Power systems for plug-in modules

• US 5,845,217 A
• Filed: 01/29/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Johansson, Roland Thomas Wilhelm, Lindell, Bo Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/593,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/127, 455/128, 455/129, 455/348, 455/349, 455/350, 455/351, 455/269, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/575, 379/58, 375/222, 235/492
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5016 Multimode utilisation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system for supplying primary electrical power to modular components of electronic equipment. The system uses a battery power source mounted either in the module or as part of a battery pack that attaches to the module. Module circuitry supplies a recharge current to the battery power source. A charge circuit charges the batteries in a parallel and supplies power to the module by connecting the batteries in series. Circuitry also determines the amount of battery power source used for an operation of the module and sends a recharge current to the battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by the module and based on the available recharge current.

Claims

1. A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising:

a load disposed within said modular electronic component;

a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and

a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load;

said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries connected in series.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said load of said modular electronic component comprises a radio transmitter.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said modular electronic component comprises means for switching said load between said higher power consumption level operating mode and said lower power consumption level operating mode.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source and said power supply of said host electronic equipment power said load.

6. The system as in claim 4, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source powers said load without assistance from said power supply of said host electronic equipment.

7. The system as in claim 6, wherein said means for switching said load includes means for automatically switching to said higher power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is able to supply the required electrical power for operation of said load, and for automatically switching to said lower power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is unable to supply said required electrical power.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said modular electronic component comprises a charging circuit adapted to supply a recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein said charging circuit is adapted to send an amount of recharge current to said battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein said battery power source comprises at least two batteries, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in series for powering said load during operation of said load, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in parallel during recharging of said battery power source.

11. The system as in claim 1 wherein said connector is a PCMCIA connector.

12. The system as in claim 1 wherein said modular electronic component is a PCMCIA module.

13. A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising:

a load disposed within said modular electronic component;

a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component;

a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load; and

a charging circuit disposed within said modular electronic component and adapted to supply an amount of recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source, said amount of recharge current corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.

14. A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising:

a load disposed within said modular electronic component;

a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and

a battery pack removably and physically coupled to said modular electronic component and having a battery power source; and

means for conducting electrical power from said battery power source to said load;

said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.

15. The system as in claim 14 wherein said load of said modular electronic component comprises a radio transmitter.

16. The system as in claim 15, further comprising an antenna rotatably mounted to said battery pack and a means for electrically connecting said antenna to said transmitter.

17. The system as in claim 14, wherein

said modular electronic component comprises means for switching said load between said higher power consumption level operating mode and said lower power consumption level operating mode.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source and said power supply of said host electronic equipment power said load.

19. The system as in claim 17, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source powers said load without assistance from said power supply of said host electronic equipment.

20. The system as in claim 19, wherein said means for switching said load comprises means for automatically switching to said higher power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is able to supply the electrical power required for operation of said load, and for automatically switching to said lower power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is unable to supply said required electrical power.

21. The system as in claim 14 further comprising a charging circuit adapted to supply a recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source.

22. The system as in claim 21, wherein said battery power source comprises at least two batteries, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in series for powering said load during operation of said load, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in parallel during recharging of said battery power source.

23. The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is adapted to send an amount of recharge current to said battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.

24. The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is disposed within said modular electronic component.

25. The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is disposed within said battery pack.

26. The system as in claim 14, wherein said connector is a PCMCIA connector.

27. The system as in claim 14, wherein said modular electronic component is a PCMCIA module.