Method and apparatus for controlling power supply
First Claim
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1. A power supply control apparatus for a portable computer, comprising:
- a rechargeable battery;
supply means for supplying a charge current to the rechargeable battery;
means for sampling a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery at predetermined sampling times during which the battery is charged;
means for obtaining a gradient of the sampled battery voltage;
means for comparing the obtained gradient with a reference value;
a counter for counting the sampling when a result of the comparing means indicates that the gradient is larger than the reference voltage;
means for determining that the battery is in a full charge state if a value of the counter is two or more within specified sampling times; and
means for causing the supply means to stop the supply of the charge current to the battery when the determining means determines that the battery is in the full charge state.
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Abstract
When an AC adapter and a battery are connected to a system, the rapid charge for the battery is started. During the rapid charge, the battery voltage of the battery is detected by a voltage detector. A power supply controller samples the detected battery voltage at predetermined sampling times, thereby to monitor changes in the battery voltage. If the battery voltage rapidly changes at least twice within a predetermined period of time, it is determined that the battery is in a full charge state, and the rapid charge for the battery is stopped.
20 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A power supply control apparatus for a portable computer, comprising:
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a rechargeable battery; supply means for supplying a charge current to the rechargeable battery; means for sampling a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery at predetermined sampling times during which the battery is charged; means for obtaining a gradient of the sampled battery voltage; means for comparing the obtained gradient with a reference value; a counter for counting the sampling when a result of the comparing means indicates that the gradient is larger than the reference voltage; means for determining that the battery is in a full charge state if a value of the counter is two or more within specified sampling times; and means for causing the supply means to stop the supply of the charge current to the battery when the determining means determines that the battery is in the full charge state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for controlling a power supply having a rechargeable battery, comprising the steps of:
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a) supplying a charge current to the rechargeable battery; b) sampling a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery at predetermined sampling times during which the battery is charged; c) obtaining a gradient of the sampled battery voltages; d) comparing the obtained gradient with a reference value; e) determining that the battery is in a full charge state if a comparison result from the comparing step represents, in a plurality of times within a predetermined period of time, that the gradient is larger than the reference value; and f) causing the power supply to stop the supply of the charge current to the battery when the determining step determines that the battery is in the full charge state. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A power supply control apparatus for a portable computer, comprising:
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a rechargeable battery; supply means for supplying a charge current to the rechargeable battery; means for sampling a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery at predetermined sampling times during which the battery is charged; means for obtaining a gradient of the sampled battery voltage; means for comparing the obtained gradient with a reference value; a counter for counting a comparison result from the means for comparing if the result represents that the gradient is larger than the reference value; and means for determining that the battery is in a full charge state if a value from the counter is two or more within a predetermined period of time; and means for causing the supply means to stop the supply of the charge current to the battery when the determining means determines that the battery is in a full charge state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a power supply having a rechargeable battery, comprising the steps of:
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a) supplying a charge current to the rechargeable battery; b) sampling a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery at predetermined sampling times during which the battery is charged; c) obtaining a gradient of the sampled battery voltage; d) comparing the obtained gradient with a reference value; e) counting a comparison result from the comparing step if the result represents that the gradient is larger than the reference value; f) determining that the battery is in a full charge state if a value from the counting step is a predetermined value or more within a predetermined period of time; g) causing the power supply to stop the supply of the charge current to the battery when the determining step determines that the battery is in the full charge state. - View Dependent Claims (5, 11, 12)
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Specification