Power supply circuit for use with a battery and an AC power adaptor

• US 5,811,895 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kozasu, Yohichi, Suzuki, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/514,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/116, 307/112, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/45, 307/130, 307/131, 307/127, 320/34, 320/32, 363/50, 363/34, 363/21, 363/19, 363/55-57, 363/95-98, 304/492, 323/246, 323/277, 323/282, 323/285
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A power supply circuit prevents, without the use of a series diode, the flow of reverse current from a battery to an AC power adaptor when the power adaptor is disconnected from its external power source. The circuit includes both voltage and current detectors to determine if the output voltage and current of the power adaptor are above or below predetermined reference levels. A summing circuit sums the outputs of the voltage and current detectors, and when both the detected voltage and current are below the reference levels, a switch disconnects the battery from the output terminal of the power adaptor, thereby preventing reverse current flow.

Claims

1. A power supply circuit for use with a battery and a power adaptor, said power supply circuit comprising:

a voltage detector for detecting a voltage of the power adaptor below a predetermined reference voltage;

a current detector for detecting a current of the power adaptor below a predetermined reference current;

a switch for coupling the power adaptor to, and disconnecting the power adaptor from, the battery; and

a circuit for switching said switch OFF in response to the voltage of the power adaptor, as detected by said voltage detector, being below said reference voltage, and in response to the current of said power adaptor, as detected by said current detector, being below said reference current.

2. A battery powered computer system, comprising:

a system load including a CPU, a memory, a display and a peripheral;

a battery for powering said system load;

a power adaptor;

a voltage detector for detecting a voltage of said power adaptor below a predetermined reference voltage;

a current detector for detecting a current of said power adaptor below a predetermined reference current;

a switch for coupling said power adaptor to, and disconnecting said power adaptor from, said battery; and

a circuit for switching said switch OFF in response to the voltage of said power adaptor, as detected by said voltage detector, being below said reference voltage, and in response to the current of said power adaptor, as detected by said current detector, being below said reference current.