection circuit module to an operating state after the wait state; and

while in the operating state,

generating a deactivated output signal at the output, and

generating the activated output signal at the output when a value of a signal received at the one or more inputs meets or exceeds one or more thresholds, wherein the control interface is coupled to a conductor routed through the one or more components of the device, wherein the conductor is coupled to a ground node at a component of the one or more components, wherein the control interface is coupled to a cathode of a battery pack through a resistor, wherein a break in the conductor causes an increase in a voltage at the control interface, the increase in the voltage at the control interface causes the protection circuit module to transition to a disable state and generate the activated output.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the control interface of the protection circuit module, a deactivated signal from the conductor routed through the one or more components;

transitioning a protection circuit module to the disabled state; and

generating the activated output signal at the output of the protection circuit module.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the deactivated output signal controls a switch to cause a high impedance path, or an open circuit, between two nodes, thereby causing an electronic isolation of at least one component of the one or more components.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 4 to 6 seconds.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 2 to 7 seconds.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time is 5 seconds.