Method and apparatus for conditioning battery while external power is applied
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- determining that a battery needs to be conditioned while an external power source is being used as a system power source; and
switching to use the battery as the system power source while the external power source remains available upon determining that an error indicator for the battery exceeds a predetermined level.
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Abstract
A method which may be used to condition a battery. The method includes sensing that the battery needs to be conditioned while an external power source is being used as the source of system power. According to the method, the battery is then used as the system power source while the external power source remains available.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining that a battery needs to be conditioned while an external power source is being used as a system power source; and switching to use the battery as the system power source while the external power source remains available upon determining that an error indicator for the battery exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of conditioning a battery in a portable computing device when external power is being applied to the portable computing device, comprising:
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determining that the battery needs to be reconditioned by testing whether a battery sensor indicator exceeds a predetermined level; switching to battery power while the external power is still being applied to the portable computing device; and discharging the battery to a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A power supply selection circuit comprising:
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a signal input for receiving a battery conditioning request from a sensor for a battery; and control circuitry coupled to receive the battery conditioning request from the signal input and to switch from an external power supply to the battery while the external power supply is still connected to the power supply selection circuit upon receipt of the battery conditioning request. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 22)
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16. A system comprising:
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a battery; a plurality of components coupled to receive power from the battery or an external source; a power supply selection unit coupled to detect a first condition of the battery, the first condition being an indication signaled by the battery that the battery is in need of conditioning, the power supply selection unit also being coupled to disconnect the plurality of components from the external source while the external source is still available to the power supply selection circuit and to connect the plurality of components to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification