Smart battery, secondary smart battery connection apparatus of portable computer system, AC adapter implementing same, and connection method thereof
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer systemr, comprising:
- a primary smart battery and a secondary smart battery each respectively having a first connector and a second connector installed at an exterior thereof for connecting the secondary smart battery to the primary smart battery;
a smart battery selecting unit for selecting the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery and controlling the selected battery so as to supply power to a portable computer system;
a system power supply unit for being supplied power from the primary or secondary smart battery selected by the smart battery selecting unit and supplying power appropriate for operating the portable computer system;
a SM BUS (System Management Bus) host for checking operation states or operation information of both the primary and secondary smart batteries and requesting a charge state of each smart battery;
an AC/DC adapter for being supplied AC power from an external AC power source and outputting DC power; and
a charging unit for being supplied the DC power from the AC/DC adapter and supplying changing power to the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved smart battery and apparatus for connecting a smart battery to a portable computer system, wherein a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer system includes a primary smart battery and a secondary smart battery each having a first connector and a second connector installed at an exterior thereof for connecting the secondary smart battery to the primary smart battery, a smart battery selecting unit selecting the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery and controlling the selected battery so as to supply power to to a portable computer system a system. power supply unit being supplied the power selected by the smart battery selecting unit and supplying power appropriate for operating the system, a SM BUS host checking operation states or operation information of both smart batteries and requesting a charge state of each smart battery, an AC/DC adapter being supplied AC power from an AC power source and outputting DC power, and a charging unit being supplied the DC power from the AC/DC adapter and supplying power to change the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery. Accordingly, the secondary battery connection apparatus for the portable computer system and the connection method thereof in accordance with the present invention are capable of supplying power by directly connecting a secondary smart battery to a primary smart battery through a connector of the primary smart battery during system operation or a standby mode without modifying a control structure of the portable computer system or requiring equipment such as a docking station or a port replication.
113 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer systemr, comprising:
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a primary smart battery and a secondary smart battery each respectively having a first connector and a second connector installed at an exterior thereof for connecting the secondary smart battery to the primary smart battery;
a smart battery selecting unit for selecting the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery and controlling the selected battery so as to supply power to a portable computer system;
a system power supply unit for being supplied power from the primary or secondary smart battery selected by the smart battery selecting unit and supplying power appropriate for operating the portable computer system;
a SM BUS (System Management Bus) host for checking operation states or operation information of both the primary and secondary smart batteries and requesting a charge state of each smart battery;
an AC/DC adapter for being supplied AC power from an external AC power source and outputting DC power; and
a charging unit for being supplied the DC power from the AC/DC adapter and supplying changing power to the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus of a portable computer systems, comprising:
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a primary smart battery and a secondary smart battery each respectively having a first connector and a second connector installed at an exterior thereof for connecting the secondary smart battery to the primary smart battery;
a battery control microcomputer for outputting a battery selection signal after connecting the primary smart battery and the secondary smart battery and for selecting one of the smart batteries and for supplying power from the selected smart battery to the portable computer system; and
a system power supply unit for being supplied power from the primary or the secondary smart battery selected by the battery control microcomputer and supplying power appropriate for operating the portable computer system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a method for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer system comprising:
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connecting a primary smart battery to a secondary smart battery through by means of respective connectors on each smart battery;
supplying power from one of the smart batteries selected by a smart battery selecting unit to a portable computer system;
requesting a charge state of the primary or the secondary smart battery upon sensing connection of an AD/DC adapter to the portable computer system; and
communicating periodically with the primary smart battery and the secondary smart battery through a SM BUS (System Management Bus) of the portable computer system and supplying a charging voltage to the primary or the secondary smart battery corresponding to information from the smart batteries. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer system, comprising:
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a primary smart battery and a secondary smart battery each respectively including a first and a second connector so as to enable connecting not less than one additional smart battery thereto a plurality of pins for inputting/outputting signals being provided each of the connectors; and
a control unit controlling the supplying of an output voltage of the secondary smart battery to the portable computer system by sensing the secondary smart battery when the secondary smart battery is connected to the primary smart battery. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An AC/DC adapter for outputting DC power to a portable computer system by being supplied AC power, the AC/DC adapter comprising:
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a smart battery for supplying power to a portable computer system or supplying power to an internal smart battery of the portable computer system in order to charge it;
an AC/DC converter for being supplied AC power from an AC power source and outputting DC power appropriate for operating the portable computer system; and
a charging circuit unit for being supplied the DC power from the AC/DC converter and supplying charging power to the smart battery. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A connection method of an AC/DC adapter to a portable computer system when the AC/DC adapter is supplied being AC power and is outputting DC power to operate the portable computer system, the AC/DC adapter connection method comprising:
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outputting a high signal from an adapter detecting unit when DC power is supplied from the AC/DC adapter to the portable computer system, and outputting a low signal from the adapter detecting unit when power is not supplied from the AC/DC adapter to the portable computer system;
routing DC power to the portable computer system (in case of the high signal) from the AC/DC adapter under control of a battery control microcomputer or routing power to the portable computer system from a smart battery (in case the low signal) inside the AC/DC adapter under control of the battery control microcomputer; and
using the the smart battery inside the AC/DC adapter as a power supply of the portable computer system while communicating with the AC/DC adapter when the AC/DC adapter is disconnected from an AC power source.
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26. In a smart battery including a rechargeable electrical power source and internal circuitry for the communication of control and status data of the rechargeable electrical power source and having a first connector provided on an exterior of said smart battery for enabling said smart battery to be connected to other devices for supplying and/or receiving electrical power thereto and/or therefrom and for enabling communication of status and control data therewith, the improvement comprising:
a second connector provided on the exterior of said smart battery, for connecting with the first connector of a second smart battery, said second connector of said smart battery routing electrical power and status and control data signals between said first connector of said smart battery and said first connector of said second smart battery when said second smart battery is connected to the second connector of said smart battery. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A connection method of an AC/DC adapter and a portable computer system, the AC/DC adapter connection method comprising:
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detecting a smart battery within an AC/DC adapter connected to a portable computer system;
communicating with the smart battery within the AC/DC adapter through a communication bus of the portable computer system; and
providing a system power to the portable computer system from the smart battery within the AC/DC adapter.
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Specification