Power management of a battery operated computer system based on battery status

• US 20040070371A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barlow, Dallas M., DeLisle, David J., Chern, Lih, Atkinson, Lee W., Lin, Richard S.
• Application Number:
  US10/269,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070371A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery

Abstract

A battery operated computer system implements a power management scheme based on battery behavior. The battery behavior that is monitored as part of the power management scheme may include battery temperature, current, voltage, and/or capacity. In response to one or more of these battery parameters exceeding a threshold, the computer transitions itself to a lower power consumption mode. In so doing, the potential for the battery to shut itself off due to being over-extended (e.g., over current) is reduced.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a CPU;

memory coupled to said CPU;

a battery to provide DC power for the computer signal; and

a display coupled to said CPU;

wherein a parameter associated with said battery is compared to a threshold and when said battery parameter exceeds said threshold, said system transitions to a lower power consumption state.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery temperature.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery current.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery voltage.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery capacity.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said lower power consumption state includes slowing down said CPU.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery temperature.

8. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery current.

9. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery voltage.

10. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said battery parameter comprises battery capacity.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said lower power consumption state includes dimming said display.

12. A method of power management in a computer system, comprising:

(a) monitoring a parameter associated with a battery;

(b) comparing the parameter to a threshold; and

(c) changing a power state of the computer system to consume less power if said parameter exceeds said threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said parameter comprises battery temperature.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said parameter comprises battery current.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said parameter comprises battery voltage.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said parameter comprises battery capacity.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein (c) includes slowing down a CPU.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said parameter comprises battery temperature.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said parameter comprises battery current.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said parameter comprises battery voltage.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said parameter comprises battery capacity.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein (c) includes dimming a display.

23. A power management subsystem usable in a computer system, comprising:

a battery;

a keyboard controller coupled to said battery; and

power management logic operable to control a power state of the computer system based on a parameter associated with the battery;

wherein said keyboard controller polls the battery for said parameter and asserts an interrupt to said power management logic when said parameter exceeds a threshold and said power management logic responds by causing a change in the power state.

24. The power management subsystem of claim 23 wherein said power state change caused by said power management logic includes slowing down a CPU.

25. The power management subsystem of claim 23, wherein said power state change caused by said power management logic includes dimming a display.

26. The power management subsystem of claim 23 wherein said parameter comprises battery temperature.

27. The power management subsystem of claim 23 wherein said parameter comprises battery current.

28. The power management subsystem of claim 23 wherein said parameter comprises battery voltage.

29. The power management subsystem of claim 23 wherein said parameter comprises battery capacity.

30. A battery pack, comprising:

at least one cell that provides output current; and

monitoring electronics coupled to said at least one cell and capable of generating an alert signal if said current exceeds a predetermined threshold and said pack continues to produce output current even when said alert signal is generated.