Information handling system including a battery that reduces a voltage fluctuation

• US 20060033470A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Breen, John J., Zhu, Guangyong, Toland, David Jose
• Granted Patent: US 7,592,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

In a first embodiment, an information handling system (“IHS”) includes a processor. The IHS also includes a power rail coupled to the processor. The power rail supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor. The IHS further includes a battery, that in response to a voltage fall on the power rail, supplies supplemental power to the power rail. In a second embodiment, an IHS includes a processor. The IHS also includes a power rail coupled to the processor. The power rail supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor. The IHS further includes a battery, that in response to a voltage rise on the power rail, suppresses or sinks power supplied by the power adapter to the power rail.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

supplying power from a power adapter to an IHS via a power rail; and

in response to a voltage fall on the power rail, supplementing the power from the power adapter with power from a battery coupled to the power rail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage fall is caused by a sudden application of load on the power rail.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is chargeable by the power adapter and charging the battery includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery'"'"'s output voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery'"'"'s output voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery includes a charge switch and a discharge switch that are closed while the battery is charged.

6. A method comprising:

supplying power from a power adapter to an IHS via a power rail; and

in response to a voltage rise on the power rail, suppressing the power from the power adapter with a battery coupled to the power rail.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the voltage rise is caused by a sudden removal of load from the power rail.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the battery is chargeable by the power adapter and charging the battery includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery'"'"'s voltage.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the battery includes a charge switch and a discharge switch that are closed while the battery is charged.

11. An information handling system (“

IHS”

) comprising;

a processor;

a power rail, coupled to the processor, that supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor; and

a battery, coupled to the power rail, that in response to a voltage fall on the power rail, supplies supplemental power to the power rail.

12. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the voltage fall is caused by a sudden application of load on the power rail.

13. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the battery is chargeable by the power adapter and charging the battery includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

14. The IHS of claim 13, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery'"'"'s voltage.

15. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the battery includes a charge switch and a discharge switch that are closed while the battery is charged.

16. An information handling system (“

IHS”

) comprising;

a processor;

a power rail, coupled to the processor, that supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor; and

a battery, coupled to the power rail, that in response to a voltage rise on the power rail, suppresses power supplied by the power adapter to the power rail.

17. The IHS of claim 16, wherein the voltage rise is caused by a sudden removal of load from the power rail.

18. The IHS of claim 16, wherein the battery is chargeable by the power adapter and charging the battery includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

19. The IHS of claim 18, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery'"'"'s voltage.

20. The IHS of claim 16, wherein the battery includes a charge switch and a discharge switch that are closed while the battery is charged.