Battery pack system interface with multiple mode control states
First Claim
1. A system for controlling at least one battery pack comprising:
- system electronics including a host processor; and
at least one battery pack containing a battery;
at least one interface for coupling said system electronics to said at least one battery pack, said interface including a mode control signal interface for communicating a mode control signal from said host processor to the respective battery pack wherein said mode control signal interface comprises a single wire interface;
each of said at least one battery pack including selector switches for controlling the delivery of power from said battery to said system electronics, wherein each of selector switches has an on state in which the switch is closed and conducts current and an off state in which the switch is open and does not conduct current;
said system electronics further including mode control circuitry responsive to control signals from said host control processor for generating said mode control signal, wherein said mode control signal has one of at least three mode control states specified by said host processor control signals and wherein said mode control signal for each of said at least three mode control states is an analog signal having a magnitude within a predetermined range that does not overlap the predetermined range for other mode signal states;
said at least one battery pack being operative to establish the on/off states of the selector switches within the respective battery pack in response to receipt of said mode control signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system interface having an interface for dual battery packs provides for power up sequencing of battery packs and pack switching under the control of a host processor within associated system electronics. The host processor communicates with each battery pack via a pack interface that includes a single wire mode control signal and a single wire status signal. The mode control signal allows the host processor to control the operational mode of selector switches within the respective battery pack. The single wire status signal provides status information to the host processor regarding the state of the selector switches within the respective battery pack. The mode and status signals are multi-state signals that permit at least three states to be identified via the single wire interface. Selector switches are provided only in the battery packs. No selector switches are included in the system electronics to minimize voltage drops between the selected battery pack and the system electronics.
5 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for controlling at least one battery pack comprising:
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system electronics including a host processor; and at least one battery pack containing a battery; at least one interface for coupling said system electronics to said at least one battery pack, said interface including a mode control signal interface for communicating a mode control signal from said host processor to the respective battery pack wherein said mode control signal interface comprises a single wire interface; each of said at least one battery pack including selector switches for controlling the delivery of power from said battery to said system electronics, wherein each of selector switches has an on state in which the switch is closed and conducts current and an off state in which the switch is open and does not conduct current; said system electronics further including mode control circuitry responsive to control signals from said host control processor for generating said mode control signal, wherein said mode control signal has one of at least three mode control states specified by said host processor control signals and wherein said mode control signal for each of said at least three mode control states is an analog signal having a magnitude within a predetermined range that does not overlap the predetermined range for other mode signal states; said at least one battery pack being operative to establish the on/off states of the selector switches within the respective battery pack in response to receipt of said mode control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a battery pack comprising:
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generating a mode control signal having one of at least three possible mode control states in response to control signals from a host processor within system electronics and communicating said mode control signal to said battery pack, wherein said mode control signal for each of said at least three mode control states is an analog signal having a magnitude within a predetermined range that does not overlap the predetermined range for other mode control signal states wherein a conveying step comprises a step of communicating said mode control signal from said system electronics to said battery pack via a single wire interface; and in response to receipt of said mode control signal at said battery pack, controlling the on/off states of selector switches within said battery pack, wherein said selector switches control the switching of power from a battery within said battery pack to said system electronics. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification