Systems and methods for communicating power state information from an external energy storage device (EESD) to an information handling system
Systems and methods employ an external energy storage device (e.g., intelligent battery pack) interposed between a an information handling system (IHS) and its AC-to-DC adapter. The information handling system may be a fixed compute system, may lack an internal battery and/or may execute an operating system that does not have power management capability. The external energy storage device provides power and power state information to the IHS, e.g., that is based on state of charge (SOC) of the battery and/or absence/presence of AC power. IHS may perform one or more actions based on the power state information such as automatically save data and shutdown when notified AC power is lost and/or SOC is low, and may automatically restart and restore saved data when notified AC power is restored and/or SOC is sufficiently high. The external energy storage device may actively signal or command the IHS to act or may passively supply power state information and let the IHS decide how to act. The information may be provided as different power supply identifier (PSID) values or other types of analog values corresponding to different current levels on a single conductor of a single cable between the external energy storage device and IHS, or may be included in USB vendor-defined messages sent on the single cable.
1. An information handling system, comprising:
a memory configured to store an operating system;
a processing device configured to execute the operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device including a microcontroller and having a single form-factor that is discrete and separate from a form-factor of the information handling system, and
the external energy storage device including the microcontroller integrated with the energy storage element within the single form factor of the external energy storage device with the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter;
where the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to the memory and processing device to execute the operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive the DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a first predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the first predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a second predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a third predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a fourth predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level; and
where the information handling system is configured to perform one or more actions in response to the received power state information.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 ,
where the operating system is configured without power management profiles used to manage rechargeable energy storage devices that would provide power to the information handling system.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 ,
where the one or more actions are selected from the following list:
initiating an automatic shutdown of the information handling system;
restarting the information handling system and restore system data saved during the automatic shutdown;
notifying a user of the information handling system regarding a detected absence of the AC wall outlet power;
causing the processing device to lower its executing power saving state (P-state); and
displaying to the user the SOC of the external energy storage device received from the external energy storage device.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 ,
where distinct analog current values on the second conductor correspond to distinct values of the power state information.
5. The information handling system of claim 4 ,
where the power state information is received by the information handling system as analog power supply identifier (PSID) values.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 ,
where the cable comprises a universal serial bus (USB) cable; and
where the power state information is received by the information handling system in USB vendor-defined messages from the external energy storage device.
7. The information handling system of claim 1 ,
where the power state information is received by the information handling system from the external energy storage device as a command signal specifying the one or more actions; and where the information handling system is configured to perform the one or more actions according to the command signal.
8. A method, comprising:
receiving, by an information handling system, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device that includes a microcontroller and having a single form-factor that is discrete and separate from a form-factor of the information handling system, with
the external energy storage device including the microcontroller integrated with the energy storage element within a single form factor of the energy storage device with the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
receiving, by the information handling system from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter; and
performing, by the information handling system, one or more actions in response to the received power state information;
where the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to a memory and a processing device of the information handling system to execute an operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive the DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a first predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the first predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a second predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a third predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level; and
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device a fourth predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level.
9. The method of claim 8 ,
where the operating system is configured without power management profiles used to manage rechargeable energy storage devices that would provide power to the information handling system.
10. The method of claim 8 ,
where the one or more actions are selected from the following list:
initiating an automatic shutdown of the information handling system;
restarting the information handling system and restore system data saved during the automatic shutdown;
notifying a user of the information handling system regarding a detected absence of the AC wall outlet power;
causing the processing device to lower its executing power saving state (P-state); and
displaying to the user the SOC of the external energy storage device received from the external energy storage device.
11. The method of claim 8 ,
where distinct current values on the second conductor correspond to distinct values of the power state information.
12. The method of claim 8 ,
where the power state information is received by the information handling system as analog power supply identifier (PSID) values.
13. The method of claim 8 ,
where the cable comprises a universal serial bus (USB) cable; and
where the power state information is received by the information handling system in USB vendor-defined messages from the external energy storage device.
14. The method of claim 8 ,
where the power state information is received by the information handling system from the external energy storage device as a command signal specifying the one or more actions; and where the information handling system is configured to perform the one or more actions according to the command signal.
15. An apparatus comprising a microcontroller and having a single form-factor that is discrete and separate from a form-factor of an information handling system, the apparatus further comprising:
an energy storage element having a state of charge (SOC), and
the microcontroller integrated with the energy storage element within the single form factor of the energy storage device, and the apparatus having an input to receive power from an AC-to-DC power adapter for charging the energy storage element and for providing power to the information handling system on a cable coupling the apparatus and the information handling system;
where the microcontroller is programmed to provide power state information to the information handling system over the cable;
where the power state information is based on the SOC of the energy storage element and/or a presence/absence of AC power to the AC to DC power adapter;
where the power state information comprises at least one of:
a command signal to cause the information handling system to perform one or more actions, or
analog current values corresponding to distinct values of the power state information;
where the microcontroller is programmed to provide a first predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the apparatus;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the first predetermined value, provide a second predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a third predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level; and
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a fourth predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
where the power state information specifies the SOC of the energy storage element and/or the presence/absence of AC power to the AC to DC power adapter.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
where the microcontroller is further programmed to pass through on the cable to the information handling system one or more power supply identifier (PSID) values generated by the AC to DC power adapter that identify one or more characteristics of the AC to DC power adapter while the AC to DC power adapter is providing power to the apparatus; and
where the PSID values generated by the AC to DC power adapter are separate and different from the power state information provided by the microcontroller.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
where an output of the apparatus comprises a first conductor coupled to ground, a second conductor over which the power from the energy storage element is provided to the information handling system, and a third conductor on which distinct values of the power state information are provided as distinct analog current values.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
where the cable comprises a universal serial bus (USB) cable; and
where the microcontroller is programmed to provide the power state information to the information handling system on the output over the USB cable in USB vendor-defined messages.
