Control of computer AC adapter output voltage via battery pack feedback
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a rechargeable battery;
a monitoring circuit coupled to said rechargeable battery for measuring the present voltage and current at the terminals of said rechargeable battery;
a battery microcontroller coupled to said monitoring circuit and implementing a recharging routine capable of generating a desired voltage for the terminals of said rechargeable battery;
a multipurpose microcontroller coupled to said battery microcontroller and adapted to generate an adjustment signal based on the present battery terminal voltage and current and the desired battery terminal voltage;
an adjustable output AC adapter having an output voltage signal line coupled to a terminal of said rechargeable battery, and a control input for altering the output voltage signal of said AC adapter; and
a dither control circuit coupled to said multipurpose microcontroller and said control input of said AC adapter, said dither control circuit receiving the adjustment signal and communicating a corresponding control signal to said control input of said AC adapter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system including circuitry for accurately and economically controlling the charge voltage and charge current at the terminals of its rechargeable battery. During a battery recharge, sensor circuitry coupled to the battery provides accurate data to a battery microcontroller regarding the charge voltage and charge current present at the battery terminals. A battery microcontroller relays this information to a multipurpose microcontroller. The battery microcontroller also provides the desired charging voltage and current as determined by the battery pack'"'"'s charging algorithm. The multipurpose microcontroller uses the battery status information to program an addressable potentiometer. In turn, the potentiometer generates an adjustment signal that controls the output voltage of the computer'"'"'s AC adapter. Preferably, the AC adapter is capable of being operated in a constant-power mode. Adjustment of the potentiometer allows the output of the AC adapter to be dithered up or down as needed to provide the desired charging voltage and charging current to the battery.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A computer system, comprising:
-
a rechargeable battery; a monitoring circuit coupled to said rechargeable battery for measuring the present voltage and current at the terminals of said rechargeable battery; a battery microcontroller coupled to said monitoring circuit and implementing a recharging routine capable of generating a desired voltage for the terminals of said rechargeable battery; a multipurpose microcontroller coupled to said battery microcontroller and adapted to generate an adjustment signal based on the present battery terminal voltage and current and the desired battery terminal voltage; an adjustable output AC adapter having an output voltage signal line coupled to a terminal of said rechargeable battery, and a control input for altering the output voltage signal of said AC adapter; and a dither control circuit coupled to said multipurpose microcontroller and said control input of said AC adapter, said dither control circuit receiving the adjustment signal and communicating a corresponding control signal to said control input of said AC adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A computer system, comprising:
-
a rechargeable battery; a monitoring circuit coupled to said rechargeable battery for measuring the present voltage and current at the terminals of said rechargeable battery; a battery microcontroller coupled to said monitoring circuit and implementing a recharging routine generating a desired voltage for the terminals of said rechargeable battery; said battery microcontroller further generating an adjustment signal based on the present battery terminal voltage and current and the desired battery terminal voltage; an adjustable output AC adapter having an output voltage signal line coupled to a terminal of said rechargeable battery, and a control input for altering the output voltage signal of said AC adapter; and a dither control circuit coupled to said battery microcontroller and said control input of said AC adapter, said dither control circuit receiving the adjustment signal and communicating a corresponding control signal to said control input of said AC adapter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for controlling the voltage at the terminals of a rechargeable battery in a computer system incorporating an adjustable output AC adapter, the computer system further comprising a monitoring circuit for measuring the voltage and current at the terminals of the rechargeable battery, a battery microcontroller for implementing a recharging algorithm, and a dither control circuit for adjusting the output of the AC adapter, the method comprising the steps of:
-
retrieving the present voltage and current at the terminals of the rechargeable battery as determined by the monitoring circuit; calculating the desired voltage and current at the terminals of the rechargeable battery as determined by the recharging algorithm; generating an adjustment signal based on the present voltage and current and the desired voltage and current; and communicating the adjustment signal to the dither control circuit to modify the AC adapter output voltage such that the adjusted voltage at the terminals of the rechargeable battery approaches the desired voltage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification