Systems and methods for implementing persistent battery shutdown for information handling systems

• US 9,015,514 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sultenfuss, Andrew T., Verdun, Gary J., Thompson, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US13/596,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20140068310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323, 713/324, 713/330
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• 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: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for implementing a persistent battery system shutdown condition when a battery pack voltage level drops below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold that is above a pre-determined permanent failure operating voltage threshold at which the battery pack is permanently disabled. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented such that shutdown portion of the power-consuming components of the information handling system are not allowed to be restarted until external power has been first provided and applied to at least partially recharge the battery cells of the battery pack to a battery voltage level that is above the minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold and/or when sufficient external power is applied to power the information handling system and at the same time charge the battery cells of the battery pack.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells;

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including one or more processing devices;

persistent memory; and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

where at least one of the processing devices is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells;

where at least one of the processing devices is configured to execute an operating system thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to;

store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is further configured to store an additional persistent shut down indication for the persistent shutdown management circuitry in persistent memory and to shut down when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry being a lower voltage level than the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is further configured to wake from the shutdown state upon sensing the presence of available power from an external power source.

2. The system of claim 1,

the system load including multiple processing devices, and the persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

where at least one other of the processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU);

where at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

where the CPU is configured to execute the operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent OS shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

3. The system of claim 2, where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to determine the presence of a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon waking up from a shutdown state;

and if a persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

4. The system of claim 2, where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device and a second processing device;

where the first processing device is configured to execute the operating system thereon; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device.

5. The system of claim 2, where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device and a second processing device;

where the first processing device is configured to execute the operating system thereon;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device;

where the second processing device is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and to communicate the monitored current battery charge level to the first processing device;

where the first processing device is configured to shut down the operating system when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

where the second processing device is configured to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

6. The system of claim 5, where the information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU); and

where the second processing device comprises the BMU.

7. The system of claim 2, where if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to:

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if at least one of available power from the external power source is present and sufficient to power the system load and recharge the battery cells, available power from the external power source is present and the battery cells have a monitored battery charge level that is equal to or above the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, or a combination thereof; and

clear the persistent OS shutdown indication from persistent memory only if at least one of available power from the external power source is present and sufficient to power the system load and recharge the battery cells, available power from the external power source is present and the battery cells have a monitored battery charge level that is equal to or above the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a battery management unit (BMU) configured as persistent shutdown management circuitry that includes the persistent memory.

9. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells;

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including one or more processing devices;

persistent memory; and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

where at least one of the processing devices is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells;

where at least one of the processing devices is configured to execute an operating system thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to;

store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device, a second processing device, and a third processing device;

where the first processing device is configured to execute the operating system thereon;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device and third processing device;

where the third processing device is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and to communicate the monitored current battery charge level to the first and second processing devices;

where the first processing device is configured to shut down the operating system when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value;

where the second processing device is configured to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a first persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value;

where the third processing device is configured to disconnect the second processing device from the battery cells and to store a second persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device; and

where the third processing device is configured to shut itself down and to store a third persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

10. The system of claim 9, where persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to:

clear each of the first, second and third persistent shutdown indications from persistent memory only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

11. The system of claim 9, where information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU);

where the second processing device comprises an embedded controller (EC); and

where the third processing device comprises the BMU.

12. A method for implementing persistent battery shutdown for an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system that comprises;

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells,

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including one or more processing devices,

persistent memory, and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

using at least one of the processing devices to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells;

using at least one of the processing devices to execute an operating system thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells;

storing an additional persistent shut down indication for the persistent shutdown management circuitry in persistent memory and to shutting down the persistent shutdown management circuitry when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry being a lower voltage level than the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

waking the persistent management shutdown circuitry from the shutdown state upon sensing the presence of available power from an external power source.

13. The method of claim 12, where the system load includes multiple processing devices, where the persistent shutdown management circuitry includes at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory, where at least one of the other processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU), and where the method further comprises:

using at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

using the CPU to execute the operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to determine if the persistent shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory;

and if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if at least one of available power from the external power source is present and sufficient to power the system load and recharge the battery cells, available power from the external power source is present and the battery cells have a monitored battery charge level that is equal to or above the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, or a combination thereof; and

clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory only if at least one of available power from the external power source is present and sufficient to power the system load and recharge the battery cells, available power from the external power source is present and the battery cells have a monitored battery charge level that is equal to or above the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to determine the presence of a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon waking up from a shutdown state;

and if a persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

16. The method of claim 13, where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device and a second processing device;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device; and

where the method further comprises using the first processing device to execute the operating system thereon.

17. The method of claim 13, where the information handling system further comprises a battery management unit (BMU) configured as persistent shutdown management circuitry that includes the persistent memory.

18. The method of claim 13, where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device and a second processing device;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device; and

where the method further comprises;

executing the operating system on the first processing device;

monitoring the current charge level of the battery cells with the second processing device and communicating the monitored current battery charge level from the second processing device to the first processing device;

shutting down the operating system on the first processing device when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

using the second processing device to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, where the information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU); and

where the second processing device comprises the BMU.

