System and method of managing power at a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station

• US 8,653,785 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Gill, Manjit Singh, Tessitore, Ronald J., Pineda, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/645,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20100244765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/115, 320/132, 320/138, 307/43, 307/44, 307/45, 307/46, 307/48, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/77, 307/80
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery, and powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery. Further, the method may include determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition and charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition. The method may also include monitoring a PCD docking station battery power, determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition, and transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

Claims

1. A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

determining whether the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;

determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition;

charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition;

monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition;

transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition;

transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition;

determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station after transmitting the second warning; and

when it determined that the external power source is not connected to the PCD docking station;

switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the PCD battery power; and

determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

6. A portable computing device (PCD) comprising:

means for determining whether the PCD is docked with a PCD docking station;

means for switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

means for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;

means for determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition;

means for charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition;

means for monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition;

means for transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition;

means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition;

means for transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition;

means for determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station;

means for switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery after transmitting the second warning and when the external power source is not connected to the PCD docking station; and

means for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

7. The portable computing device of claim 6, further comprising:

means for charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

8. The portable computing device of claim 6, further comprising:

means for monitoring the PCD battery power; and

means for determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

9. The portable computing device of claim 8, further comprising:

means for transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

10. The portable computing device of claim 9, further comprising:

means for powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

11. A portable computing device (PCD) comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to performs operations comprising;

determining whether the PCD is docked with a PCD docking station;

switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;

determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition;

charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition;

monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition;

transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition;

transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition;

determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station after transmitting the second warning; and

when it determined that the external power source is not connected to the PCD docking station;

switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

12. The portable computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

charge the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

13. The portable computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

monitor the PCD battery power; and

determine whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

14. The portable computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to:

transmit a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

15. The portable computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

power down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored there computer-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether a portable computing device (PCD) is docked with a PCD docking station;

switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery in response to determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery;

determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition;

charging the PCD battery from the PCD docking station battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition;

monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition;

transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition;

transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition;

determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station after transmitting the second warning; and

when it determined that the external power source is not connected to the PCD docking station;

switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring the PCD battery power; and

determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.