20. An apparatus, comprising:
an energy storage element having a state of charge (SOC), and at least one of:
an AC to DC power adapter integrated with the energy storage element within a single form factor of the apparatus and having an input to receive AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter for charging the energy storage element and for providing power to an information handling system on a cable coupling the apparatus and the information handling system, or
an input to receive power from an AC-to-DC power adapter for charging the energy storage element and for providing power to the information handling system on the cable coupling the apparatus and the information handling system;
a microcontroller programmed to provide power state information to the information handling system over the cable; and
where the power state information is based on the SOC of the energy storage element and/or a presence/absence of AC power to the power adapter;
where the power state information comprises at least one of:
a command signal to cause the information handling system to perform one or more actions, or
analog current values corresponding to distinct values of the power state information;
where the microcontroller is programmed to provide a first predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the apparatus;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the first predetermined value, provide a second predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a third predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level; and
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a fourth predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level.
21. An information handling system, comprising:
a memory configured to store an operating system; and
a processing device configured to execute the operating system;
where at least one processing device of the information handling system is configured to receive, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device, the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
where at least one processing device of the information handling system is further configured to receive, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter;
where the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to the memory and processing device to execute the operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive the DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a first predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the first predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a second predetermined value of the power state information when the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a third predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a fourth predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level; and
where the information handling system is configured to perform one or more actions in response to the received power state information.
22. A method, comprising:
receiving, by an information handling system, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device, the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
receiving, by the information handling system, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter; and
performing, by the information handling system, one or more actions in response to the received power state information;
where the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to a memory and a processing device of the information handling system to execute an operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive the DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a first predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the first predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a second predetermined value of the power state information when the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a third predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level;
where the information handling system is further configured to, after receiving the second predetermined value, receive over the cable from the external energy storage device a fourth predetermined value of the power state information when the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level.
23. An apparatus, comprising:
an energy storage element having a state of charge (SOC);
an AC to DC power adapter integrated with the energy storage element within a single form factor of the apparatus and having an input to receive AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter for charging the energy storage element and for providing power to an information handling system on a cable coupling the apparatus and the information handling system;
a microcontroller programmed to provide power state information to the information handling system over the cable; and
where the power state information is based on the SOC of the energy storage element and/or a presence/absence of AC power to the power adapter;
where the power state information comprises at least one of:
a command signal to cause the information handling system to perform one or more actions, or
analog current values corresponding to distinct values of the power state information;
where the microcontroller is programmed to provide a first predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the apparatus;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the first predetermined value, provide a second predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level;
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a third predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level; and
where the microcontroller is programmed to, after providing the second predetermined value, provide a fourth predetermined value of the power state information over the cable to the information handling system when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the apparatus and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level.
24. An information handling system, comprising:
a memory configured to store an operating system;
a processing device configured to execute the operating system;
where the information handling system is configured to receive, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device including a microcontroller and having a single form-factor that is discrete and separate from a form-factor of the information handling system, and
the external energy storage device including the microcontroller integrated with the energy storage element within the single form factor of the external energy storage device with the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
where the information handling system is further configured to receive from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter, where the power state information received from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device comprises:
a first predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device,
a second predetermined value of the power state information received after the first predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level,
a third predetermined value of the power state information received after the second predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level, and
a fourth predetermined value of the power state information received after the third predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level; and;
where at least one of:
the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to the memory and processing device to execute the operating system, or
the information handling system is configured to receive DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable; and
where the information handling system is configured to perform one or more actions in response to the received power state information.
25. A method, comprising:
receiving, by an information handling system, over one or more conductors of a cable, direct current (DC) power from an energy storage element of an external energy storage device that includes a microcontroller and having a single form-factor that is discrete and separate from a form-factor of the information handling system, with
the external energy storage device including the microcontroller integrated with the energy storage element within a single form factor of the energy storage device with the external energy storage device being coupled between an AC to DC power adapter and the information handling system;
receiving, by the information handling system from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device, over one or more conductors of the cable, power state information comprising information based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage element of the external energy storage device and/or the presence/absence of AC wall outlet power provided to the AC to DC power adapter, where the power state information received from the microcontroller of the external energy storage device comprises:
a first predetermined value of the power state information when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has stopped providing power to the external energy storage device,
a second predetermined value of the power state information received after the first predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the SOC of the energy storage element has dropped to a predetermined level,
a third predetermined value of the power state information received after the second predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is above the predetermined level, and
a fourth predetermined value of the power state information received after the third predetermined value when the microcontroller detects the power adapter has resumed providing power to the external energy storage device and the SOC of the energy storage element is below the predetermined level; and
performing, by the information handling system, one or more actions in response to the received power state information;
where at least one of:
the information handling system is configured without an internal energy storage element to provide power to a memory and a processing device of the information handling system to execute an operating system, or
the information handling system is configured to receive DC power from the external energy storage device on at least a first conductor of the cable and to receive the power state information on at least a second conductor of the cable.