Battery capacity test and electronic system utilizing same
First Claim
1. A method of testing a battery in a back-up power supply of an electronic system of the type operating in a first, operational mode and a second, power saving mode, the electronic system having a primary power source for providing power to the electronic system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) testing a high discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during a conversion time in which the electronic system converts from the operational mode to the power saving mode; and
(b) testing a low discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during the power saving mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery capacity test and electronic system implementing the same tests both the high and low discharge capacities of a back-up battery to ensure that the battery is capable of handling both a short term, high discharge load and a long term, low discharge load. The battery capacity test is particularly suitable for use in an electronic system which, upon occurrence of a power outage, converts from an operational mode to a power saving mode during a conversion time. High discharge capacity testing is performed using a "safety net" where the primary power source of the electronic system is switched to a reduced testing voltage output, rather than shut off or disconnected, so that the primary power source can take over quickly in the event of a back-up power supply failure during the test.
108 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of testing a battery in a back-up power supply of an electronic system of the type operating in a first, operational mode and a second, power saving mode, the electronic system having a primary power source for providing power to the electronic system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) testing a high discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during a conversion time in which the electronic system converts from the operational mode to the power saving mode; and (b) testing a low discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during the power saving mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic system of the type operating in a first, operational mode and a second, power saving mode, comprising:
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(a) a primary power source for providing power over a system bus; (b) a back-up power supply coupled to the system bus for providing power over the system bus when the primary power source is not operating, the back-up power supply including a battery; and (c) a controller for testing the battery, the controller including; (i) high discharge capacity testing means for testing a high discharge capacity of the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during a conversion time in which the electronic system converts from the operational mode to the power saving mode; and (ii) low discharge capacity testing means for testing a low discharge capacity of the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during the power saving mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A program storage device readable by an electronic system of the type operating in a first, operational mode and a second, power saving mode, the electronic system having a primary power source for providing power to the electronic system, the program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the electronic system to perform a method of testing a battery in a back-up power supply coupled to the electronic system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) testing a high discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during a conversion time in which the electronic system converts from the operational mode to the power saving mode; and (b) testing a low discharge capacity for the battery to determine whether the battery is capable of supplying sufficient power to the electronic system during the power saving mode.
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Specification