Battery charger current limiting based on maximum current capacity of AC adapter as determined by adapter identification subsystem

• US 6,928,568 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Gower, Stacy A., Tonry, Richard M., McDonald, Brent A., Breen, John J., Nikazm, Ayedin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Albert
• Application Number:
  US10/077,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 320/162, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

An information handling system comprising a processor, a battery to provide power to the information handling system, an AC adapter input port coupled to the battery configured to receive an AC adapter, and a battery charger coupled to the battery and the AC adapter input port configured to identify a characteristic of the AC adapter and adjust a battery charge current based upon the characteristic. The battery charger comprises an adapter identification subsystem coupled to the AC adapter input port configured to identify the characteristic and provide an adjustment current, and an adjustable charger coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and the battery, configured to set the battery charging current based upon the adjustment current. The AC adapter identification subsystem comprises an adapter identification circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port configured to identify the characteristic, and a microcontroller configured to provide the adjustment current to the adjustable charger.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a battery operable to provide power to the processor;

an AC adapter input port configured to receive an AC adapter, wherein the AC adapter provides current thereto and a signal specifying a maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;

a battery charger coupled to the battery and the AC adapter input port, wherein the battery charger is configured to

provide a battery charge current to the battery,

determine the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal, and

set the amount of the battery charge current based upon the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;

an AC adapter identification subsystem coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the adapter identification subsystem is configured to identify the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter from the signal and provide an adjustment current based thereon; and

an adjustable charger coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and the battery, wherein the adjustable charger is configured to adjust the battery charge current based upon the adjustment current.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the AC adapter identification subsystem comprises:

an adapter identification circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the adapter identification circuit is configured to identify the maximum current capacity from the signal; and

a microcontroller coupled to the adapter identification circuit and the adjustable charger, wherein the microcontroller is configured to provide the adjustment current to the adjustable charger.

3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein the adapter identification circuit comprises a comparator coupled to the AC adapter input port and the microcontroller, wherein the identification circuit is configured to compare the signal with a first and a second predetermined value and provide a first and a second output to the microcontroller.

4. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein:

the signal is represented by a voltage level;

the first and second outputs are at logic 1 when the voltage level is at a system voltage;

the first and second outputs are at logic 0 when the voltage level is at zero volts, and

the first output is at logic 0 and the second output is at logic 1 when the voltage level is between zero volts and the system voltage.

5. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable charger comprises:

an input configured to receive an AC adapter current from the AC adapter port;

a current source coupled to a microcontroller, wherein the current source is configured to adjust a system current based upon the adjustable current;

a measuring circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to measure a system current; and

a subtracting circuit coupled to the battery and the measuring circuit, wherein the subtracting circuit is configured to provide the battery charge current based upon the difference between the system current and the AC adapter maximum current capacity.

6. A battery charger for charging a battery in an information handling system, the battery charger comprising:

an adapter identification subsystem configured to identify a signal level representative of a maximum current capacity of an AC adapter, wherein the adapter identification subsystem is configured to provide an adjustment current to the adjustable charger based on the signal level; and

an adjustable charger comprising

an input configured to receive an AC adapter current from an AC adapter input port,

a current source coupled to a microcontroller, wherein the current source is configured to adjust a system current based upon the adjustment current,

a measuring circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to measure a system current, and

a subtracting circuit coupled to the battery and the measuring circuit, wherein the subtracting circuit is configured to provide the battery charge current based upon the difference between the system current and the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter;

wherein the adjustable charger is coupled to the adapter identification subsystem and is configured to set a battery charge current based upon the signal level representative of the maximum current capacity of the AC adapter.

7. The battery charger of claim 6, wherein the adapter identification subsystem comprises:

an adapter identification circuit coupled to the AC adapter input port, wherein the adapter identification circuit is configured to identify the signal level; and

a microcontroller coupled to the adapter identification circuit and the adjustable charger, wherein the microcontroller is configured to provide the adjustment current to the adjustable charger.

8. The battery charger of claim 7, wherein the adapter identification circuit comprises a comparator coupled to the AC adapter input port and the microcontroller, wherein the adapter identification circuit is configured to compare the signal level with a first and a second predetermined value and provide a first and a second output to the microcontroller.

9. The battery charger of claim 8, wherein:

the signal level is a voltage level;

the first and the second outputs are at logic 1 when the voltage level is at a system voltage;

the first and the second outputs are at logic 0 when the voltage level is at zero volts, and

the first output is at logic 0 and the second output is at logic 1 when the voltage level is between zero volts and the system voltage.