Methods and Apparatus for Dynamically Charging Batteries for an Information Handling System

• US 20090206797A1
• Filed: 02/17/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Chia Fa, Chueh, Yung Fa, Lee, Kuang Chan, Ti, Ching
• Granted Patent: US 8,674,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method for charging a battery in an information handling system. The method includes prompting a user to select from a plurality of charging modes for the battery, wherein the charging modes comprise a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode. The method further includes charging the battery in the first mode when the first mode is selected, wherein a charge voltage and a charge current are constant In the first mode, and charging the battery dynamically when the second mode or the third mode is selected, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on a battery temperature.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery in an information handling system, the method comprising:

prompting a user to select from a plurality of charging modes for the battery, wherein the charging modes comprise a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode;

charging the battery in the first mode when the first mode is selected, wherein a charge voltage and a charge current are constant in the first mode; and

charging the battery dynamically when the second mode or the third mode is selected, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on a battery temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging mode is selected from a basic input output system (BIOS) menu or an operating system (OS) utility menu.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode is a fast charging mode in which the charge current is set at a first predetermined level if the battery temperature is in a first range and the charge current is set a second predetermined level if the battery temperature is not in the first range.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first predetermined level is 1 C the first range is greater than 15°

C. and less than or equal to 45°

C., and the second predetermined level is 0.8 C.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third mode is a battery performance mode in which the charge current increases up to a maximum of 0.6 C and the charge current decreases when the battery temperature exceeds 40°

C.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the third mode is a battery performance mode in which the charge current is set at a third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a second range, a fourth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a third range, a fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fourth range, a sixth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fifth range, the fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the sixth range, the third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the seventh range, and the battery is not charged if the temperature of the cells is less than or equal to 0°

C. or greater than 60°

C.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third predetermined level is 0.3 C, the fourth predetermined level is 0.4 C, the fifth predetermined level is 0.5 C, the sixth predetermined level is 0.6 C, the second range is greater than 0°

C. and less than or equal to 10°

C., the third range is greater than 10°

C. and less than or equal to 20°

C., the fourth range is greater than 20°

C. and less than or equal to 30°

C., the fifth range is greater than 30°

C. and less than or equal to 40°

C., the sixth range is greater than 40°

C. and less than or equal to 50°

C., and the seventh range is greater than 50°

C. and less than or equal to 60°

C.

8. An apparatus for charging a battery comprising:

a charge controller for managing a charge voltage and a charge current when the battery is charged, wherein the charge controller provides a first mode with the charge voltage and the charge current remaining constants a second mode for fast charging, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on a battery temperature, and a third mode for maximizing battery performance, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on the battery temperature; and

a battery management unit coupled to the battery and the charge controller, wherein the battery management unit monitors the battery temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

an external power supply coupled to the charge controller, wherein the power supply provides power to recharge the battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode is selected in a basic input output system (BIOS) menu or an operating system (OS) utility menu.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second mode is a fast charging mode in which the charge current is set at a first predetermined level if the battery temperature is in a first range and the charge current is set a second predetermined level if the battery temperature is not in the first range.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first predetermined level is 1 C, the first range is greater than 15°

C. and less than or equal to 45°

C., and the second predetermined level is 0.8 C.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third mode is a battery performance mode in which the charge current increases up to a maximum of 0.6 C and the charge current decreases when the battery temperature exceeds 40°

C.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third mode is a battery performance mode in which the charge current is set at a third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a second ranger, a fourth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a third range, a fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fourth range, a sixth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fifth range, the fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the sixth range, the third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the seventh range, and the battery is not charged if the temperature of the cells is less than or equal to 0°

C. or greater than 60°

C.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third predetermined level is 0.3 C, the fourth predetermined level is 0.4 C, the fifth predetermined level is 0.5 C. the sixth predetermined level is 0.6 C, the second range is greater than 0°

C. and less than or equal to 10°

C., the third range is greater than 10°

C. and less than or equal to 20°

C., the fourth range is greater than 20°

C. and less than or equal to 30°

C. the fifth range is greater than 30°

C. and less than or equal to 40°

C., the sixth range is greater than 40°

C. and less than or equal to 50°

C., and the seventh range is greater than 50°

C. and less than or equal to 60°

C.

16. An apparatus for charging a battery for a portable information handling system (IHS), the portable IHS comprising:

a charge controller for managing a charge voltage and a charge current when the battery is charged, wherein the charge controller provides a first mode with the charge voltage and the charge current remaining constant, a second mode for fast charging, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on a battery temperature, and a third mode for maximizing battery performance wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on the battery temperature;

a battery management unit coupled to the battery and the charge controller, wherein the battery management unit monitors the battery temperature, and

an external power supply coupled to the charge controller, wherein the power supply provides power to recharge the battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode is selected in a basic input output system (BIOS) menu or an operating system (OS) utility menu.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second mode is a fast charging mode in which the charge current is set at a first predetermined level if the battery temperature is in a first range and the charge current is set a second predetermined level if the battery temperature is not in the first range.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first predetermined level is 1 C, the first range is greater than 15°

C. and less than or equal to 45°

C., and the second predetermined level is 0.8 C.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein in the third mode is a battery performance mode in which the charge current is set at a third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a second ranger, a fourth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a third range, a fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fourth range, a sixth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in a fifth range, the fifth predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the sixth range, the third predetermined level when the battery temperature is in the seventh range, and the battery is not charged if the temperature of the cells is less than or equal to 0°

C. or greater than 60°

C.