System using interchangeable nickel-based and lithium ion battery packs

• US 5,831,350 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Freiman, Joseph F., McConkey, Steven Kent, Mitchell, Nathan Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/573,029
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 307/48, 307/150, 320/2, 320/6, 320/15, 320/5, 320/16, 320/17, 320/18, 320/106, 320/128, 320/135, 320/150, 320/162, 320/136, 320/152, 320/125, 320/134, 429/90, 429/91, 429/96, 429/97
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer system is powered by a battery pack, the battery pack including either nickel-based batteries or lithium-ion based batteries. Either of the two battery packs can be interchanged without modification to the system.

Claims

1. A battery powered system comprising:

an apparatus with terminals for receiving a battery pack for providing power, and

a battery pack, wherein said battery pack is interchangeably one of either a nickel-based battery pack or a lithium-ion based battery pack, wherein said battery pack provides power to the system if the system is a known system and does not provide power to the system if the system is an unknown system, and wherein said apparatus includes a power supply controller for indicating to the battery pack through the terminals that the system is a known or unknown system the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is a known system, said battery pack comprising;

a battery with a voltage and with first and second battery terminals;

a first switch for enabling and disabling the first battery pack terminal of said battery pack, said first switch having a first series switched path and a control terminal for activating the first series switched path, the first series switched path coupled between the first battery terminal and a first battery pack terminal; and

a battery controller for receiving the data signal and for providing a first control signal to said first switch, the first control signal provided to turn on the first series switched path when the data signal from the system includes predetermined battery data and to turn off the first series switched path when the data signal from the system is nonexistent or does not include predetermined battery data.

2. The battery powered system of claim 1, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is a known system, said battery pack further comprising:

a current limiter for regulating a trickle discharge current provided by said battery pack, said current limiter coupled in parallel with the first series switched path of said first switch; and

a second switch for controlling the trickle discharge current provided by the battery pack, said second switch having a second series switched path and a control terminal for activating the second series switched path, the second series switched path coupled in series with said current limiter and in parallel with first series switched path of said first switch,

wherein said battery controller further provides a second control signal to said second switch, the second control signal provided to turn on the second series switched path when the data signal from the system is nonexistent or does not include predetermined battery data and to turn off the second series switched path when the data signal from the system includes predetermined battery data.

3. The battery powered system of claim 2, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is a known system, wherein said current limiter is a resistor.

4. A battery powered system, comprising:

an apparatus with terminals for receiving a battery pack for providing power, and

a battery pack, wherein said battery pack is interchangeably one of either a nickel-based battery pack or a lithium-ion based battery pack, and wherein said battery pack provides power to the system if the system is a known system and does not provide power to the system if the system is an unknown system, and wherein said apparatus includes a power supply controller for indicating to the battery pack through the terminals that the system is a known or unknown system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is a known system, the battery pack having first and second battery pack terminals which it disables when the system is an unknown system, said battery pack comprising;

a battery with a voltage and with first and second battery terminals;

a first switch for enabling and disabling the first battery pack terminal, said first switch having a first series switched path and a control terminal for activating the first series switched path, the first series switched path coupled between the first battery terminal and the first battery pack terminal;

a second switch for enabling and disabling the second battery pack terminal, said second switch having a second series switched path and a control terminal for activating the second series switched path, the second series switched path coupled between the second battery terminal and the second battery pack terminal; and

a battery controller for receiving the data signal from the system and for providing a first control signal to said first switch and a second control signal to said second switch, the first control signal being provided to turn on the first series switched path when the data signal from the system includes predetermined battery data and turn off the first series switched path when the data signal from the system is either nonexistent or does not include predetermined battery data, and the second control signal being provided to turn on the second series switched path when the data signal from the system includes predetermined battery data and to turn off the second series switched path when the data signal from the system is either nonexistent or does not include predetermined battery data.

5. The battery powered system of claim 4, the battery pack further comprising:

a current limiter for regulating a trickle discharge current provided by the battery pack, said current limiter coupled in parallel with said first series switched path; and

a third switch for controlling the trickle discharge current provided by the battery pack, said third switch having a third series switched path and a control terminal for activating the third series switched path, the third series switched path coupled in series with said current limiter,

wherein said battery controller further provides a third control signal to said third switch, the third control signal being provided to turn on the third series switched path when the data signal from the system is either nonexistent or does not include predetermined battery data and to turn off the third series switched path when the data signal from the system includes predetermined battery data.

6. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system, the system being either a known system or an unknown system, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected and unknown system preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, in which the system provides a data signal to the battery pack, the battery pack including a battery, a switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a battery pack terminal, and a battery controller for receiving the data signal and providing a control signal to said switch, wherein the step of preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack includes the step of using the switch to disable the battery pack terminal of the battery pack.

7. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system the system being either a known system or an unknown system, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system, operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected an unknown system, preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning off the first switch if the data signal does not include predetermined battery data or the data is nonexistent.

8. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system, the system being either a known system or an unknown system, the method comprising:

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system, operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected and unknown system, preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning off the second switch if the data signal does not include predetermined battery data or the data is nonexistent.

9. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system, the system being either a known system or an unknown system, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery sack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system, operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected and unknown system, preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning off the third switch if the data signal does not include predetermined battery data or the data is nonexistent.

10. A method of using interchangeable batters packs in a system, the system being either a known system or an unknown system, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said batters pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system, operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected and unknown system preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of operating the computing system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning on the first switch if the data signal does include predetermined battery data.

11. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system, the system being either a known system or an unknown system the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery sack with lithium-ion based batteries detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected an unknown system, preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning on the second switch if the data signal does include predetermined battery data.

12. A method of using interchangeable battery packs in a system the system being either a known system or an unknown system the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a battery pack with nickel-based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with nickel-based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said nickel-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with nickel-based batteries from the system;

inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries into the system;

operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries provided if the computer system is a known system for said lithium-based battery pack;

removing said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries from the system;

after said step of inserting a battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, detecting whether the system is a known system or an unknown system;

if said detecting step detected a known system, operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries; and

if said detecting step detected an unknown system preventing power from being drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries, the battery pack including a battery, a monitoring circuit for providing a signal to the battery controller indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a battery controller receiving a signal indicative of the current and voltage of the battery, a first switch for controlling any charge entering the battery, a second switch for controlling any charge leaving the battery, and a third switch for controlling a trickle discharge current provided to power up a power supply microcontroller in a system, the system providing a data signal with predetermined battery data when the system is the known system, wherein the step of operating the system from power drawn from said battery pack with lithium-ion based batteries includes the step of turning on the third switch if the data signal does include predetermined battery data.