Information handling system including a battery that reduces a voltage fluctuation

• US 7,592,716 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Breen, John J., Toland, David Jose, Zhu, Guangyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US10/915,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66, 307/80, 307 43- 45, 307/46, 307/48, 320137-138, 320/128, 320/162
• US Class Current: 307/48
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

In a first embodiment, an information handling system (“IHS”) includes a processor. The IHS also includes a power rail coupled to the processor. The power rail supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor. The IHS further includes a battery, that in response to a voltage fall on the power rail, supplies supplemental power to the power rail. In a second embodiment, an IHS includes a processor. The IHS also includes a power rail coupled to the processor. The power rail supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor. The IHS further includes a battery, that in response to a voltage rise on the power rail, suppresses or sinks power supplied by the power adapter to the power rail.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

supplying power from a power adapter to an information handling system via a power rail, to simultaneously provide power to operate the information handling system and power to charge a battery pack coupled to the power rail; and

in response to a sudden voltage fall on the power rail caused by a sudden increase of a system load on the power rail during a normal operating condition, supplementing the power from the power adapter with power from the battery pack, wherein the battery pack includes a cell stack, a charge switch and a discharge switch coupled in series, and wherein the battery pack further includes a battery controller coupled to the power rail, the power adapter, the charge switch, the discharge switch and the cell stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage fall is caused by a sudden application of load on the power rail.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein charging the battery pack includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery pack'"'"'s output voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery pack'"'"'s output voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge switch and the discharge switch are closed while the battery is charged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein charging the battery pack includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery pack'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery pack'"'"'s voltage.

8. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a power rail, coupled to the processor, that supplies power, from a power adapter, to the processor; and

a battery pack, coupled to the power rail and the power adapter for charging from the power adapter while the power adapter supplies power to the processor that in response to a sudden voltage fall on the power rail, caused by a sudden increase of a system load on the power rail during a normal operating condition, supplies supplemental power to the power rail, wherein the battery pack includes a cell stack, a charge switch and a discharge switch coupled in series, and wherein the battery pack further includes a battery controller coupled to the power rail, the power adapter, the charge switch, the discharge switch and the cell stack.

9. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the voltage fall is caused by a sudden application of load on the power rail.

10. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein charging the battery pack includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery pack'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

11. The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery pack'"'"'s voltage.

12. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the charge switch and the discharge switch are closed while the battery pack is charged.

13. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein charging the battery pack includes:

receiving a signal that indicates the battery pack'"'"'s voltage; and

in response to receiving the signal, adjusting a voltage supplied to the power rail.

14. The information handling system of claim 13, wherein the adjusting includes:

adjusting so that the voltage supplied to the power rail is higher than the battery pack'"'"'s voltage.