Method and system to determine external power available and fault states

• US 6,597,565 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Critz, Christian L., Kluth, Michael Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/143,262
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 713/300, 320/128, 702/57, 702/60-62, 702/65, 702/68, 702/120, 702/122, 702/116, 702/117, 702/183, 361/562, 307/64, 307/23, 710/100, 710/303, 710/62
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system determines the status of an external power supply connection to an information handling system. A subsystem manager of the information handling system compares an external power source identification signal and a power available signal to determine whether external power is available, unavailable or faulty. For instance, an information handling system configured as a portable computer receives external power from an AC/DC converter along with an identification signal for the converter. A state machine running on the portable computer system'"'"'s Super I/O compares the identification signal and a power available signal from an internal charger to determine state of the external power source and indicate the state to a user.

Claims

1. A method for determining the status of an external power source interface with an information handling system, the method comprising:

sensing the state of an external power source identification connector pin;

sensing the state of an external power source power available signal; and

determining an external power source fault if the identification connector pin and the power available signal have inconsistent states.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an external power source fault further comprises:

determining an external power source fault if the power source identification connector pin state indicates an external power source and the power available signal indicates no external power source.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an external power source fault further comprises:

determining an external power source fault if the power source identification connector pin state indicates no external power source and the power available signal indicates an external power source.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating a determined fault with a signal from LEDs of the information handling system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating a determined fault with an audible signal from a speaker of the information handling system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating a determined fault with a visible message from the information handling system display.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining external power is connected if the identification connector pin and the power available signal states each indicate an external power source.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining external power is not connected if the identification connector pin and the power available signal states each indicate no external power source.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information handling system comprises a portable computer.