Method and apparatus for controlling selection of batteries

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes comparing means for comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes light-indicating means for representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes: light-indicating means for providing alight indication representing the power condition of the first battery; and voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes means for isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes means for isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.

Claim 9

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal; detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries; and means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and signaling means for signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 10

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal; detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries; and means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and signaling means for signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes comparing means for comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes light-indicating means for representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes: light-indicating means for providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery and voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes means for isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes means for isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.

Claim 17

In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries; selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 18

In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries; selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the step of comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 15, wherein the signaling step includes the step of providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 15, wherein the signalling step includes the step of voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 15, wherein the signaling step includes the steps of: providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery; and voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 23

The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the substep of generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the step of selecting the second battery includes the substep of isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.

Claim 24

The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the substep of generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the step of selecting the second battery includes isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.

Claim 27

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises displaying means for displaying the remaining power obtained by the calculating means.

Claim 28

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the signaling means includes light-display mans for representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 29

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.

Claim 30

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the calculating means further includes means for calculating power consumption of the second battery from the detected voltages in the second battery, to obtain remaining power of the second battery.

Claim 33

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal; detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries; means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 34

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal; detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries; means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 37

In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries; selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 38

In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries; selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery; selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.

Claim 41

The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode for signaling a low battery state.

Claim 42

The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode; and a speaker for signaling.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising display means for displaying remaining energies of the first and second batteries;

Claim 44

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system; first detecting means for detecting a voltage to the first battery; second detecting means for detecting a voltage of the second battery; first signaling means, responsive to the first detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the first battery; and second signaling means, responsive to the second detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the second battery.

Claim 45

An information processing system comprising: a computer system; first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system; first detecting means for detecting a voltage to the first battery; second detecting means for detecting a voltage of the second battery; first signaling means, responsive to the first detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the first battery; and second signaling means, responsive to the second detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the second battery.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode for signaling a low battery state.

Claim 47

The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode; and a speaker.

Claim 48

The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising display means for displaying remaining energies of the first and second batteries.

Claim 51

The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the computing means comprises a central processing unit.

Claim 52

The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the displaying means includes means for displaying a ratio of remaining energies to initial energies of the first and second batteries.

Claim 53

An information processing system, comprising: a computer system; first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system; first detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the first battery; second detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the second battery; computing means, responsive to the first and second detecting means, for computing remaining respective capacities of the first and second batteries; and displaying means for displaying the respective remaining capacities of the first and second batteries.

Claim 54

An information processing system, comprising: a computer system; first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system; first detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the first battery; second detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the second battery; computing means, responsive to the first and second detecting means, for computing remaining respective capacities of the first and second batteries; and displaying means for displaying the respective remaining capacities of the first and second batteries.

Claim 55

The system according to claim 42, wherein the computing means comprises a central processing unit.

Claim 56

The system according to claim 42, wherein the displaying means includes means for displaying a ratio of remaining energies to initial energies of the first and second batteries.