Power Module for Information Handling System and Methods Thereof

• US 20110202777A1
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Clegg, Joseph, Wood, Merle, Hijazi, Mohammed, Sultenfuss, Andrew T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

An information handling system can receive power from a wireless or wired power source. In response to determining the information handling system is coupled to the wired power source, the system decouples the wireless power source from providing power. In response to the system being decoupled from the wired power source, the information handling system couples the wireless power source to the system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving power wirelessly at a first power module of an information handling system;

providing power from the first power module to a second module of the information handling system; and

in response to determining that the information handling system is receiving power from a wired power source, decoupling the first power module from the second module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a battery charging module of the information handling system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a processor device of the information handling system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the information handling system is not receiving power from the wired power source, coupling the first power module to the second module.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling the first power module to the second module in response to determining the relative state of charge of a battery of an information handling system is below a threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing power from the first power module to the second module comprises coupling the first power module to the second module based on the state of a mechanical switch.

7. A method, comprising:

determining at an information handling system which of a plurality of power sources are available to provide power to the information handling system, the plurality of power sources comprising a wired power source and a wireless power source;

selecting a first power source of the plurality of power sources based on a corresponding efficiency for each of the plurality of power sources; and

coupling the first power source to a module of the information handling system in response to selecting the first power source.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the first power source comprises selecting the wired power source when both the wireless power source and the wired power source are available to provide power to the information handling system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

coupling the wireless power source to the module in response to determining the wired power source has been disconnected from the information handling system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the module comprises a battery charger of the information handling system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the module comprises a processor device of the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the first power source comprises selecting the wireless power source when both the wireless power source and the wired power source are available to provide power to the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of power sources comprises a battery.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling the battery to the module in response to determining a relative state of charge of the battery is above a first threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the wireless power source to the module in response to determining the relative state of charge of the battery is below a second threshold.

16. An information handling system comprising:

a wireless power module operable to receive power wirelessly;

a wired power module operable to receive power from a wired power source;

a power switch coupled to the wireless power module and to the wired power module;

a system module coupled to the power switch; and

a control module coupled to the power switch, the control module operable to control the power switch to couple the wireless power module to the system module in response to determining that the wired power module is not receiving power from the wired power source.

17. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the control module is operable to decouple the wireless power module from the system module and couple the wired power module to the system module in response to determining the wired power module is receiving power from the wired power source.

18. The information handling system of claim 16, further comprising:

a battery;

the control module is operable to decouple the wireless power module from the system module in response to determining a charge of the battery is above a first threshold.

19. The information handling system of claim 18, wherein the control module is operable to couple the wireless power module to the system module in response to determining a charge of the battery is below a second threshold.

20. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein the control module is operable to determine the wireless power module is available to supply power based on the state of a mechanical switch.