Circuit for selecting and designating a master battery pack in a computer system
First Claim
1. A battery pack for providing power to a host computer system with battery pack arbitration circuitry, said battery pack comprising:
- battery pack terminals;
battery cells;
discharge enabling circuitry coupled to said battery pack terminals and said battery cells, said discharge enabling circuitry when enabled permitting discharge of said battery cells through said battery pack terminals and otherwise blocking discharge of said battery cells; and
data processing circuitry electrically coupled to said discharge enabling circuitry, said data processing circuitry comprising;
a serial bus interface for communicating battery status information to the battery pack arbitration circuitry of the host computer system and for receiving selection commands from the battery pack arbitration circuitry of the host computer system;
a master battery signal line interface for communicating a master battery signal;
logic responsive to said master battery signal and responsive to selection commands received over said serial bus interface for controlling said discharge enabling circuitry; and
logic for selectively providing said master battery signal responsive to selection commands received over said serial bus interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to circuitry for selecting a master battery pack for supplying power to a computer system capable of incorporating multiple battery packs. A bi-directional master battery signal is communicated to the microcontroller of each installed battery pack and arbitration circuitry contained within the host computer system. The master battery signal operates in conjunction with a serial communications interface between each of the installed battery packs and the host computer system. Battery status information is communicated to the host computer system via the serial communications interface, and the host computer system then selects a master battery pack. The battery pack selected to be the master asserts the master battery signal while all other battery packs monitor this signal waiting for it to be deasserted. Other battery packs utilize the master battery signal to control their own charge and discharge circuitry. Deassertion of the master battery signal denotes that the master battery pack is no longer capable of supplying power to the host computer system and the master battery pack arbitration process is repeated.
278 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A battery pack for providing power to a host computer system with battery pack arbitration circuitry, said battery pack comprising:
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battery pack terminals; battery cells; discharge enabling circuitry coupled to said battery pack terminals and said battery cells, said discharge enabling circuitry when enabled permitting discharge of said battery cells through said battery pack terminals and otherwise blocking discharge of said battery cells; and data processing circuitry electrically coupled to said discharge enabling circuitry, said data processing circuitry comprising; a serial bus interface for communicating battery status information to the battery pack arbitration circuitry of the host computer system and for receiving selection commands from the battery pack arbitration circuitry of the host computer system; a master battery signal line interface for communicating a master battery signal; logic responsive to said master battery signal and responsive to selection commands received over said serial bus interface for controlling said discharge enabling circuitry; and logic for selectively providing said master battery signal responsive to selection commands received over said serial bus interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system capable of being powered by battery packs, said computer system comprising:
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at least one battery pack interface; battery pack arbitration circuitry coupled to said at least one battery pack interface; a serial bus for communicating battery pack status information from said at least one battery pack interface to said battery arbitration circuitry and for communicating commands from said battery arbitration circuitry to said at least one battery pack interface for selecting a battery pack connected to said at least one battery pack interface; and a master battery signal line for communicating a master battery signal from said at least one battery pack interface to said battery arbitration circuitry, said master battery signal indicating whether a battery pack is functioning as a master battery pack to supply power to said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A combination of a host computer system and at least one battery pack, the combination comprising:
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a master battery signal line for communicating a master battery signal indicating whether the at least one battery pack is supplying power to a host computer system; a serial bus; the host computer system having battery pack arbitration circuitry, said battery pack arbitration circuitry being electrically coupled to said serial bus in order to receive battery pack status information and to communicate commands for selecting a master battery pack, said battery pack arbitration circuitry further being electrically coupled to said master battery signal line in order to receive the master battery signal; and said at least one battery pack installed in said host computer system, said at least one battery pack comprising; battery pack terminals; battery cells; discharge enabling circuitry coupled to said battery pack terminals and said battery pack cells, said discharge enabling circuitry when enabled permitting discharge of said battery cells through said battery pack terminals and otherwise blocking discharge of said battery cells; data processing circuitry electrically coupled to said discharge enabling circuitry, said master battery signal line, and said serial bus, said data processing circuitry comprising; logic responsive to the master battery signal and responsive to selection commands received over said serial bus for controlling said discharge enabling circuitry; and logic for selectively providing the master battery signal in response to selection commands received over said serial bus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for selecting a master battery pack for supplying power to a host computer system capable of incorporating at least one battery pack, said host computer system having no current master battery pack, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining that no battery pack is currently serving as the master battery pack by examining the voltage level of a master battery signal line linking the host computer system to installed battery packs; determining the charge status of any battery packs installed in the host computer system via communications over a serial bus interface between the host computer system and installed battery packs; selecting a master battery pack based on predetermined selection criteria; and
communicating the selection to the new master battery pack via further communications over the serial bus interface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification