Providing power from a power storage unit in a first computing device to a second computing device

• US 20060103344A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bhatia, Sandeep, Hassan, Vishwa
• Application Number:
  US10/991,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

According to some embodiments, power is stored in a first power storage unit located at a first computing device. The power is then provided from the first power storage unit to a second computing device, wherein the second computing device is external to the first computing device, and wherein the first and second computing devices are the same type of device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing power in a first power storage unit located at a first computing device; and

providing power from the first power storage unit to a second computing device, wherein the second computing device is external to the first computing device, and wherein the first and second computing devices are the same type of device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing power comprises providing power directly to a processor of the second computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing power comprises providing power directly to a second power storage unit associated with the second computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second power storage units comprise at least one of:

(i) a battery, or (ii) a fuel cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second computing devices are both:

(i) mobile computers, (ii) notebook computers, (iii) tablet personal computers, (iv) laptop computers, (v) hand-held computers, (vi) personal digital assistants, (vii) game devices, (viii) wireless communication devices, or (ix) audio devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing includes:

receiving power from an AC-to-DC adapter external to the first computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing is performed via a cable between a first pair of battery tap points associated with the first computing device and a second pair of battery tap points associated with the second computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the first computing device power from the second computing device.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a battery located at a first mobile computer; and

a power output to provide power to a second mobile computer, wherein the first and second mobile computers are the same type of device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power output is to provide power directly to a processor of the second mobile computer.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power output is to provide power directly to a second battery associated with the second mobile computer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein battery is at least one of:

(i) Li-Ion device, (ii) an NiCad device, (iii) an NiMH device, (iv) a sealed lead-acid device, or (v) a lithium metal device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second mobile computers are associated with at least one of:

(i) different models, or (ii) different manufacturers.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a power input to receive power from an AC-to-DC adapter external to the first mobile computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a charging circuit to route the power from the AC-to-DC adapter to the first battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power output also acts as the power input.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power output is separate from the power input.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the power output is associated with a first pair of battery tap points associated with the first mobile computer and is further adapted to be connected to a second pair of battery tap points associated with the second mobile computer via a cable.

19. A system, comprising:

a display unit;

a power storage unit located at a first electronic mobile device; and

a power connector to provide power to a second electronic mobile device, wherein the first and second electronic mobile devices are the same type of device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a cable to be attached between the power connector and another power connector associated with the second electronic mobile device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor of the first electronic mobile device is to determine whether or not power is to be provided to the second electronic mobile device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein a user of the first electronic mobile device is to determine whether or not power is to be provided to the second electronic mobile device.