Power supply for an electronic device and power delivery method therefor
First Claim
1. A power supply for an electronic device, comprising:
- first and second main power sources;
a charge detector in communication with said first and second main power sources to individually detect the charge levels of each said first and second main power sources;
a switching circuit in communication with said first and second main power sources for selectively routing respective power signals generated by said first and second main power sources to the electronic device; and
a power controller in communication with said charge detector and said switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit between a single connection mode and a default multiple connection mode according to the charge levels detected by said charge detector, said power controller setting said switching circuit in the multiple connection mode upon electronic device startup;
wherein said power controller sets said switching circuit into the multiple connection mode when the respective charge levels of both said main power sources fail to exceed a predetermined threshold as detected by said charge detector;
wherein, in the single connection mode, said switching circuit electrically connects a selected one of said first and second main power sources to a power input of the electronic device while disconnecting the remaining main power source; and
wherein, in the multiple connection mode, said switching circuit electrically connects both said first and second main power sources in series with respective first and second diode means and in parallel with a power input of the electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic apparatus comprises a main circuit having a main CPU and a power supply system which includes plural main batteries for supplying operating power to said main circuit, a back-up battery, a switching circuit connected between each main battery and the main circuit, power means for enabling the operation of the main circuit, a charge detector for detecting the charging level of each main battery, and power controller responsive to the power means and the charge detector and having a sub-CPU for individually controlling the switching circuit according to either a single connection mode or a multiple connection mode. In the single connection mode only one of the main batteries is connected to said main circuit. In the multiple connection mode, at least two main batteries, each in series with a respective diode means, are connected in parallel to the main circuit. The back-up battery is connected to supply power to the power controller only when either no main battery is installed or the charging level of each of the installed main batteries is below a predetermined value required for back-up operation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A power supply for an electronic device, comprising:
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first and second main power sources; a charge detector in communication with said first and second main power sources to individually detect the charge levels of each said first and second main power sources; a switching circuit in communication with said first and second main power sources for selectively routing respective power signals generated by said first and second main power sources to the electronic device; and a power controller in communication with said charge detector and said switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit between a single connection mode and a default multiple connection mode according to the charge levels detected by said charge detector, said power controller setting said switching circuit in the multiple connection mode upon electronic device startup; wherein said power controller sets said switching circuit into the multiple connection mode when the respective charge levels of both said main power sources fail to exceed a predetermined threshold as detected by said charge detector; wherein, in the single connection mode, said switching circuit electrically connects a selected one of said first and second main power sources to a power input of the electronic device while disconnecting the remaining main power source; and wherein, in the multiple connection mode, said switching circuit electrically connects both said first and second main power sources in series with respective first and second diode means and in parallel with a power input of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic device, comprising:
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a main circuit; a power input port in communication with said main circuit; and a power supply for supplying power to said main circuit, comprising; first and second main power sources; a charge detector in communication with said first and second main power sources to individually detect the charge levels of each said first and second main power sources; a switching circuit in communication with said first and second main power sources for selectively routing respective power signals generated by said first and second main power sources to said power input port; and a power controller in communication with said charge detector and said switching circuit for controlling the switching circuit between a single connection mode and a multiple connection mode according to the charge levels detected by said charge detector, said power controller setting said switching circuit in the multiple connection mode upon device startup. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling a power supply for an electronic device including an external housing, plural power sources detachably mounted within the external housing and accessible via a corresponding plurality of removable covers defined on said housing, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting whether at least one of the covers is open; (b) switching the power sources into a multiple connection mode if at least one of the covers is open as detected in said detecting step (a); (c) determining whether any of the power sources other than power sources corresponding to the at least one opened cover has a charge level exceeding a first predetermined reference value; (d) selecting one of the power sources, if any, whose charge level exceeds the first predetermined reference value as determined in said determining step (c); and (e) switching the power sources in a single connection mode utilizing the selected power source selected in said selecting step (d) to power the electronic device.
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16. A method of controlling a power supply for an electronic device having plural power sources, comprising the steps of:
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(a) switching the power sources into a multiple connection mode; (b) detecting if the charge level of at least one of said power sources exceeds a first predetermined reference value; (c) selecting one of said power sources, if any, whose charge level exceeds the first predetermined reference value as detected in said detecting step (b); (d) switching the power sources into a single connection mode utilizing the selected power source selected in said selecting step (c) to power the electronic device; (e) detecting if the selected power source charge level falls below a second predetermined reference value; (f) performing the following when the selected power source charge level falls below a second predetermined reference value as detected in said detecting step (e); (1) detecting if the charge level of at least one of said power sources exceeds a third predetermined reference value; (2) selecting one of said power sources, if any, whose charge level exceeds the third predetermined reference value as detected in said detecting step (f)(1); and (3) switching the power sources into a single connection mode utilizing the selected power source selected in said selecting step (f)(2) to power the electronic device; and (g) re-switching the power sources back into a multiple connection mode when the power source selected in one of said selecting steps (c) and (f)(2) falls below the second predetermined reference value. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification