Computer power supply and battery recharging system
US5561361A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S320/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power supply system, for example, for use with a portable personal computer, includes a smart battery pack and a charging system. The smart battery pack is provided with a dedicated microcontroller for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. In particular, the status of the battery including the voltage and temperature of the battery is applied to the microcontroller along with a signal representative of the current load demand of the computer system. The micro controller, in turn, provides a control signal in the form of fixed frequency, variable duty cycle pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. The duty cycle of the PWM signal is used to regulate the charging current supplied by the battery charger. In particular, the DC value of the PWM signal is used as a reference to control the charging current of the regulator to provide a variable output charging current with a relatively wide current range. As such, the battery charger is adapted to efficiently utilize the residual capacity of the battery charger system for optimizing charging of the battery packs during all operating conditions of the co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.