20. A method for implementing persistent battery shutdown for an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system that comprises;

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells,

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including one or more processing devices,

persistent memory, and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

using at least one of the processing devices to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells;

using at least one of the processing devices to execute an operating system thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

store a persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells;

where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device, a second processing device, and a third processing device;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device and third processing device; and

where the method further comprises;

executing the operating system on the first processing device,

using the third processing device to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and to communicate the monitored current battery charge level to the first and second processing devices,

using the first processing device to shut down the operating system when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

using the second processing device to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a first persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

using the third processing device to disconnect the second processing device from the battery cells and to store a second persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and

using the third processing device to shut itself down and to store a third persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising using the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to:

clear each of the first, second and third persistent shutdown indications from persistent memory only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

22. The method of claim 20, where information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU);

where the second processing device comprises an embedded controller (EC); and

where the third processing device comprises the BMU.

23. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells;

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including multiple processing devices;

persistent memory; and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

where at least one other of the processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU);

where at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

where the CPU is configured to execute an operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent OS shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the one or more processing devices further comprise a first processing device, a second processing device and a third processing device;

where the first processing device is configured to execute the operating system thereon;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device and third processing device;

where the third processing device is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and to communicate the monitored current battery charge level to the first CPU and second processing device;

where the CPU first processing device is configured to shut down the operating system when the monitored battery charge level is below a the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value;

where the second processing device is configured to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a first persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value;

where the third processing device is configured to disconnect the second processing device from the battery cells and to store a second persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device; and

where the third processing device is configured to shut itself down and to store a third persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined minimum operating system acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

24. The system of claim 23, where persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to:

clear each of the persistent OS shutdown indication and the second and third persistent shutdown indications from persistent memory only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

25. The system of claim 23, where information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU);

where the second processing device comprises an embedded controller (EC); and

where the third processing device comprises the BMU.

26. A method for implementing persistent battery shutdown for an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system that comprises;

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells,

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including multiple processing devices,

persistent memory, and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory,

where at least one of the other processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU);

using at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

using the CPU to execute an operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the processing devices further comprise an embedded controller (EC) or a battery management unit (BMU); and

where the method further comprises;

storing an additional persistent EC or BMU shut down indication for the persistent shutdown management circuitry in persistent memory and to shutting down the persistent shutdown management circuitry when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the respective embedded cont roller or battery management unit of the persistent shutdown management circuitry, the predetermined EC or BMU safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry being a lower voltage level than the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, and

waking the persistent management shutdown circuitry from the shutdown state upon sensing the presence of available power from an external power source.

27. An information handling system, comprising:

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells;

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including multiple processing devices;

persistent memory; and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory;

where at least one other of the processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU);

where at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

where the CPU is configured to execute an operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent OS shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the processing devices further comprise an embedded controller (EC) or a battery management unit (BMU);

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry is further configured to store an additional EC or BMU persistent shut down indication for the persistent shutdown management circuitry in persistent memory and to shut down when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the respective embedded controller or battery management unit of the persistent shutdown management circuitry, the predetermined EC or BMU safe shut off voltage threshold for the persistent shutdown management circuitry being a lower voltage level than the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value; and

where the respective embedded controller or battery management unit of the persistent shutdown management circuitry is further configured to wake from the shutdown state upon sensing the presence of available power from an external power source.

28. A method for implementing persistent battery shutdown for an information handling system, comprising:

providing an information handling system that comprises;

one or more battery cells configured to be coupled to receive current from an external power source for recharging the battery cells,

a system load comprising power consuming circuitry coupled to selectably receive current from the external power source, the battery cells, or a combination thereof, the system load including multiple processing devices,

persistent memory, and

persistent shutdown management circuitry including at least one of the processing devices coupled to the persistent memory,

where at least one of the other processing devices is a central processing unit (CPU);

using at least one of the processing devices of the persistent shutdown management circuitry to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and report the monitored battery charge level to the CPU;

using the CPU to execute an operating system (OS) thereon and to initiate shut down of the operating system and disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells when the reported monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value for the operating system; and

using the persistent shutdown management circuitry to;

store a persistent OS shutdown indication in the persistent memory upon the occurrence of a shutdown of the operating system and the disconnection of at least a portion of the system load from the battery cells due to a monitored battery charge level that is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

determine the presence of available power from the external power source and determine whether the persistent OS shutdown indication is stored in the persistent memory,

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells, and

if the persistent OS shutdown indication is determined to be stored in the persistent memory then only clear the persistent shutdown indication from persistent memory if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

where the one or more processing devices comprise a first processing device, a second processing device and a third processing device;

where the persistent shutdown management circuitry comprises the second processing device and third processing device; and

where the method further comprises;

executing the operating system on the first processing device,

using the third processing device to monitor the current charge level of the battery cells and to communicate the monitored current battery charge level to the CPU first and second processing device,

using the CPU to shut down the operating system when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value,

using the second processing device to disconnect at least a portion of the system load including the first processing device from the battery cells and to store a first persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value, and

using the third processing device to;

disconnect the second processing device from the battery cells and to store a second persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and shut itself down and to store a third persistent shutdown indication in the persistent memory when the monitored battery charge level is below a predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device, the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the third processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device, and the predetermined safe shut off voltage threshold for the second processing device being a lower voltage level than the predetermined operating system minimum acceptable operating voltage threshold value.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising using the persistent shutdown management circuitry is configured to:

clear each of the persistent OS shutdown indication, and the second and third persistent shutdown indications from persistent memory only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells; and

allow one or more of the processing devices to reconnect the system load to the battery cells and to restart the operating system only if available power from the external power source is determined to be present for providing current to recharge the battery cells.

30. The method of claim 28, where information handling system is a portable information handling system;

where the information handling system further comprises a battery pack that includes the one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

where the first processing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU);

where the second processing device comprises an embedded controller (EC); and

where the third processing device comprises the BMU.