Intelligent power supply system for a portable computer
First Claim
1. An intelligent power supply system for a portable computer, the computer being operable in response to power supplied to a power input from at least two rechargeable batteries or an alternating current (AC) adapter, comprising:
- means for receiving each of said batteries in a respective one of at least two battery receiving sides of a battery receiving section within said computer;
means, coupled to said receiving means, for latching each of said batteries into a respective one of said battery receiving sides;
means for providing selection information indicating which one of said battery receiving sides has been used to supply power to said power input before power-up of said portable computer;
selecting means for selecting one of said battery receiving sides indicated by said selection information;
detection means, responsive to said selecting means, for detecting whether the selected battery receiving side latches one of said batteries, and whether a charge of a battery latched by said selected battery receiving side is above a predetermined level;
control means, responsive to said detection means, for indicating the selected battery receiving side in the event that said selected battery receiving side latches one of said batteries and the charge of the battery latched in said selected battery receiving side is above said predetermined level; and
battery control circuit means, responsive to said control means, for supplying power to said power input from a battery receiving side indicated by said control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent power supply system for a portable computer, the computer having a central processing unit (CPU), and being operable in response to power supplied from at least two chargeable batteries or an alternating current (AC) adapter, includes means for detachably coupling the batteries to the computer and a PC-CPU for controlling power supply independent of the CPU. The PC-CPU has means for receiving battery select information for controlling power supply and generating a control signal. The power supply system further includes battery control circuit means, connected to the AC adapter and the batteries, for selecting and controlling the AC adapter or one of the batteries based on the control signal. Accordingly, the proper battery for the usage can be installed in the portable computer operable on battery power, and the computer can be operated continuously on the battery power for a long period of time.
326 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An intelligent power supply system for a portable computer, the computer being operable in response to power supplied to a power input from at least two rechargeable batteries or an alternating current (AC) adapter, comprising:
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means for receiving each of said batteries in a respective one of at least two battery receiving sides of a battery receiving section within said computer; means, coupled to said receiving means, for latching each of said batteries into a respective one of said battery receiving sides; means for providing selection information indicating which one of said battery receiving sides has been used to supply power to said power input before power-up of said portable computer; selecting means for selecting one of said battery receiving sides indicated by said selection information; detection means, responsive to said selecting means, for detecting whether the selected battery receiving side latches one of said batteries, and whether a charge of a battery latched by said selected battery receiving side is above a predetermined level; control means, responsive to said detection means, for indicating the selected battery receiving side in the event that said selected battery receiving side latches one of said batteries and the charge of the battery latched in said selected battery receiving side is above said predetermined level; and battery control circuit means, responsive to said control means, for supplying power to said power input from a battery receiving side indicated by said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a power supply of a portable computer operable in response to power supplied to a power input from at least two rechargeable batteries or an alternating current (AC) adapter, said computer including at least two battery receiving sides of a battery receiving section within said computer for detachably coupling said at least two rechargeable batteries to the computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether power is supplied to said power input from the AC adapter; providing selection information to indicate which one of said battery receiving sides has been used to supply driving power to said computer before a power-on time of said computer; selecting, in the event that power is not supplied from the AC adapter, one of said battery receiving sides indicated by said selection information; detecting whether the selected battery receiving side is coupled to one of said batteries; detecting, in the event that said selected battery receiving side is coupled to one of said batteries, whether a charge of the battery coupled to said selected battery receiving side is above a predetermined level; indicating, in the event that the charge of the battery coupled to said selected battery receiving side is above said predetermined level, said selected battery receiving side as a power supplying battery receiving side; and supplying power to said power input, in the event that power is not supplied to said power input from said AC adapter, from the battery receiving side indicated as the power supplying battery receiving side. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification