Diagnosis method, power supply control device, electronic apparatus, battery pack and computer-readable storage medium

• US 7,439,705 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Client Computing Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Koike, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US10/949,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/112, 320/132, 320/149
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• 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: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A diagnosis method diagnoses an electronic apparatus that is operable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information. The diagnosis method reads information from the battery pack, and sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

Claims

1. A diagnosis method for diagnosing an electronic apparatus that is operable with a removable battery pack having a memory which stores information, comprising:

reading information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

2. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronic apparatus.

3. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

outputting a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the removable battery pack.

4. A power supply control device for controlling a power supply of an electronic apparatus that is operable with a removable battery pack having a memory which stores information, comprising:

a reading part configured to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

an issuing part configured to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

5. The power supply control device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a displaying part configured to display a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronic apparatus.

6. The power supply control device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an output part configured to output a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.

7. The power supply control device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an input part configured to input information to the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.

8. An electronic apparatus operable with a removable battery pack which stores information, comprising:

a reading part configured to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

a setting part configured to set the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

9. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a diagnosing part configured to diagnose the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode; and

a displaying part configured to display a diagnosis result obtained by the diagnosing part.

10. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the displaying part includes at least one element selected from a group consisting of a main display part, an auxiliary display part and an indicator.

11. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

an output part configured to output the diagnosis result obtained by the diagnosing part to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.

12. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

an input part configured to input information to the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.

13. A removable battery pack for supplying a power supply voltage to an electronic apparatus when loaded into the electronic apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store identification information of the removable battery pack;

a battery part configured to supply the power supply voltage;

one or more first terminals configured to input and output signals with respect to the memory; and

two or more second terminals configured to input and output the power supply voltage with respect to the battery part,

said memory storing information for setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof in a manner readable via the first terminals.

14. The battery pack as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

one or more third terminals configured to output a diagnosis result from the electronic apparatus that is set to the diagnosis mode to an outside of the battery pack.

15. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to set to a diagnosis mode an electronic apparatus that is operable with a removable battery pack having a memory which stores information, said program comprising:

a reading procedure causing the computer to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

an issuing procedure causing the computer to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatus to the diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

16. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 15, said program further comprising:

a display procedure causing the computer to display a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronic apparatus.

17. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 15, said program further comprising:

an output procedure causing the computer to output a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.

18. A power supply control device controlling a power supply of an electronic apparatus that is operable with a removable battery pack having a memory which stores information, comprising:

a reading part configured to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

an issuing part configured to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatus to a predetermined mode when the read information indicates the predetermined mode.

19. An electronic apparatus operable with a removable battery pack which stores information, comprising:

a reading part configured to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

a setting part configured to set the electronic apparatus to a predetermined mode when the read information indicates the predetermined mode.

20. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program causing a computer to set to a predetermined mode an electronic apparatus that is operable with a removable battery pack having a memory which stores information, said program comprising:

a reading procedure causing the computer to read information stored in the removable battery pack from the removable battery pack; and

an issuing procedure causing the computer to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatus to the predetermined mode when the read information indicates the predetermined mode.

21. A diagnosis method for an electronic apparatus operable with a removable battery pack including data storage, comprising:

setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis when information read from the removable battery pack data storage indicates the diagnosis mode.

22. A diagnosis method for an electronic apparatus operable with a removable battery pack including data storage, comprising:

detecting loading of the removable battery pack into the electronic apparatus;

reading information from the removable battery pack when the loading of the removable battery pack is detected by said detecting; and

setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in which the electronic apparatus itself carries out a diagnosis thereof when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.