Battery recovery system

• US 7,830,118 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: MacNair, Douglas G. Jr., Barbian, John, Taylor, Jay L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US12/492,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/114, 320/128, 320/137, 320/131, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery includes at least one rechargeable battery cell that is operable to store energy. An electronics unit is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein the electronics unit is operable to control an operating condition of the battery, and wherein the electronics unit is inoperable when the energy stored in the at least one rechargeable battery cell is insufficient to operate the electronics unit. A detector component is coupled to the electronics unit and operable to determine that the electronics unit is inoperable. A charge discharge component is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the electronics unit being operable, the charge discharge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell through a first charge path. A trickle charge component is coupled to the detector component and the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, the trickle charge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, through a second charge path that bypasses the electronics unit, that is sufficient to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell such that the electronics unit becomes operable.

Claims

1. A battery, comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery cell that is operable to store energy;

an electronics unit that is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein the electronics unit is operable to control an operating condition of the battery, and wherein the electronics unit is inoperable when the energy stored in the at least one rechargeable battery cell is insufficient to operate the electronics unit;

a detector component coupled to the electronics unit and operable to determine that the electronics unit is inoperable;

a charge discharge component coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the electronics unit being operable, the charge discharge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell through a first charge path; and

a trickle charge component coupled to the detector component and the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein in response to the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, the trickle charge component is operable to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery cell, through a second charge path that bypasses the electronics unit, that is sufficient to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell such that the electronics unit becomes operable.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the charge discharge component further comprises:

a first switching device that is coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell and is operable, in response to a first control signal received from the electronics unit, to selectively switch on a first portion of the first charge path to the at least one rechargeable battery cell; and

a second switching device that is coupled to an output of the first switching device and the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein the second switching device is operable, in response to a second control signal received from the electronics unit, to selectively switch on a second portion of the first charge path.

3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the second switching device is operable to switch on the second portion of the first charge path in response to the electronics unit being inoperable.

4. The battery of claim 2, wherein the trickle charge component further comprises:

a resistor device coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery cell; and

a third switching device that is coupled to the resistor device and an input of the second switching device, wherein the third switching device is operable, in response to a third control signal received from the electronics unit, to selectively switch on a first portion of the second charge path in response to the electronics unit being inoperable.

5. The battery of claim 2, wherein a second portion of the second charge path includes the second portion of the first charge path.

6. A battery recovery system, comprising:

a device;

a battery that is operable to provide power to the device and that includes an electronics unit that is operable to control an operating condition of the battery;

a detector component that is coupled to the electronics unit and operable to determine that the electronics unit is inoperable;

a first charging component coupled to the detector component and the battery, wherein in response to the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, the first charge component is operable to provide a charge to the battery, through a first charge path that bypasses the electronics unit, that is sufficient to charge the battery such that the electronics unit becomes operable; and

a second charging component coupled to the battery, wherein in response to the electronics unit being operable, the second charging component is operable to provide a charge to the battery through a second charge path.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first charging component further comprises:

a bypass component that is coupled to detector component and the battery, wherein the bypass component is operable for bypassing the electronics unit, in response to the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, and providing a first charge path to the battery;

a recovery component coupled to the battery, the detector component, and the bypass component, wherein the recovery component is operable to provide the charge to the battery through the first charge path provided by the bypass component in response the detector component determining that the electronics unit is inoperable.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the recovery component further comprises:

a trickle current generator component that is operable to generate the charge, wherein the charge comprises a current limited trickle charge;

a timer component that is operable to keep track of a predefined time interval; and

an output component that is operable to provide the charge to the battery through the bypass component.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the device comprises an information handling system.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the information handling system further comprises:

a processor;

a system bus; and

a memory coupled to the processor through the system bus.

11. A method for recovering a battery, the method comprising:

providing a battery that provides power to an electronics unit that is operable to control an operating condition of the battery;

determining that the electronics unit is inoperable;

in response to determining that the electronics unit is inoperable, providing a charge to the battery through a first charge path that bypasses the electronics unit, wherein the charge provided to the battery is sufficient to charge the battery such that the electronics unit becomes operable;

detecting that the electronics unit has become operable; and

in response to detecting that the electronics unit has become operable, providing a charge to the battery through a second charge path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the charge provided through the first charge path comprises a trickle charge that is provided for a predefined time interval.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the charge provided that is sufficient to charge the battery such that the electronics unit becomes operable is provided during the predetermined time interval.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronics unit includes at least one battery charge and control line that interfaces with at least one external device.

15. The method of claim 11, comprising:

identifying the battery to be in a non-recoverable dead condition when the electronics unit continues to be to be inoperable upon providing the charge that is sufficient to charge the battery such that the electronics unit becomes operable.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting that the electronics unit has become operable comprises:

activating the electronics unit in response to the battery receiving the charge that is sufficient to charge the battery such that the electronics unit becomes operable, the activation of the electronics unit causing the electronics unit to change from being inoperable to being operable;

changing the operating condition of the battery from a dead condition to an operable condition in response to the electronics unit being operable;

at least one component to which the battery provides power detecting the electronics unit being operable; and

the at least one component disabling the first charge path and transferring charge control to the electronics unit in response to detecting the electronics unit being operable.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the charge through the first charge path is a trickle charge, wherein the trickle charge is current limited.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronics unit being inoperable prevents the battery from receiving a charge through the second charge path.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronics unit is operable to recondition the battery by charging the battery to a fully charged condition.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining that the electronics unit is inoperable is performed by a basic input output system program coupled to at least one component to which the battery provides power.