Battery operated computer having improved battery monitor and cell reversal protection circuit
First Claim
1. A battery-operated, portable computer comprising:
- a battery connected to said computer for supplying electrical energy to operate said computer, said battery comprising a plurality of battery banks connected in series, each bank comprising a like number of matched battery cells connected in series;
voltage monitoring means connected to said banks for measuring respective bank voltages across each of said banks during operation of said computer, said voltage monitoring means comprising first means for generating a low battery warning signal when the bank voltage across any one of said banks drops below a predetermined first value corresponding to a battery charge level allowing said computer to save volatile data and power down under program control, said voltage monitoring means further comprising second means for generating a cutoff signal when the bank voltage across any one of said banks drops below a predetermined second value lower than said first value, said second value corresponding to a voltage level below which cell polarity reversal is eminent;
shutdown means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said warning signal and, in response thereto, initiating saving volatile data and powering down said computer; and
cell reversal protection circuit means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said cutoff signal and, in response thereto, immediately disconnecting said battery from said computer to prevent cell polarity reversal from occurring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery operated computer includes a battery having a plurality of serially connected banks of battery cells that are monitored during operation of the computer to detect a nearly depleted battery bank and a fully depleted battery bank. The computer also includes a plurality of microprocessors including a host or system processor, a service processor and a power subsystem processor. When a nearly depleted battery bank is detected, the power subsystem processor is interrupted and it sends a message to the service processor which in turn interrupts the host processor. An interrupt handler then powers down the system. When a fully depleted battery bank is detected, the battery is immediately disconnected and the system is shutoff to prevent polarity or cell reversal.
81 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A battery-operated, portable computer comprising:
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a battery connected to said computer for supplying electrical energy to operate said computer, said battery comprising a plurality of battery banks connected in series, each bank comprising a like number of matched battery cells connected in series; voltage monitoring means connected to said banks for measuring respective bank voltages across each of said banks during operation of said computer, said voltage monitoring means comprising first means for generating a low battery warning signal when the bank voltage across any one of said banks drops below a predetermined first value corresponding to a battery charge level allowing said computer to save volatile data and power down under program control, said voltage monitoring means further comprising second means for generating a cutoff signal when the bank voltage across any one of said banks drops below a predetermined second value lower than said first value, said second value corresponding to a voltage level below which cell polarity reversal is eminent; shutdown means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said warning signal and, in response thereto, initiating saving volatile data and powering down said computer; and cell reversal protection circuit means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said cutoff signal and, in response thereto, immediately disconnecting said battery from said computer to prevent cell polarity reversal from occurring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification