Circuit for selecting and designating a master battery pack in a computer system

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5717937
SERIAL NO

08613441

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

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.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

  • HTC CORPORATION

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Fritz, Brian C The Woodlands, TX 13 480

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation