IP Library Granted Patent US 11,500,427
Granted Patent B1
US 11,500,427 · App. 17/330,964 · Granted Nov 15, 2022

Systems and methods for disconnection of battery when servicing information handling system

Inventors: Isaac Q. Wang (Austin, TX); Anthony W. Howard (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/1662G06F1/1681H05K1/0213H05K1/111H05K1/181H05K7/1427H05K2201/10409
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,500,427
App. No.
17/330,964
Granted
Nov 15, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An information handling system may include a battery, a circuit board, an enclosure, and a control circuit. The circuit board may include at least one electric component, a first electrically conductive pad, and a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad. The enclosure may be configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, and the enclosure may include a first member, a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member, and a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member, and cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member. The control circuit may be configured to, when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically coupled to the battery and when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically decoupled from the battery.

Claims (73)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a battery;

a circuit board comprising:

at least one electric component;

a first electrically conductive pad; and

a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad;

an enclosure configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, the enclosure comprising:

a first member;

a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member; and

a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to:

electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member; and

cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member; and

a control circuit configured to:

when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically coupled to the battery; and

when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically decoupled from the battery.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first member comprises a base of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system; and

the second member comprises a cover of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material is formed on the fastener.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical component is integral to the first member, and the conductive material is formed on an interior surface of the first member.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material comprises a retention feature for maintaining the fastener captive to the first member.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises a switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component and configured to:

activate when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad; and

deactivate when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:

a first switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the first switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component; and

a second switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the second switch is electrically coupled between one of the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad and a control terminal of the first switch and configured to:

activate when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to activate; and

deactivate when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to deactivate.

8. A control circuit for use in an information handling system comprising:

a battery;

a circuit board comprising:

at least one electric component;

a first electrically conductive pad; and

a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad; and

an enclosure configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, the enclosure comprising:

a first member;

a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member; and

a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to:

electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member; and

cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to:

when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically coupled to the battery; and

when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad, cause the at least one electrical component to be electrically decoupled from the battery.

9. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein:

the first member comprises a base of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system; and

the second member comprises a cover of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system.

10. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material is formed on the fastener.

11. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical component is integral to the first member, and the conductive material is formed on an interior surface of the first member.

12. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material comprises a retention feature for maintaining the fastener captive to the first member.

13. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit comprises a switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component and configured to:

activate when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad; and

deactivate when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad.

14. The control circuit of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit comprises:

a first switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the first switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component; and

a second switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the second switch is electrically coupled between one of the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad and a control terminal of the first switch and configured to:

activate when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to activate; and

deactivate when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to deactivate.

15. A method for use in an information handling system comprising: a battery; a circuit board comprising: at least one electric component; a first electrically conductive pad; and a second electrically conductive pad in proximity to the first electrically conductive pad; and an enclosure configured to house components of the information handling system including the battery and the circuit board, the enclosure comprising: a first member; a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to the first member; and a mechanical component comprising conductive material and configured to: electrically short the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically coupled to the second member; and cause electrical isolation of the first electrically conductive pad from the second electrically conductive pad when the first member is mechanically decoupled from the second member; and wherein the method comprises: when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad, causing, by a control circuit, the at least one electrical component to be electrically coupled to the battery; and when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad, causing, by the control circuit, the at least one electrical component to be electrically decoupled from the battery.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the first member comprises a base of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system; and

the second member comprises a cover of a keyboard assembly of the information handling system.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material is formed on the fastener.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical component is integral to the first member, and the conductive material is formed on an interior surface of the first member.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical component comprises a fastener for mechanically securing the first member to the second member, and the conductive material comprises a retention feature for maintaining the fastener captive to the first member.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling a switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component and controlling the switch comprises:

activating the switch when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad; and

deactivating the switch when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

controlling a first switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the first switch is electrically coupled between the battery and the at least one electric component; and

controlling a second switch separate from the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad, wherein the second switch is electrically coupled between one of the first electrically conductive pad and the second electrically conductive pad and a control terminal of the first switch, wherein controlling the second switch comprises:

activating when the first electrically conductive pad is shorted to the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to activate; and

deactivating when the first electrically conductive pad is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive pad in order to cause the first switch to deactivate.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (058014/0560) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0473 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057931/0392) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0382 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057758/0286) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 061654/0064 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058014/0560 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057758/0286 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057931/0392 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057682/0830 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2021
From: WANG, ISAAC Q.; HOWARD, ANTHONY W.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 056359/0782 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,265,434