Dynamic power management in a hybrid dual battery system

• US 10,551,894 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Xiaobei
• Primary Examiner(s): Rehman, Mohammed H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Cheri L
• Application Number:
  US15/342,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 1/3212 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

The present disclosure provides devices and techniques for managing power distribution in a device. The devices and techniques include determining a first power level of a first battery of the device, and determining a second power level of a second battery of the device. Also, the devices and techniques include adjusting an input current limit of a system charger based on the first power level and the second power level. Additionally, the devices and techniques include steering power from one or both of the first battery or the second battery to at least one processor of the device based on the input current limit.

Claims

1. A method for managing power distribution in a device, comprising:

determining a first power level of a first battery of the device;

determining a second power level of a second battery of the device;

adjusting an input current limit of a system charger based on the first power level and the second power level; and

steering power from one or both of the first battery or the second battery to at least one processor of the device based only on the input current limit, with the input current limit controlling which of the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery is drained from and how much power is drained from the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the input current limit of the system charger comprises:

determining that the first power level of the first battery is greater than a minimum power threshold;

determining that the second power level of the second battery is greater than the minimum power threshold; and

adjusting the input current limit of the system charger such that a discharge rate of the first battery is within a predetermined range of the discharge rate of the second battery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the input current limit of the system charger comprises:

determining that the first power level is less than a minimum power threshold; and

increasing the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor includes a first processor and a second processor;

and

wherein increasing the input current limit of the system charger allows the second battery to supply power to both the first processor and the second processor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the input current limit of the system charger comprises:

determining that the first power level is greater than a minimum power threshold; and

adjusting the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the input current limit of the system charger comprises:

determining that the second power level is less than a minimum power threshold; and

decreasing the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor includes a first processor and a second processor;

and the method further comprises;

determining that the second power level is less than a critical power threshold; and

shutting off the first processor or the second processor based on the determining.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first power level of the first battery is less than a minimum power threshold;

determining that the second power level of the second battery is greater than the minimum power threshold; and

steering power from the second battery to the first battery until the first battery satisfies the minimum power threshold.

9. A computer device for managing power distribution in a device comprising:

a first processor;

a second processor; and

a memory coupled to the first processor and the second processor, the memory including instructions executable by the first processor or the second processor to;

determine a first power level of a first battery of the device;

determine a second power level of a second battery of the device;

adjust an input current limit of a system charger based on the first power level and the second power level; and

steer power from one or both of the first battery or the second battery to one or both of the first processor or the second processor of the computer device based only on the input current limit, with the input current limit controlling which of the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery is drained from and how much power is drained from the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery.

10. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the instructions to adjust the input current limit of the system charger are further executable to:

determine that the first power level of the first battery is greater than a minimum power threshold;

determine that the second power level of the second battery is greater than the minimum power threshold; and

adjust the input current limit of the system charger such that a discharge rate of the first battery is within a predetermined range of the discharge rate of the second battery.

11. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the instructions to adjust the input current limit of the system charger are further executable to:

determine that the first power level is less than a minimum power threshold; and

increase the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

12. The computer device of claim 11, wherein increasing the input current limit of the system charger allows the second battery to supply power to both the first processor and the second processor.

13. The computer device of claim 9, wherein instructions to adjust the input current limit of the system charger are further executable to:

determine that the first power level is greater than a minimum power threshold; and

adjust the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

14. The computer device of claim 9, wherein instructions to adjust the input current limit of the system charger are further executable to:

determine that the second power level is less than a minimum power threshold; and

decrease the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

15. The computer device of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

determine that the second power level is less than a critical power threshold; and

shut off the first processor or the second processor based on the determining.

16. The computer device of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that the first power level of the first battery is less than a minimum power threshold;

determining that the second power level of the second battery is greater than the minimum power threshold; and

steering power from the second battery to the first battery until the first battery satisfies the minimum power threshold.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing power distribution in a device comprising instructions for:

determining a first power level of a first battery of the device;

determining a second power level of a second battery of the device;

adjusting an input current limit of a system charger based on the first power level and the second power level; and

steering power from one or both of the first battery or the second battery to at least one processor of the device based only on the input current limit, with the input current limit controlling which of the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery is drained from and how much power is drained from the first battery, the second battery or both the first battery and the second battery.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for adjusting the input current limit of the system charger, further include instructions for:

determining that the first power level of the first battery is greater than a minimum power threshold;

determining that the second power level of the second battery is greater than the minimum power threshold; and

adjusting the input current limit of the system charger such that a discharge rate of the first battery is within a predetermined range of the discharge rate of the second battery.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for adjusting the input current limit of the system charger, further include instructions for:

determining that the first power level is less than a minimum power threshold; and

increasing the input current limit of the system charger based on the determining.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor includes a first processor and a second processor;

and

wherein increasing the input current limit of the system charger allows the second battery to supply power to both the first processor and the second processor.