EP0335316A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for controlling selection of batteries
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-28
Abstract
Abstract In a battery-driven computer system, flip-flop circuit (13) selects one of two switches (14, 15) for switching a power supply to the computer system (1) in accordance with the terminal voltages of batteries (17, 18) detected by detecting circuits (11, 12). When the first switch (14) is switched on, the first battery (17) coupled to the first switch (14) supplies its power to the computer system (1). In this case, the second switch (15) is switched off and the power from the second battery (18) coupled to the second switch (15) is not supplied to the computer system (1). When the terminal voltage of the first battery (17) becomes less than or equal to a low battery voltage, LED (3) is caused to blink in order to inform an operator of a low battery condition. When the terminal voltage of the second battery (18) is greater than the low battery voltage, however, power from the second battery (18) is supplied to the computer system (1). In this manner, batteries (17, 18) can be automatically switched without interrupting the operation of the computer system (1).
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuya C/O Patent Division Shibasaki
- 👤 Hironori C/O Patent Division Ito
- 👤 Yasuhiro C/O Patent Division Ohashi
- 👤 Masahiko C/O Patent Division Kasashima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:38
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/263; G06F1/28; G06F1/30; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for controlling selection of a plurality of batteries for supplying power to a computer system characterized by: the plurality of batteries (17, 18); switching means (14, 15) for switching a power supply of the batteries (17, 18); detecting means (11, 12) for detecting voltages of the batteries (17, 18); and controlling means (13) for controlling the switching means (14, 15) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for controlling selection of a plurality of batteries for supplying power to a computer system characterized by: the plurality of batteries (17, 18); switching means (14, 15) for switching a power supply of the batteries (17, 18); detecting means (11, 12) for detecting voltages of the batteries (17, 18); and controlling means (13) for controlling the switching means (14, 15) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) for alarming a power condition of the batteries (17, 18) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the detecting means (11, 12) includes comparing means (21) for comparing the voltage of the battery (17; 18) with a predetermined voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes light-indicating means (3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10) for providing a light indication representing the power condition of the batteries (17, 18).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes voice-outputting means (2, 7, 8) for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the batteries (17, 18).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An information processing system characterized by: a computer system (1); a plurality of batteries (17, 18) for supplying power to the computer system (1); switching means (14, 15) for switching a power supply of the batteries (17, 18); detecting means (11, 12) for detecting voltages of the batteries (17, 18); and controlling means (13) for controlling the switching means (14, 15) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
An information processing system characterized by: a computer system (1); a plurality of batteries (17, 18) for supplying power to the computer system (1); switching means (14, 15) for switching a power supply of the batteries (17, 18); detecting means (11, 12) for detecting voltages of the batteries (17, 18); and controlling means (13) for controlling the switching means (14, 15) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized by alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) for alarming a power condition of the batteries (17, 18) in accordance with the voltages detected by the detected means (11, 12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the detecting means (11, 12) includes comparing means (21) for comparing the voltage of the battery (17; 18) with a predetermined voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes light-indicating means (3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10) for providing a light indication representing the power condition of the batteries (17, 18).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 and 9, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes voice-outputting means (2, 7, 8) for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the batteries (17, 18).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for controlling selection of plurality of batteries for supplying a power to a computer system characterized by the steps of: detecting voltages of the batteries; selecting one of the batteries in accordance with the detected voltages; and supplying the power of the selected battery to the computer system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for controlling selection of plurality of batteries for supplying a power to a computer system characterized by the steps of: detecting voltages of the batteries; selecting one of the batteries in accordance with the detected voltages; and supplying the power of the selected battery to the computer system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 11, further characterized by the steps of alarming a power condition of the batteries in accordance with the detected voltages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the detecting step includes the steps of comparing the voltage of the battery with a predetermined voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the alarming step includes the steps of providing a light indication representing the power condition of the batteries.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
31 words
The method according to any one of claims 12 and 14, characterized in that the alarming step includes the steps of voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the batteries.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for controlling a selection of a plurality of batteries for supplying power to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: the plurality of batteries (61, 62); switching means (63, 64) for switching the batteries (61, 62); detecting means (67, 68) for detecting voltages of the batteries (61, 62); calculating means (66) for calculating consumption energies of the batteries (61, 62) from the voltages detected by the detecting means (67, 68), thereby obtaining remaining energies of the batteries (61, 62); and controlling means (66) for controlling the switching means (63, 64) in accordance with the remaining energies obtained by the calculating means (66).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for controlling a selection of a plurality of batteries for supplying power to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: the plurality of batteries (61, 62); switching means (63, 64) for switching the batteries (61, 62); detecting means (67, 68) for detecting voltages of the batteries (61, 62); calculating means (66) for calculating consumption energies of the batteries (61, 62) from the voltages detected by the detecting means (67, 68), thereby obtaining remaining energies of the batteries (61, 62); and controlling means (66) for controlling the switching means (63, 64) in accordance with the remaining energies obtained by the calculating means (66).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises displaying means (69) for displaying the remaining energies obtained by the calculating means (66).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) for alarming a power condition of the batteries (61, 62) in accordance with the remaining energies obtained by the calculating means (66).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes light-indicating means (3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10) for providing a light indication representing the power condition of the batteries (61, 62).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the alarm means (2, 3, 4, 20) includes voice-outputting means (2, 7, 8) for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the batteries (61, 62).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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