Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Other

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Joseph F Freiman

Nathan Austin Mitchell

Steven Kent McConkey

Thomas P Sawyers

Randall L Hess

Patrick R Cooper

Armando Interiano

In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a load and a fuel cell coupled to said load, the fuel cell being configured to provide a constant power level to said load. The system further comprises a battery coupled to said load and configured to provide power in excess of said constant power level to said load, if needed by said load.

Fuel cell and battery systems

A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.

Portable fuel-cell-powered system with ultrasonic atomization of H2O by-product

A battery charging system in which current is averaged over a long time period (seconds) to determine the maximum average charging rate. When the integral of charging current over this long period reaches the programmed maximum charge value for one period, current is simply cut off for the remainder of the fixed long period.

System with limited long-time-averaged battery charging rate

A method for charging nickel metal hydride and comparable batteries, in which the applied voltage is clamped to a temperature-dependent and current-dependent value which is greater than the constant voltage during most of the charging cycle, but less than any voltage at which gassing can occur.

Temperature compensated voltage limited fast charge of nickel cadmium

A sealed rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which includes a switching voltage regulator. The regulator uses the normal cutoff transistors as the switching devices, and also includes a discrete inductor in the battery pack. The regulator is operated with programmable voltage and current parameters, under control of a microcontroller which is also inside the sealed battery pack enclosure.

Lithium-ion battery pack with integral switching regulator using cutoff

A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.

Battery pack with single charge inhibit/regulator transistor

A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.

Battery pack wakeup

A computer system is powered by a battery pack, the battery pack including either nickel-based batteries or lithium-ion based batteries. Either of the two battery packs can be interchanged without modification to the system.

System using interchangeable nickel-based and lithium ion battery packs

Battery pack with single charge-inhibit/regulator transistor

A battery pack of a computer system includes a battery having a nominal critical terminal voltage that may not be exceeded without hazardous failure of the battery. The battery pack includes a controller for routing power from an external power source to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is configured to apply a time profile of charging power to the terminals of the battery. The profile includes time portions when the terminal voltage of the battery exceeds the nominal rated critical terminal voltage. The controller is also configured to control the time profile to prevent hazardous failure of the battery.

Charging a battery having a nominal critical terminal voltage

Battery pack with a monitoring circuit for a known system

A battery charge controller and fuel gauge which accurately monitors the voltage, temperature, and charge and discharge current of a rechargeable battery, and calculates the battery's charge capacity and charge level. Each time the battery is fully discharged, any calculated charge level remaining is divided by two and subtracted from the previously calculated charge capacity. When the battery is fully charged, the charge level is set equal to the charge capacity. During subsequent charge and discharge, the current is converted to a coulomb count and added or subtracted from the charge level to maintain an accurate charge level. Fast charge inefficiency due to temperature is considered by subtracting a temperature proportional factor before the charge level of the battery is updated. The charge level, voltage and temperature are used to determine the optimal fast charge termination point to achieve full charge and prevent temperature abuse and overcharge. A fast charge is applied only if the battery is within proper voltage and temperature ranges. The charge controller includes a microcontroller circuit within the same battery pack as the battery, which is powered by the battery when AC power is unavailable. The microcontroller circuit consumes very little power, measures circuit errors to assure data accuracy, times periods of self-discharge and updates the charge level accordingly. The microcontroller circuit also includes memory to store the battery charge information and a communication port to provide the charge information to a computer system connected to the battery pack.

Battery charge monitor and fuel gauge

A battery charge controller and fuel gauge which accurately monitors the voltage, temperature, and charge and discharge current of a rechargeable battery, and calculates the battery's charge capacity and charge level. Each time the battery is fully discharged, any calculated charge level remaining is divided by subtracted from the previously calculated charge capacity. When the battery is fully charged, the charge level is set equal to the charge capacity. During subsequent charge and discharge, the current is converted to a coulomb count and added or subtracted from the charge level to maintain an accurate charge level. Fast charge inefficiency due to temperature is considered by subtracting a temperature proportional factor before the charge level of the battery is updated. The charge level, voltage and temperature are used to determine the optimal fast charge termination point to achieve full charge and prevent temperature abuse and overcharge. A fast charge is applied only if the battery is within proper voltage and temperature ranges. The charge controller includes a microcontroller circuit within the same battery pack as the battery, which is powered by the battery when AC power is unavailable. The microcontroller circuit consumes very little power, measures circuit errors to assure data accuracy, times periods of self-discharge and updates the charge level accordingly. The microcontroller circuit also includes memory to store the battery charge information and a communication port to provide the charge information to a computer system connected to the battery pack.

Growing community of inventors

Cypress, TX, United States of America

Joseph F Freiman