Method for detecting a defective charger circuit

• US 20060022637A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Jay L., Breen, John J., Wang, Ligong
• Granted Patent: US 7,538,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection

Abstract

In a method and system for detecting charger failure, a battery is operable to receive a charge from the charger via a pair of terminals. The battery includes an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals. The AFE is configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals. A battery controller included in the battery is coupled to the AFE by a serial link. The battery controller receives the at least one input via the serial link. In response to the voltage being below a predefined value, the battery controller is placed in a charge_not_received state, which is indicative of the charger being defective.

Claims

1. A battery operable to receive a charge from a charger via a pair of terminals, the battery comprising:

an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals, the AFE being configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals; and

a battery controller coupled to the AFE by a serial link, the battery controller receiving the at least one input via the serial link, the battery controller being placed in a charge_not_received state in response to the voltage being below a predefined value.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery includes:

at least one rechargeable battery cell operable to store the charge received from the charger, wherein the AFE is coupled to the at least one cell, wherein the AFE is configured to receive additional inputs corresponding to voltage measured across the at least one cell.

3. In the battery of claim 1, wherein placing the battery controller in the charge_not_received state is indicative of the charger being defective.

4. In the battery of claim 1, wherein the battery controller is placed in an available_to_receive_charge state in response to the voltage being at least equal to the predefined value.

5. In the battery of claim 4, placing the battery controller in the available_to_receive_charge state is indicative of the charger being operational.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein the at least one input is a spare input prior to the at least one input being configured to receive the voltage.

7. In the battery of claim 1, wherein the battery includes:

a charge discharge component coupled to the battery controller, the pair of terminals and at least one cell, the at least one cell being operable to store the charge received from the charger, the charge discharge component being operable to provide a conductive path between the pair of terminals and the at least one cell in response to receiving an enable charge command as a control input from the battery controller.

8. In the battery of claim 7, wherein the AFE receives the at least one input when the conductive path is disabled in response to receiving a disable charge command as the control input from the battery controller.

9. In the battery of claim 7, wherein the battery controller is placed in an available_to_receive_charge state in response to the voltage being at least equal to the predefined value, wherein the conductive path is enabled is response to the battery controller being placed in the available_to_receive_charge state.

10. A method for detecting failure of a charger operable to charge a battery, the method comprising:

receiving an input indicative of a voltage output by the charger;

determining whether the input is below a predefined voltage; and

placing the battery in a charge_not_received state in response to the input being below the predefined voltage, wherein the charge_not_received state is indicative of the failure of the charger.

11. In the method of claim 10, further comprising:

placing the battery in an available_to_receive_charge state in response to the input being at least equal to the predefined voltage, wherein the available_to_receive_charge state is indicative of the charger being operational.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a conductive path to transfer the charge from a pair of terminals of the battery to at least one cell of the battery is disabled prior to receiving the input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the conductive path is enabled in response to the input being at least equal to the predefined voltage.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the input is a spare input prior to the input being configured to receive the voltage output.

15. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor; and

a power supply operable to provide power to the processor, wherein the power supply includes;

a charger operable to provide a charge; and

a battery operable to receive the charge from the charger via a pair of terminals, wherein the battery includes;

an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals, the AFE being configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals; and

a battery controller coupled to the AFE by a serial link, the battery controller receiving the at least one input via the serial link, the battery controller being placed in a charge_not_received state in response to the voltage being below a predefined value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery includes:

at least one rechargeable battery cell operable to store the charge received from the charger, wherein the AFE is coupled to the at least one cell, wherein the AFE is configured to receive additional inputs corresponding to voltage measured across the at least one cell.

17. In system of claim 15, wherein placing the battery controller in the charge_not_received state is indicative of the charger being defective.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one input is a spare input prior to the at least one input being configured to receive the voltage.

19. In system of claim 15, wherein the battery includes:

a charge discharge component coupled to the battery controller, the pair of terminals and at least one cell, the at least one cell being operable to store the charge received from the charger, the charge discharge component being operable to provide a conductive path between the pair of terminals and the at least one cell in response to receiving an enable charge command as a control input from the battery controller.

20. In system of claim 19, wherein the AFE receives the at least one input when the conductive path is disabled in response to receiving a disable charge command as the control input from the battery controller.

21. In system of claim 15, wherein the AFE is combined with the battery controller.