Battery charger current limiting based on maximum current capacity of AC adapter as determined by adapter identification subsystem
First Claim
1. An information handling system comprising:
- a processor;
a battery operable to provide power to the processor;
an AC adapter input port configured to receive an AC adapter, wherein the AC adapter provides current thereto and a signal specifying a maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;
a battery charger coupled to the battery and the AC adapter input port, wherein the battery charger is configured to provide a battery charge current to the battery, determine the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal, and set the amount of the battery charge current based upon the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;
an AC adapter identification subsystem coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the adapter identification subsystem is configured to identify the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal and provide an adjustment current based thereon; and
an adjustable charger coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and the battery, wherein the adjustable charger is configured to adjust the battery charge current based upon the adjustment current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information handling system comprising a processor, a battery to provide power to the information handling system, an AC adapter input port coupled to the battery configured to receive an AC adapter, and a battery charger coupled to the battery and the AC adapter input port configured to identify a characteristic of the AC adapter and adjust a battery charge current based upon the characteristic. The battery charger comprises an adapter identification subsystem coupled to the AC adapter input port configured to identify the characteristic and provide an adjustment current, and an adjustable charger coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and the battery, configured to set the battery charging current based upon the adjustment current. The AC adapter identification subsystem comprises an adapter identification circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port configured to identify the characteristic, and a microcontroller configured to provide the adjustment current to the adjustable charger.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An information handling system comprising:
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a processor;
a battery operable to provide power to the processor;
an AC adapter input port configured to receive an AC adapter, wherein the AC adapter provides current thereto and a signal specifying a maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;
a battery charger coupled to the battery and the AC adapter input port, wherein the battery charger is configured to provide a battery charge current to the battery, determine the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal, and set the amount of the battery charge current based upon the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;
an AC adapter identification subsystem coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the adapter identification subsystem is configured to identify the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal and provide an adjustment current based thereon; and
an adjustable charger coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and the battery, wherein the adjustable charger is configured to adjust the battery charge current based upon the adjustment current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A battery charger for charging a battery in an information handling system, the battery charger comprising:
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an adapter identification subsystem configured to identify a signal level representative of a maximum current capacity of an AC adapter, wherein the adapter identification subsystem is configured to provide an adjustment current to the adjustable charger based on the signal level; and
an adjustable charger comprising an input configured to receive an AC adapter current from an AC adapter input port, a current source coupled to a microcontroller, wherein the current source is configured to adjust a system current based upon the adjustment current, a measuring circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to measure a system current, and a subtracting circuit coupled to the battery and the measuring circuit, wherein the subtracting circuit is configured to provide the battery charge current based upon the difference between the system current and the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;
wherein the adjustable charger is coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and is configured to set a battery charge current based upon the signal level representative of the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification