US5557738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power system configuration and recovery from a power fault condition in a computer system having multiple power supplies
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-09
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Granted: 1996-09-17
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Expires: 2014-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A power system fault handling mechanism for portable electronic devices having multiple power supplies. A safety-net circuit is triggered when a power fault condition is detected. The safety-net circuit is a diode-based bridging circuit which couples all available power supplies to the power load, yet avoids feeding power back from any of the supplies to one another. This ensures that the load continues to receive power after a fault condition occurs without interruption. A microcontroller may then implement routines to switch to a working power supply so that the device may resume normal operation. The power system fault detection mechanism thus allows for the switching between system power supplies without disrupting a running process.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Townsley
- 👤 Andrew Gong
- 👤 Eva Henin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/30; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
For use in an electronic device having a plurality of available power supplies, a method of selecting one of the plurality of available power supplies for operating the electronic device comprising the steps of: bridging all available power supplies simultaneously through a combined power path to provide power to the load of the electronic device; iterating through a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies and selecting the first power supply in the hierarchy that is suitable for operating the electronic device; and switching the power system of the electronic device from the bridged power supply circuit to the first power supply in the hierarchy that is suitable for supplying power to the load of the electronic device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
For use in an electronic device having a plurality of available power supplies, a method of selecting one of the plurality of available power supplies for operating the electronic device comprising the steps of: bridging all available power supplies simultaneously through a combined power path to provide power to the load of the electronic device; iterating through a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies and selecting the first power supply in the hierarchy that is suitable for operating the electronic device; and switching the power system of the electronic device from the bridged power supply circuit to the first power supply in the hierarchy that is suitable for supplying power to the load of the electronic device.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of claims 1 wherein prior to the bridging step the method comprises the step of inducing a fault condition state to trigger said bridging step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein prior to the bridging step the method comprises the step of detecting a power fault condition to trigger said bridging step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of shutting down the electronic device if no suitable power supply is available after a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of determining the availability of an A-C power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of determining the availability of an A-C power source comprises the steps of: measuring the voltage available from a first A-C adapter line; and measuring the voltage available from a second A-C adapter line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the iterating through a preference hierarchy step comprises the steps of: determining if a first AC adapter is available for providing power to the load of the electronic device; determining if a second AC adapter is available for providing power to the load of the electronic device; determining if a first battery is available for providing power to the load of the electronic device; and determining if a second battery is available for providing power to the load of the electronic device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said switching step comprises the steps of: activating the first AC adapter and deactivating the second AC adapter and the first and second batteries if the first AC adapter is valid; activating the second AC adapter and deactivating the first AC adapter and the first and second batteries if the second AC adapter is valid; activating the first battery and deactivating the first and second AC adapters and the second battery if the first battery is valid; and activating the second battery and deactivating the first and second AC adapters and the first battery if the second battery is valid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of clearing a fault condition signal after the switching step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer system comprising: a processing unit for executing instructions and processing data; a memory bus coupled to the processing unit for conveying instructions and data to and from the processing unit; a memory subsystem coupled to the memory bus for storing instructions and computer data; and a power system for providing the computer system with operating power, the power system including: a plurality of available power supplies for supplying an operating voltage to the computer system; power supply bridging circuitry coupled to the plurality of available power supplies for operatively coupling the plurality of available power supplies simultaneously together for supplying power to the computer system over a combined power path; and power supply selection logic for switching the power system from the power supply bridging circuitry to a single one of the plurality of available power supplies selected according to a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer system comprising: a processing unit for executing instructions and processing data; a memory bus coupled to the processing unit for conveying instructions and data to and from the processing unit; a memory subsystem coupled to the memory bus for storing instructions and computer data; and a power system for providing the computer system with operating power, the power system including: a plurality of available power supplies for supplying an operating voltage to the computer system; power supply bridging circuitry coupled to the plurality of available power supplies for operatively coupling the plurality of available power supplies simultaneously together for supplying power to the computer system over a combined power path; and power supply selection logic for switching the power system from the power supply bridging circuitry to a single one of the plurality of available power supplies selected according to a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein the power supply selection logic comprises a microcontroller for providing control signals to the plurality of available power supplies and to the power supply bridging circuitry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer system of claim 11 wherein the microcontroller comprises: logic for iterating through a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies to determine the validity of each of the plurality of available power supplies; and logic for switching the power system from the power supply bridging circuitry to a selected one of the plurality of available power supplies, wherein the selected one of the plurality of available power supplies is the first valid power supply in the preference hierarchy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of available power supplies comprises first and second adapters and first and second batteries.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer system of claim 13 wherein the second AC adapter comprises an adapter capable of being coupled to an automobile cigarette lighter for deriving AC power for said computer system from a cigarette lighter socket in said automobile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer system of claim 13 further comprising: a timer for determining the amount of time no single power supply is brought online for supplying power to the computer system; and circuitry responsive to the timer for shutting down the computer system if no single power supply is brought online after a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
A power system for providing power to the load of an electronic device comprising: a plurality of available power supplies for supplying an operating voltage to the load of the electronic device; power supply bridging circuitry coupled to the plurality of available power supplies for operatively coupling the plurality of available power supplies simultaneously together for supplying power to the load of the electronic device over a combined power path; and power supply selection logic for switching the power system from the power supply bridging circuit to a single one of the plurality of available power supplies selected according to a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
A power system for providing power to the load of an electronic device comprising: a plurality of available power supplies for supplying an operating voltage to the load of the electronic device; power supply bridging circuitry coupled to the plurality of available power supplies for operatively coupling the plurality of available power supplies simultaneously together for supplying power to the load of the electronic device over a combined power path; and power supply selection logic for switching the power system from the power supply bridging circuit to a single one of the plurality of available power supplies selected according to a preference hierarchy of the plurality of available power supplies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The power system of claim 16 wherein the power supply selection logic comprises a microcontroller for providing control signals to the plurality of available power supplies and to the power supply bridging circuitry.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |