Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Takatoshi Matsui

Masaaki Tojo

To make a battery pack () capable of connection over a communication network for the sake of maintenance of the battery pack (). The battery pack () is provided with a network interface () given a unique IP address, which is connected to a LAN along with a network interface () of a PC body (). Even if the PC body () is suspended, the battery pack () can be accessed over the LAN. A computer for maintenance, arranged on the LAN, can thus access the battery back () to acquire the operating status of a rechargeable battery () and data stored in a memory (), such as a serial number, thereby performing maintenance.

Battery pack

Firmware of a battery pack ( ) is stored in a rewritable storage device such as a flash memory ( ). When troubleshooting or performance improvement is needed, a personal computer main body (host equipment) ( ) obtains up-to-date firmware from a storage medium or the Internet, and transmits it to a battery pack ( ) via an SMBus ( ) using a firmware transfer device ( ). A firmware rewriting device ( ) of the battery pack ( ) rewrites the firmware stored in the flash memory ( ) on the basis of the up-to-date firmware.

Growing community of inventors

Higashiosaka, Japan

Takatoshi Matsui