Method for detecting a defective charger circuit

• US 7,538,518 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ligong, Taylor, Jay L., Breen, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US10/901,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/116, 320/165, 320/134, 340/365, 340/500
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection

Abstract

In a method and system for detecting charger failure, a battery is operable to receive a charge from the charger via a pair of terminals. The battery includes an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals. The AFE is configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals. A battery controller included in the battery is coupled to the AFE by a serial link. The battery controller receives the at least one input via the serial link. In response to the voltage being below a predefined value, the battery controller is placed in a charge_not_received state, which is indicative of the charger being defective.

Claims

1. A battery operable to receive a charge from a charger via a pair of terminals, the battery comprising:

an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals, the AFE being configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals;

a battery controller coupled to the AFE by a serial link and operable to communicate using a basic input/output system (BIOS), the battery controller receiving the at least one input via the serial link, the battery controller being placed in a charge_not_received state in response to the voltage being below a selected nonzero value, wherein placing the battery controller in the charge_not_received state is indicative of a charger being defective; and

a rechargeable cell coupled with the AFE.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery includes:

at least one rechargeable battery cell operable to store the charge received from the charger, wherein the AFE is coupled to the at least one cell, wherein the AFE is configured to receive additional inputs corresponding to voltage measured across the at least one cell.

3. In the battery of claim 1, wherein the battery controller is placed in an available_to_receive charge state in response to the voltage being at least equal to the predefined value.

4. In the battery of claim 3, placing the battery controller in the available_to_receive_charge state is indicative of the charger being operational.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein the at least one input is a spare input prior to the at least one input being configured to receive the voltage.

6. In the battery of claim 1, wherein the battery includes:

a charge discharge component coupled to the battery controller, the pair of terminals and at least one cell, the at least one cell being operable to store the charge received from the charger, the charge discharge component being operable to provide a conductive path between the pair of terminals and the at least one cell in response to receiving an enable charge command as a control input from the battery controller.

7. In the battery of claim 6, wherein the AFE receives the at least one input when the conductive path is disabled in response to receiving a disable charge command as the control input from the battery controller.

8. In the battery of claim 6, wherein the battery controller is placed in an available_to_receive_charge state in response to the voltage being at least equal to the predefined value, wherein the conductive path is enabled is response to the battery controller being placed in the available_to_receive_charge state.

16. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery controller is operable to communicate with an associated controller operable to control selection and operation of the battery and an AC power source.

17. The battery of claim 16, wherein the battery controller and the associated controller jointly control the battery operating condition and an authentication to enable charging the battery.

9. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor; and

a power supply operable to provide power to the processor, wherein the power supply includes;

a charger operable to provide a charge; and

a battery operable to receive the charge from the charger via a pair of terminals, wherein the battery includes;

an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals, the AFE being configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals; and

a battery controller coupled to the AFE by a serial link and operable to communicate using a basic input/output system (BIOS), the battery controller receiving the at least one input via the serial link, the battery controller being placed in a charge_not_received state in response to the voltage being below a selected nonzero value, wherein placing the battery controller in the charge_not_received state is indicative of a charger being defective.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the battery includes:

at least one rechargeable battery cell operable to store the charge received from the charger, wherein the AFE is coupled to the at least one cell, wherein the AFE is configured to receive additional inputs corresponding to voltage measured across the at least one cell.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one input is a spare input prior to the at least one input being configured to receive the voltage.

12. In system of claim 9, wherein the battery includes:

a charge discharge component coupled to the battery controller, the pair of terminals and at least one cell, the at least one cell being operable to store the charge received from the charger, the charge discharge component being operable to provide a conductive path between the pair of terminals and the at least one cell in response to receiving an enable charge command as a control input from the battery controller.

13. In system of claim 12, wherein the AFE receives the at least one input when the conductive path is disabled in response to receiving a disable charge command as the control input from the battery controller.

14. In system of claim 9, wherein the AFE is combined with the battery controller.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising a controller in the IHS in communication with the battery controller to control selection and operation of the battery and an AC power source.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the battery controller and the associated controller jointly control the battery operating condition and an authentication to enable charging the battery.

15. A method of charging a battery operable to receive a charge from a charger via a pair of terminals, comprising:

receiving at an analog front end (AFE) at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across a pair of terminals, wherein the AFE is coupled to the pair of terminals; and

placing a battery controller in a charge_not_received state in response to the at least one input indicating a voltage across the pair of terminals being below a selected nonzero value, wherein placing the battery controller in the charge_not_received state is indicative of a charger being defective, and wherein the battery controller is operable to communicate using a basic input/output system (BIOS).

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the battery controller communicating with an associated controller to control selection and operation of the battery and an AC power source.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the battery controller and the associated controller jointly controlling the battery operating condition and an authentication to enable charging the battery.