Motorola Corporation

David J Theobald

Marcia Jean Otting

Kent D Rager

A method in a communication device () comprises registering () on a first network (), identified by a first network ID, stored in the communication device. Then receiving, from the service provider, an acting network ID which identifies a second network (). Storing the acting network ID on the communication device and reprioritizing the second network, identified by the received acting network ID, as the home network. The communication device then registers on the second network in response to the reprioritizing the second network.

Method and apparatus for communications network management

A power supply control apparatus (113) for an electronic device (102) includes a terminal (115) to couple to a battery (103), a connector (122) to couple to an external power supply (172), a switch circuit (140) coupled to the terminal (115) and the connector (122), and a controller (108) coupled to the switch circuit (140). The switch circuit (140) connects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the terminal (115) when the battery (103) is attached and disconnects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the connector (122) when the external power supply (172) is attached. The controller (108) selectively controls the switch circuit (140) to connect the connector (122) to the terminal (115) so as to charge the battery (103) from the external power supply (172).

Power supply control apparatus and method suitable for use in an

An accessory identification apparatus (195) used in an electronic device (102) includes a connector (122) to couple to an accessory (104) and a controller (108) coupled to the connector (122). The connector (122) includes an information pin (124) to receive information generated from operation of the accessory (104). The controller (108) identifies the accessory (104) from a voltage level generated by attachment of the accessory (104) to the information pin (124). Also, an accessory identification apparatus (195) used in an accessory (104) includes a connector (173) to couple to an electronic device (102) and an identification element (174) coupled to the connector (173). The connector (173) includes an information pin (179) to supply information generated from operation of the accessory (104). The identification element (174), upon attachment of the connector (173) to the electronic device (102), provides an identity of the accessory (104) via the information pin (179).

Accessory identification apparatus and method

A battery identification system (100) includes a battery (104), a device (102), and an apparatus (106). The battery (104) is of a particular type (e.g., NiCd, NiMH, Lithium Ion) and is detachably coupled to the device (102). The device (102) includes a controller (112) that determines the type of the battery (104) and generates a number of signals according to the type. The apparatus (106) is detachably coupled to the device (102) and includes a current source (164) and a controller (162) that detects the number of signals. The controller (162), responsive to the controller (112), controls the current source (164) to initially provide charging current at a first rate to the battery (104) until reception of a first one of the number of signals. The controller (162) thereafter identifies the type of the battery (104) from the detection of additional ones of the number of signals.

Battery identification apparatus and associated method

The battery charging process of the present invention uses three charging rates. The initial charge rate of C charges the battery (101) until the battery's temperature reaches a certain level (102). The charger then changes to a trickle charge rate of C/8 to finish charging the battery (103). Next, the charger reduces the charging rate to C/40 to maintain the battery's charge (105). The process then monitors the battery's voltage. If the voltage signal has a slope that indicates the battery is being used by an attached device (106), the charging rate is increased to the trickle charge rate to simultaneously power the device and charge the battery.

Method for battery charging

Unique battery reconditioning circuitry is described that may be advantageously utilized in a portable radio transceiver (100). Reconditioning is initiated by a microcomputer (120) in response to a pre-selected key sequence entered by way of a keyboard (114). The microcomputer (120) turns on a voltage switch (136) to deep discharge a Ni-Cad battery (118) and uses a voltage detector (140) to monitor the voltage Vb of the battery (118). The battery (118) is discharged from a nominal 7.5 V to 6 V in approximately two hours. The battery voltage Vb is converted to a digital value by the voltage detector (140). During the reconditioning process, the microcomputer (120) compares the digital value of the battery voltage Vb to a stored predetermined value to determine that the battery (118) has been discharged to 6 V. Once the battery (118) reaches 6 V, the reconditioning process is terminated and the portable radio transceiver (100) is turned off. The battery reconditioning circuitry of the present invention may be advantageously utilized in a variety of applications where portable equipment is operated from rechargeable batteries.

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Woodstock, IL, United States of America

David J Theobald