Battery disconnect system

• US 6,271,605 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Luong, Quang, Lowles, Robert, Fischer, Daniel, Malton, Jonathan, Schaaff, Carl, Carkner, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/343,373
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/130, 307/139, 307/140, 307/150, 307/85, 307/86, 320/114, 320/115, 320/132, 320/138, 340/636, 340/693.1, 340/693.2, 340/693.3
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A battery disconnect system is provided for a device having a battery and load. The battery disconnect system includes a switch that is operative to connect the battery to the load when the switch is in a closed state. The switch is also operative to disconnect the battery from the load when the switch is in an open state. The battery disconnect system also includes a switch controller that is coupled to the switch. The switch controller is operative to cause the switch to enter the closed state in response to receipt of a first signal from a first external source. The switch controller is also operative to cause the switch to enter the open state in response to receipt of a second signal from a second external source.

Claims

1. A battery disconnect system for a device having a battery and a load, the battery disconnect system comprising:

(a) a switch configured to be coupled between the battery and the load and having a first state and a second state, said switch being operative to connect the battery to the load when in said second state, said switch also being operative to disconnect the battery from the load when in said first state; and

(b) a switch controller coupled to said switch, said switch controller having an input for receiving a first signal from a first external source and for receiving a second signal from a second external source, said switch controller being operative to cause said switch to enter said second state in response to said first signal, said switch controller also being operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to said second signal, and wherein the first external source is a second battery.

2. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein the second external source is the load.

3. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein the second signal is a logic signal.

4. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a MOSFET device.

5. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a BJT device.

6. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises an IGBT device.

7. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 wherein said switch controller is operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to a low energy level signal from the battery.

8. The battery disconnect system according to claim 1 further comprising the battery and wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery.

9. A device comprising:

(a) a battery for providing power;

(b) a load for using power provided by said battery;

(c) a switch coupled between said battery and said load and having a first and a second state, said switch being operative to connect said battery to said load when in said second state, said switch also being operative to disconnect said battery from said load when in said first state wherein the load is not provided with power when said switch is in the first state; and

(d) a switch controller coupled to said switch, said switch controller having an input for receiving a first signal from a first source and a second signal from a second source, said switch controller being operative to cause said switch to enter said second state in response to said first signal wherein the first signal provides an indication that an external power source has been coupled to the device, said switch controller also being operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to said second signal.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the external power source is a second battery.

11. The device according to claim 9 wherein the external power source is an AC power source.

12. The device according to claim 9 wherein the second source is said load and wherein said switch controller causes said switch to enter the second state in response to the second signal from said load.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the second signal is a logic signal.

14. The device according to claim 9 wherein said switch comprises a MOSFET device.

15. The device according to claim 9 wherein said switch comprises a BJT device.

16. The device according to claim 9 wherein said switch comprises an IGBT device.

17. The device according to claim 9 wherein said switch controller is operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to a low energy level signal from said battery.

18. The device according to claim 9 wherein the device is a pager.

19. The device according to claim 9 wherein the device is a cellular phone.

20. The device according to claim 9 wherein the device is an electric tool.

21. The device according to claim 9 wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery.

22. The device according to claim 21 further comprising a charger that is coupled to said rechargeable battery when said switch is in said second state and that is not coupled to said rechargeable battery when said switch is in said first state, said charger being operative to direct energy to said rechargeable battery.

23. A battery disconnect system for a device having a battery and a load, said battery disconnect system comprising:

(a) switching means for disconnecting the battery from the load in a first operating state and for connecting the battery to the load in a second operating state wherein the load is not provided with power when said switching means is in the first operating state; and

(b) switch controller means operatively coupled to said switching means for causing said switching means to enter said second operating state in response to a first signal from a first source wherein the first signal provides an indication that an external power source has been coupled to the device and for causing said switching means to enter said first operating state in response to a second signal from a second source.

24. A device comprising:

(a) a battery for providing power

(b) a load for using power provided by said battery;

(c) switching means for disconnecting said battery from said load in a first operating state and for connecting said battery to said load in a second operating state wherein the load is not provided with power when said switching means is in the first operating state; and

(d) switch controller means operatively coupled to said switching means for causing said switching means to enter said second operating state in response to a first signal from a first source wherein the first signal provides an indication that an external power source has been coupled to the device and for causing said switching means to enter said first operating state in response to a second signal from a second source.

25. A method for controlling the operating environment of a rechargeable battery in an electronic device having a load and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a switch in the device that is operative to electrically couple the load to the rechargeable battery when in a second state, the switch also being operative to electrically decouple the load from the rechargeable battery when in a first state;

(b) charging the rechargeable battery;

(c) placing said switch in the first state thereby electrically disconnecting the rechargeable battery from the load after the rechargeable battery has been at least partially charged so the load does not drain the battery after the battery has been charged;

(d) electrically coupling an external power source to the device;

(e) detecting the coupling of said external power source to the device; and

(f) placing said switch in the second state whereby the rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the load in response to detecting the coupling of said external power source to the device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of placing said switch in a state that electrically disconnects the rechargeable battery from the load takes place in response to the occurrence of at least one condition of a set of pre-defined conditions.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said condition is the elevation of the rechargeable battery'"'"'s temperature beyond a preset level.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said condition is the disconnection of said external power source from the device for a period of time exceeding a preprogrammed duration of time.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said condition is the failure of said external power source for a period of time exceeding a preprogrammed duration of time.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said condition is the falling of the rechargeable battery'"'"'s energy capacity level below a predetermined level.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein said condition is the appearance of a user inputted signal.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of providing the electronic device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said electronic device is a wireless communications device.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said wireless communications device includes an antenna and communications circuitry.

35. A rechargeable battery system for an electronic device having a load and a rechargeable battery and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, the system comprising:

(a) an electronically controllable switch operable to place the rechargeable battery system into a first state or a second state wherein the rechargeable battery is not electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said first state and wherein the rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said second state;

(b) a switch controller operable to signal said switch to place the rechargeable battery system into one of said first state or said second state in response to the occurrence of at least one condition of a set of pre-defined conditions;

(c) an external power source connection point that allows an external power source to be coupled to the device so that the external power source can charge the rechargeable battery; and

(d) wherein the set of pre-defined conditions for causing the switch controller to signal said switch to place the rechargeable battery system into said first state is a set of disconnection conditions and includes at least an occurrence of at least one of the following conditions;

(i) the passage of a pre-determined period of time after said external power source is decoupled from the device, and (ii) the passage of a pre-determined period of time after the output power level of said coupled external power source falls below a predetermined level.

36. The system according to claim 35 wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the passage of a pre-determined period of time after said external power source is decoupled from the device.

37. The system according to claim 35 wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the passage of a predetermined period of time after the output power level of said coupled external power source falls below a predetermined level.

38. The system according to claim 35 wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the occurrence of a rechargeable battery temperature that exceeds a preset level.

39. The system according to claim 35 wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the falling of the rechargeable battery'"'"'s energy capacity level below a predetermined level.

40. The system according to claim 35 wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the occurrence of a user-inputted signal.

41. A battery disconnect system for a device having a battery and a load, the battery disconnect system comprising:

(a) a power source for providing power to the load, said power source comprising a first source of power and a first input for a second source of power, said first source of powering being the battery;

(b) a switch for coupling between said power source and the load and having a first state and a second state, said switch being operative to connect said power source to the load when in said second state, said switch also being operative to disconnect said power source from the load when in said first state; and

(c) a switch controller coupled to said switch, said switch controller having a second input, said switch controller being operative to cause said switch to enter said second state in response to a first input condition at said second input, said switch controller also being operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to a second input condition at said second input wherein the first input condition is the detection of the application of the second source of power.

42. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second source of power is a second battery.

43. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second source of power is an AC power source.

44. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second state is a conducting state and the first state is a non-conducting state.

45. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the first input condition is the receipt of a signal from the second source of power.

46. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second input condition is the receipt of a signal from the first source of power.

47. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second input condition is the receipt of a low energy level signal from the battery.

48. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein the second input condition is the receipt of a signal from the load.

49. The battery disconnect system according to claim 48 wherein the signal from the load is a logic signal.

50. The battery disconnect system according to claim 41 wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery.

51. A device comprising:

(a) a battery for providing power;

(b) a load for using power provided by said battery;

(c) a switch coupled between said battery and said load and having a first and a second state, said switch being operative to connect said battery to said load when in said second state, said switch also being operative to disconnect said battery from said load when in said first state wherein the load is not provided with power when said switch is in the second state; and

(d) a switch controller coupled to said switch, said switch controller having an input for receiving a first signal from a first external source and a second signal from a second source wherein the first external source is a second battery, said switch controller being operative to cause said switch to enter said second state in response to said first signal, said switch controller also being operative to cause said switch to enter said first state in response to said second signal.

52. A method for controlling the operating environment of a rechargeable battery in an electronic device having a load and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a switch in the device that is operative to electrically decouple the load from the rechargeable battery when in a first state, the switch also being operative to electrically couple the load to the rechargeable battery when in a second state;

(b) electrically coupling an external power source to the device;

(c) charging the rechargeable battery;

(d) placing said switch in the second state thereby electrically connecting the rechargeable battery to the load in response to detecting the coupling of said external power source to the device;

(e) electrically decoupling said external power source from the device; and

(f) placing said switch in the first state thereby electrically disconnecting the rechargeable battery from the load in response to detecting the disconnection of said external power source from the device for a period of time exceeding a preprogrammed duration of time.

53. A method for controlling the operating environment of a rechargeable battery in an electronic device having a load and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a switch in the device that is operative to electrically decouple the load from the rechargeable battery when in a first state, the switch also being operative to electrically couple the load to the rechargeable battery when in a second state;

(b) electrically coupling an external power source to the device;

(c) charging the rechargeable battery;

(d) placing said switch in the second state thereby electrically connecting the rechargeable battery to the load in response to detecting the coupling of said external power source to the device; and

(e) placing said switch in the first state thereby electrically disconnecting the rechargeable battery from the load in response to detecting the failure of said external power source for a period of time exceeding a preprogrammed duration of time.

54. A rechargeable battery system for an electronic device having a load and a rechargeable battery and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, the system comprising:

(a) an electronically controllable switch operable to place the rechargeable battery system into a first state or a second state wherein the rechargeable battery is not electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said first state and wherein the rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said second state;

(b) a switch controller operable to signal said switch to place the rechargeable battery system into one of said first state or said second state in response to the occurrence of at least one condition of a set of pre-defined conditions;

(c) an external power source connection point that allows an external power source to be coupled to the device so that the external power source can charge the rechargeable battery; and

(d) wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the passage of a predetermined period of time after said external power source is decoupled from the device.

55. A rechargeable battery system for an electronic device having a load and a rechargeable battery and wherein the rechargeable battery is the direct source of power to the load, the system comprising:

(a) an electronically controllable switch operable to place the rechargeable battery system into a first state or a second state wherein the rechargeable battery is not electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said first state and wherein the rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the load when the rechargeable battery system is in said second state;

(b) a switch controller operable to signal said switch to place the rechargeable battery system into one of said first state or said second state in response to the occurrence of at least one condition of a set of pre-defined conditions;

(c) an external power source connection point that allows an external power source to be coupled to the device so that the external power source can charge the rechargeable battery; and

(d) wherein said occurrence of at least one condition is the passage of a predetermined period of time after said external power source is decoupled from the device.