Battery and system power selector integration scheme

• US 7,202,631 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonald, Brent A., Breen, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/602,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/107, 320/116, 320/117, 320/134, 307/23, 307/26, 307/29, 307/34, 307 38- 40, 307/150, 713/300
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• 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
• 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 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In a method and system for operating each smart battery included in a smart battery system, the smart battery is initialized prior to the smart battery being electrically coupled to the smart battery system. The smart battery system or an external power source is selected to provide power to an information handling system device. The smart battery includes an electronics device, a charge switch and a discharge switch. The electronics device operates the charge and discharge switches to jointly control an operating condition of the smart battery in response to receiving a control input from a controller of the device. The charge and discharge switches are closed in response to the electronics device and the controller being in agreement to charge the first smart battery. The charge or the discharge switch is opened in response to either the electronics device or the controller directing either of the switches to be opened.

Claims

1. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

a system bus;

a memory coupled to the processor through the system bus;

a power supply system operable to provide power to the processor, the bus and the memory, the power supply system being connectable to an AC adapter for deriving power from an AC power source;

a controller coupled to the processor and memory through the system bus, the controller operable to control the power supply system; and

wherein the power supply system includes;

a pair of smart batteries each capable of being individually selected to be operable, wherein each of the smart batteries includes;

an electronics device, each respective electronics device being coupled to the controller to jointly control charging and discharging of a rechargeable cell in the associated smart battery, each rechargeable cell being coupled in series to a charge switch and a discharge switch whereby, during a discharge operating condition, each respective electronics device monitors the energy level of its rechargeable cell, and when requested by the controller, provides energy to the IHS and notifies the controller when the energy level falls below a threshold level, and during a charge operating condition, each respective electronics device receives a charge and transfers the charge to its rechargeable cell, when required; and

a battery charger operable to receive charge from the AC adapter and provide the charge to a selected one of the smart batteries; and

a power source selector operable to select either the smart batteries or the AC power source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge switch of each of the smart batteries is operable to be opened in response to either the corresponding electronics device or the controller directing the charge switch to be opened.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge switch of each of the smart batteries is operable to be opened in response to either the corresponding electronics device or the controller directing the discharge switch to be opened.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the smart batteries is initialized prior to being operable to receive the control input, wherein the initialization includes the electronics devices opening the corresponding charge and discharge switches.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the electronics devices operates the corresponding charge and discharge switches to control an operating condition of the smart battery.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the electronics devices is operable to receive a control input from the controller for jointly controlling the operating condition.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge and discharge switches of each of the smart batteries are operable to be closed in response to the corresponding electronics device and the controller being in agreement to charge the corresponding smart battery.

8. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

a system bus;

a memory coupled to the processor through the system bus;

a power supply system operable to provide power to the processor, the bus and the memory, the power supply system being connectable to an AC adapter for deriving power from an AC power source;

a controller coupled to the processor and memory through the system bus, the controller operable to control the power supply system; and

wherein the power supply system includes;

a pair of batteries each capable of being individually selected to be operable, wherein each of the batteries includes;

an electronics device, each respective electronics device being coupled to the controller to jointly control charging and discharging of a rechargeable cell in the associated battery, each rechargeable cell being coupled in series to a charge switch and a discharge switch whereby, during a discharge operating condition, each respective electronics device monitors the energy level of its rechargeable cell, and when requested by the controller, provides energy to the IHS and notifies the controller when the energy level falls below a threshold level, and during a charge operating condition, each respective electronics device receives a charge and transfers the charge to its rechargeable cell, when required; and

;

a battery charger operable to receive charge from the AC adapter and provide the charge to a selected one of the batteries; and

a power source selector operable to select either the batteries or the AC power source.