IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,154,255
Granted Patent B2
US 8,154,255 · App. 12/322,355 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Systems and methods for waking up a battery system

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,154,255
App. No.
12/322,355
Filed
Jan 30, 2009
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2858
USPC
320/136
Abstract

Systems and methods for waking up a battery system (e.g., battery pack such as a smart battery pack) installed in an information handling system from a shipping mode in response to the occurrence of one of at least two detected events. The first of these of these at least two events is detection of the battery system being removed and reinstalled into operational electrical contact with the information handling system, and the second of these at least two events is the activation of a user input device provided for the battery system.

Claims (55)

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a system load;

a battery system separate from said system load, said battery system being coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to said system load, and said battery system comprising:

one or more battery cells,

at least one processor or controller, and

battery current control circuitry to control flow of discharge current from said battery sells to said system load across said terminal node;

wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to first maintain said battery current control circuitry in a shipping mode state by controlling said battery current control circuitry to prevent flow of any current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node, and then to release said battery system from said shipping mode state by controlling said battery current control circuitry to allow flow of current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node; and

wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to remain active and powered by the battery cells of the battery system while the battery system is maintained in the shipping mode state, and where the at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to at least one of the following conditions:

detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system; or

detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said battery system is a smart battery pack; and wherein said user input device comprises an LED button provided on an external surface of said smart battery pack so as to be accessible to a user of said information handling system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said battery system further comprises a system-present pin, a status of said system-present pin being indicative of whether or not said battery system is in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; and wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to monitor a status of said system-present pin and to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of a state of said system present pin that indicates that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state at the same time that no external power is supplied to said information handling system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is communicatively coupled by a communication bus to at least one other component of said information handling system that is separate from said battery system; and wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to any one of the three following conditions:

detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system; or

detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; or

detection of data activity on said communication bus.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said information handling system is a notebook computer, wherein said battery system is a smart battery pack, and wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is a battery management unit (BMU).

9. A method for waking up a battery system, comprising:

providing an information handling system including a system load and a battery system separate from said system load, said battery system being coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to said system load across said terminal node, and said battery system comprising one or more battery cells, at least one processor or controller, and battery current control circuitry to control flow of discharge current from said battery sells to said system load across said terminal node;

then maintaining said battery current control circuitry in a shipping mode state by using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to control said battery current control circuitry to prevent flow of any current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node while at the same time powering said at least one processor or controller of said battery system with the battery cells of the battery system to maintain the at least one processor or controller of said battery system in an active state while the battery system is maintained in the shipping mode state; and

then releasing said battery system from said shipping mode state by using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to control said battery current control circuitry to allow flow of current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node in response to at least one of the following conditions:

detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system; or

detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to control said battery current control circuitry to allow flow of current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node in response to detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said battery system is a smart battery pack; and wherein said user input device comprises an LED button provided on an external surface of said smart battery pack so as to be accessible to a user of said information handling system.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to control said battery current control circuitry to allow flow of current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node in response to detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said battery system further comprises a system-present pin, a status of said system-present pin being indicative of whether or not said battery system is in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; and wherein said method further comprises using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to monitor a state of said system-present pin and to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of a state of said system present pin that indicates that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said method further comprises using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to release said battery system from said shipping mode state at the same time that no external power is supplied to said information handling system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is communicatively coupled by a communication bus to at least one other component of said information handling system that is separate from said battery system; and wherein said method further comprises using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to any one of the three following conditions:

detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system; or

detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; or

detection of data activity on said communication bus.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein said information handling system is a notebook computer, wherein said battery system is a smart battery pack, and wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is a battery management unit (BMU).

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising

providing said information handling system at a first location;

then shipping said information handling system from said first location to a second location, and maintaining said battery current control circuitry in a shipping mode state during said shipping of said information handling system from said first location to said second location; and

then releasing said battery system from said shipping mode state at said second location.

18. A battery system configured to be coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal node to provide current to a system load of an information handling system that is separate from said battery system, said battery system comprising:

one or more battery cells;

at least one processor or controller; and

battery current control circuitry to control flow of discharge current from said battery sells to said system load across said terminal node;

wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to first maintain said battery current control circuitry in a shipping mode state while said battery system is coupled in operational electrical contact to said system load by controlling said battery current control circuitry to prevent flow of any current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node, and then to release said battery system from said shipping mode state by controlling said battery current control circuitry to allow flow of current from said one or more battery cells to said system load across said terminal node; and

wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to remain active and powered by the battery cells of the battery system while the battery system is maintained in the shipping mode state, and where the at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to at least one of the following conditions:

detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system; or

detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

19. The battery system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of activation of a user input device of said battery system, said user input device being integrated as a part of said battery system.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of the removal and reinstallation of the battery system in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to release said battery system from said shipping mode state at the same time that no external power is supplied to said information handling system.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein said battery system is a smart battery pack, and wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is a battery management unit (BMU).

23. The system of claim 5 , where the system present pin is grounded when the battery system is installed in operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; where the system present pin is ungrounded when the battery system is removed from operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; and where said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to monitor the grounded status and ungrounded status of the system present pin to detect that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

24. The method of claim 13 , where the system present pin is grounded when the battery system is installed in operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; where the system present pin is ungrounded when the battery system is removed from operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; and wherein said method further comprises using said at least one processor or controller of said battery system to monitor the grounded status and ungrounded status of the system present pin to detect that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

25. The system of claim 20 , further comprising a system-present pin, a status of said system-present pin being configured to indicate whether or not said battery system is in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; wherein said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to monitor a status of said system-present pin and to release said battery system from said shipping mode state in response to detection of a state of said system present pin that indicates that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node; where the system present pin is configured to be grounded when the battery system is installed in operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; where the system present pin is configured to be ungrounded when the battery system is removed from operational electrical contact with the system load at said terminal node; and where said at least one processor or controller of said battery system is configured to monitor the grounded status and ungrounded status of the system present pin to detect that the battery system has been removed from and then reinstalled in operational electrical contact with said system load at said terminal node.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
Continuity (1)
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