Method and apparatus for bypassing the battery of a computer
A battery bypass assembly for a computer includes a battery housing which is configured to receive a battery in a battery receptacle. The assembly also includes a battery emulator which is designed to be installed in the battery receptacle of a computer motherboard. An electrical cable connects the electrical contacts of the battery receptacle in the battery housing to the corresponding terminals on the battery emulator. Once the battery emulator has been mounted in a battery receptacle of a computer motherboard, and a battery has been mounted in the battery receptacle of the battery housing, the battery will power circuits on the computer motherboard. The battery housing can be positioned in a location where it is easily accessible. As a result, the battery can be easily replaced without the need to open the housing of the computer.
1. A battery bypass assembly for a computer, comprising:
a battery housing having a battery receptacle with electrical contacts that are configured to engage terminals of a battery that is installed in the battery receptacle;
a battery emulator configured to be installed in a battery receptacle of a computer, the battery emulator including terminals that are configured to engage electrical contacts of a battery receptacle in which the battery emulator is installed; and
an electrical cable that connects the electrical contacts of the battery receptacle in the battery housing to the terminals of the battery emulator.
2. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle is configured to receive a coin-shaped battery.
3. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery emulator is configured to be installed in a battery receptacle for a coin-shaped battery.
4. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes a first connector that is configured to connect to a corresponding connector on the battery emulator.
5. The battery bypass assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cable includes a second connector that is configured to connect to a corresponding connector on the battery housing.
6. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes a first connector that is configured to connect to a corresponding connector on the housing.
7. The battery bypass assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cable includes a second connector that is configured to attach to a battery terminal connector of a computer.
8. A computer comprising the battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery emulator is installed in a battery receptacle of the computer.
9. The computer of claim 8 , wherein the battery housing is mounted on a housing of the computer such that a battery can be inserted into and removed from the battery receptacle in the battery housing without opening the computer housing.
10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the battery housing is mounted on an exterior of the computer housing.
11. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the battery housing is mounted inside the computer housing, and wherein an aperture in the computer housing allows a battery to be inserted into and removed from the battery housing.
12. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery housing is configured to receive a plurality of batteries.
13. A rack-mountable computer server comprising the battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery housing is mounted inside a front face of the rack-mountable computer server, and wherein an aperture in the front face of the rack-mountable computer server allows a battery to be inserted into and removed from the battery housing without removing the rack-mountable server from a rack in which it is mounted, and without opening a housing of the rack-mountable server.
14. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a power input on the battery housing, wherein the power input is coupled to the electrical contacts in the battery receptacle such that when power is applied to the power input from an external power source, the power will be coupled to a battery mounted in the battery receptacle to keep the battery charged.
15. The battery bypass assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a solar cell module, wherein electrical output leads of the solar cell are coupled to the electrical contacts in the battery receptacle such that when electrical power is generated by the solar cell, the electrical power will be coupled to a battery mounted in the battery receptacle to keep the battery charged.
16. A battery bypass assembly for a computer, comprising:
a housing;
a capacitor mounted in the housing;
a battery emulator configured to be installed in a battery receptacle of a computer, the battery emulator including terminals that are configured to engage electrical contacts of a battery receptacle in which the battery emulator is installed; and
an electrical cable that operatively connects the capacitor to the terminals of the battery emulator.
17. The battery bypass assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a power input on the housing, wherein the power input is coupled to the capacitor such that when power is applied to the power input from an external power source, the power will be coupled to the capacitor to keep the capacitor charged.
18. A method of retro-fitting a computer with a battery bypass assembly, comprising:
attaching a battery housing to a housing of the computer, the battery housing having a battery receptacle with electrical contacts that are configured to engage terminals of a battery that is installed in the battery receptacle;
operatively connecting a first end of an electrical cable to the electrical contacts of the battery receptacle;
operatively connecting a second end of the electrical cable to terminals of a battery emulator that is configured to be installed in a battery receptacle of a computer; and
installing the battery emulator in a battery receptacle of the computer.