Smart battery, secondary smart battery connection apparatus of portable computer system, AC adapter implementing same, and connection method thereof

• US 20020011823A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chan Young
• Granted Patent: US 6,509,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover provided in the portable computer system and openable when connecting a battery thereto in order to protect a plurality of internal pins of respective connectors thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors of each smart battery is installed at a side thereof opposite to a side connectable to the portable computer system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery separation lever installed at an exterior of the secondary smart battery in order to facilitate separating the secondary smart battery from the primary smart battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first connector pins and a plurality of second connector pins separately installed at the respective corresponding first connector and the second connector of the primary and secondary smart batteries.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a detection signal from the first connector and a control signal from the second connector are internally connected in the primary smart battery or the secondary smart battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is no change in functions of a presently operating portable computer system when the secondary smart battery is directly connected/separated to/from the second connector of a primary smart battery thereof during a system operation state or a standby state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary smart battery is insertable into an internal space of the portable computer system and the secondary smart battery is connectable to the primary smart battery externally of the portable computer system.

9. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus of a portable computer systems, 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 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.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a battery cell charge switching unit installed inside each of the smart batteries.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery cell charge switching unit determines a charge state of each of the smart batteries by performing communication with the battery control microcomputer through an SM BUS (System Management Bus) system of the portable computer system.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the battery control microcomputer controls a charging of each smart battery by performing communication with the primary or the secondary smart battery in accordance with connection of an AC adapter to the portable computer system.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the battery control microcomputer performs communication with the primary or the secondary smart battery through the SM BUS by a battery charge request of an SM BUS host, transmits a command for supplying a charging voltage to the primary or the secondary smart battery corresponding to information supplied from the respective smart battery, and controls a charge switching unit installed inside each of the smart batteries in order to control charging of each smart battery.

14. In a method for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer system comprising:

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.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the requesting process comprises the step of:

transmitting a battery conversion command to an internal circuit of the primary smart battery and supplying power from the secondary smart battery to the portable computer system through by internal switching when the primary smart battery when the battery selecting unit senses the connection of the secondary smart battery to the primary smart battery.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the charging voltage supplying process comprises the steps of:

starting charging of the primary smart battery when a charging command is transmitted to the primary smart battery through the SM BUS; and

stopping charging of the primary smart battery when a charge stop command is transmitted to the secondary smart battery.

17. In an apparatus for connecting a battery to a portable computer system, a secondary battery connection apparatus for a portable computer system, comprising:

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.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of pins of the first and the second connectors are V_det, V_bat control, clock and data signal pins.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the V_det signal pins and the control signal pins of the first connector and the second connector of each smart battery are internally connected.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the primary smart battery is installable inside the portable computer system, and the secondary smart battery is connectable to the primary smart battery externally of the portable computer system.

21. An AC/DC adapter for outputting DC power to a portable computer system by being supplied AC power, the AC/DC adapter comprising:

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.

22. The AC/DC adapter of claim 21, wherein the AC/DC adapter charges the smart battery of the AC/DC adapter upon being supplied AC power from an AC power source.

23. The AC/DC adapter of claim 22, wherein a user of the portable computer system can supply operating power to the portable computer system and at the same time charge the smart battery inside the portable computer system by using the AC/DC adapter when AC power is supplied to the AC/DC adapter and power supplied to the portable computer system by the smart battery inside the portable computer system is less than a rated voltage.

24. The AC/DC adapter of claim 22, wherein when a user of the portable computer system connects an output terminal of the AC/DC adapter to the system, the portable computer system detects the smart battery of the AC/DC adapter and supplies power from the smart battery of the AC/DC adapter to the portable computer system when AC power is not supplied to the AC/DC adapter and when power supplied from the smart battery inside the portable computer system is less than a rated voltage.

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:

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.

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.

27. The improved smart battery according to claim 26, further comprising:

a switching circuit within said smart battery operable to selectively route to/from said first connector of said smart battery electrical power and status and control signals from/to said smart battery and power and status and control signals from/to a second smart battery connected to said second connector of said smart battery.

28. The improved smart battery according to claim 26, wherein the first and second connectors are provided at opposite locations on an exterior of said smart battery.

29. A connection method of an AC/DC adapter and a portable computer system, the AC/DC adapter connection method comprising:

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.