Patent · US Expired

Dual smart battery detection system and method for portable computers

US5818200A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 6, 1997
Grant dateOct 6, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 6, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A dual smart battery mutual detection system that utilizes intelligence built in to "smart batteries" in combination with a battery presence pin for enabling each battery of a dual battery power supply system of a PC to detect the presence, or, more importantly, the absence, of the other battery and to react accordingly is disclosed. In one embodiment, upon detection by the battery that is not being used to power the PC (the "inactive battery") of the removal of the battery that is being used to power the PC (the "active battery"), a microprocessor internal to the inactive battery closes an internal switch thereof, thereby causing the previously inactive battery to be "selected" and used to power the PC.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.