Power system and method

• US 6,888,337 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyers, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pia
• Application Number:
  US10/379,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/137, 320/125, 320/164, 713/300, 307/64, 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/103
• 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 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to power systems and methods. One such power system includes an adapter that produces a power output. A converter stage receives the power output and in turn provides a regulated output. The regulated output is delivered to a battery and to a DC—DC component.

Claims

1. A power system, comprising:

a power adapter capable of producing a power output;

a converter stage coupled to receive the power output and generate a regulated output;

a DC—

DC component coupled to receive the regulated output; and

a battery removably coupled to receive the regulated output.

2. The power system set forth in claim 1, comprising a feedback circuit to provide feedback from the battery to the converter stage to manage the charging of the battery.

3. The power system set forth in claim 2, wherein the battery comprises:

a first switch connected to a terminal of the battery; and

a second switch connected between the first switch and the feedback circuit, wherein the first and second switches enable the charging of the battery.

4. The power system set forth in claim 1, wherein the DC—

DC component adjusts the regulated output into different voltages to be applied to other circuits connected to the power system.

5. The power system set forth in claim 1, comprising a battery circuit to monitor current and voltage levels at the battery to regulate charging of the battery.

6. A power system comprising:

an adapter capable of producing input power;

a converter coupled to receive the input power from the adapter;

a plurality of batteries coupled to the converter;

a control circuit coupled between the plurality of batteries and the converter; and

a power distributor to connect the converter and the plurality of batteries to a plurality of components, wherein the converter generates a regulated output sent to the power distributor and the plurality of batteries.

7. The power system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plurality of batteries is configured to charge from the regulated output.

8. The power system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the control circuit is configured to regulate current from the converter to the batteries by monitoring the current received by each of the plurality of batteries.

9. The power system set forth in claim 6, wherein the power distributor is configured to adjust the regulated output into different voltages to be applied to other circuits connected to the power system.

10. The power system set forth in claim 6, wherein the power system comprises a battery circuit to monitor current and voltage levels of the plurality of batteries.

11. The power system set forth in claim 6, wherein the plurality of batteries comprises:

a first switch connected to the plurality of batteries; and

a second switch connected between the first switch and the feedback circuit, wherein the first and second switches enable the charging of each of the plurality of batteries.

12. The power system set forth in claim 6, comprising a current sense circuit for determining current levels transferred to at least one of the plurality of batteries.

13. A method of operation for a power system, wherein the method comprises:

producing a power output;

delivering the power output to a converter;

regulating the power output; and

delivering the regulated output to a DC—

DC component and at least one battery, wherein the battery charges from the regulated output and the DC—

DC component adjusts the regulated output into a plurality of voltages that are applied to a plurality of circuits.

14. The method recited in claim 13, comprising using feedback from the at least one battery to control the regulated output at the at least one battery.

15. The method recited in claim 14, comprising preventing one of the at least one battery from charging other batteries.

16. The method recited in claim 15, comprising determining an amount of current flowing to the plurality of batteries.

17. A power system comprising:

means for providing a power output;

means for receiving the power output and generating a regulated output;

means for receiving the regulated output and adjusting the regulated output into a plurality of voltage levels; and

means for receiving the regulated output to retain a charge.

18. The power system set forth in claim 17, comprising means for adjusting the regulated output into different voltages for a plurality of circuits connected to the power system.