Method and apparatus for battery control
First Claim
1. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a controller;
checking means, operatively communicating with the set battery and the controller, for checking whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state;
charging means, controlled by the controller, for charging the set battery when the checking means communicates to the controller that the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state;
timer means, operatively communicating with the controller, for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the set battery; and
determining means, operatively communicating with the controller, for determining whether or not the time count value exceeds a desired time value, the controller stopping the charging means from charging the set battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value communicated by the determining means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a power supply control apparatus capable of connecting an AC adapter, it is determined by a controller whether or not the AC adapter is connected. When a battery is set in the apparatus, it is determined whether the battery is in a low battery state. When the AC adapter is connected and the set battery is in a low battery state, charge operation for the battery is started. During charging, a charged state is monitored on the basis of the current value detected by a current detector and a charge time measured by a timer. When the charge amount exceeds a predetermined amount, or the charge time exceeds a predetermined charge time, the charge operation is completed and the battery is used as a power supply.
44 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a controller; checking means, operatively communicating with the set battery and the controller, for checking whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; charging means, controlled by the controller, for charging the set battery when the checking means communicates to the controller that the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state; timer means, operatively communicating with the controller, for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the set battery; and determining means, operatively communicating with the controller, for determining whether or not the time count value exceeds a desired time value, the controller stopping the charging means from charging the set battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value communicated by the determining means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A battery power supply control method for controlling power supply of at least one battery, the method comprising the steps of:
-
checking whether or not a charge amount of the at least one battery is in a low state; charging the at least one battery when the charge amount of the at least one battery is checked to be in the low state; starting a time count value when the charging of the at least one battery commences; determining whether or not the time count value exceeds a desired time value; and stopping the charging of the at least one battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power from the set battery to a load; checking means, coupled to the set battery, for checking whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; charging means for charging the set battery when the checking means indicates that the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state; timer means for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the set battery, said charging means stopping charging of the set battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value; and control means, coupled to the checking means, for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the load until at least one of the charge amount of the battery and the time count value from said timer means reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power to a load; charging means for charging the set battery when the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state; and a controller for detecting whether a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state, for starting a time count value in timer means When the charging means commences charging the set battery, said charging means stopping charging of the set battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value, and for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the load until at least one of the charge amount of the battery and the time count value from said timer means reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A computer having a system board, comprising:
-
a battery; a power source, coupled to the battery, for supplying power from the battery to the system board; charging means for charging the battery when a charge amount of the battery is in a low state; timer means for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the battery, said charging means stopping charging of the battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value; and a controller for detecting whether a charge amount of the battery is in the low state, and for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the battery to the system board until at least one of the charge amount of the battery and the time count value reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A portable computer having a system board, comprising:
-
a battery set in the portable computer; a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power to the system board; detecting means for detecting whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; charging means for charging the set battery when the detecting means indicates that the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state; timer means for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the set battery, said charging means stopping charging of the set battery in response to a predetermined count of the time count value; and control means for inhibiting, when the detecting means detects that the charge amount of the battery is in a low state, the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the system until at least one of the charge amount of the set battery and the time count value reaches a predetermined value.
-
-
22. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power to a load; detecting means for detecting whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; charging means for charging the set battery when the detecting means detects that the charge amount of the set battery is in the low state; and control means for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the load until the charge amount of the battery reaches a predetermined value.
-
-
23. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power to a system board; detecting means for detecting whether or not a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; charging means for charging the set battery when the detecting means detects that the charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; timer means for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the set battery; and control means for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the system board until the time count value reaches a predetermined count. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. A portable computer having a system board, comprising:
-
a battery; a power source, coupled to the battery, for supplying power to the system board; detecting means for detecting whether or not a charge amount of the battery is in a low state; charging means for charging the battery when the detecting means detects that the charge amount of the battery is in a low state; timer means for starting a time count value when the charging means commences charging the battery; and control means for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the battery to the system board until the time count value reaches a predetermined count. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling the power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power to a load; charging means for charging the set battery when a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; and a controller for detecting whether a charge amount of the set battery is in the low state, for monitoring a charge time value of the set battery, and for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the load until at least one of the charge amount of the battery and the charge time value reaches a predetermined value.
-
-
30. A battery power supply control apparatus for controlling power supply of a battery set in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
-
a power source, coupled to the set battery, for supplying power from the set battery to a load; charging means for charging the set battery when a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state; monitoring means for monitoring a charge time value of the charging means; and a controller for detecting whether a charge amount of the set battery is in a low state, and for inhibiting the power source from supplying power from the set battery to the load until at least one of the charge amount of the battery and the charge time value from the monitoring means reaches a predetermined value.
-
Specification