US5845217A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power systems for plug-in modules
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-01-29
•
Granted: 1998-12-01
•
Expires: 2016-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for supplying primary electrical power to modular components of electronic equipment. The system uses a battery power source mounted either in the module or as part of a battery pack that attaches to the module. Module circuitry supplies a recharge current to the battery power source. A charge circuit charges the batteries in a parallel and supplies power to the module by connecting the batteries in series. Circuitry also determines the amount of battery power source used for an operation of the module and sends a recharge current to the battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by the module and based on the available recharge current.
Inventors
- 👤 Bo Karl Lindell
- 👤 Roland Thomas Wilhelm Johansson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1635; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1632; G06F1/1656; G06F1/26; G06F1/263; G06F1/266; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/425; H01M10/46; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/213; H02; H02J; H02J1/00; H02J1/14; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; H02J7/865; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; H01M6/5011; H01M6/5016; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load; said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load; said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as in claim 1, wherein said battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries connected in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as in claim 1, wherein said load of said modular electronic component comprises a radio transmitter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as in claim 1, wherein said modular electronic component comprises means for switching said load between said higher power consumption level operating mode and said lower power consumption level operating mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as in claim 4, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source and said power supply of said host electronic equipment power said load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as in claim 4, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source powers said load without assistance from said power supply of said host electronic equipment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system as in claim 6, wherein said means for switching said load includes means for automatically switching to said higher power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is able to supply the required electrical power for operation of said load, and for automatically switching to said lower power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is unable to supply said required electrical power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as in claim 1, wherein said modular electronic component comprises a charging circuit adapted to supply a recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as in claim 8, wherein said charging circuit is adapted to send an amount of recharge current to said battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as in claim 8, wherein said battery power source comprises at least two batteries, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in series for powering said load during operation of said load, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in parallel during recharging of said battery power source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said connector is a PCMCIA connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as in claim 1 wherein said modular electronic component is a PCMCIA module.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load; and a charging circuit disposed within said modular electronic component and adapted to supply an amount of recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source, said amount of recharge current corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; a battery power source disposed within said modular electronic component and electrically connected to said load; and a charging circuit disposed within said modular electronic component and adapted to supply an amount of recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source, said amount of recharge current corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and a battery pack removably and physically coupled to said modular electronic component and having a battery power source; and means for conducting electrical power from said battery power source to said load; said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for providing electrical power to a modular electronic component for use in a host electronic equipment, said host electronic equipment having a power supply, said system comprising: a load disposed within said modular electronic component; a connector disposed on said modular electronic component for coupling with said host electronic equipment to electrically connect said host electronic equipment and said modular electronic component; and a battery pack removably and physically coupled to said modular electronic component and having a battery power source; and means for conducting electrical power from said battery power source to said load; said load having a higher power consumption level operating mode for use with at least said battery power source, and a lower power consumption level operating mode for use with said power supply in said host electronic equipment but without said battery power source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as in claim 14 wherein said load of said modular electronic component comprises a radio transmitter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as in claim 15, further comprising an antenna rotatably mounted to said battery pack and a means for electrically connecting said antenna to said transmitter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as in claim 14, wherein said modular electronic component comprises means for switching said load between said higher power consumption level operating mode and said lower power consumption level operating mode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as in claim 17, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source and said power supply of said host electronic equipment power said load.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as in claim 17, wherein, in said higher power consumption level operating mode, said battery power source powers said load without assistance from said power supply of said host electronic equipment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system as in claim 19, wherein said means for switching said load comprises means for automatically switching to said higher power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is able to supply the electrical power required for operation of said load, and for automatically switching to said lower power consumption level operating mode when said battery power source is unable to supply said required electrical power.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as in claim 14 further comprising a charging circuit adapted to supply a recharge current from said power supply of said host electronic equipment to said battery power source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as in claim 21, wherein said battery power source comprises at least two batteries, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in series for powering said load during operation of said load, and wherein said charging circuit connects said at least two batteries in parallel during recharging of said battery power source.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is adapted to send an amount of recharge current to said battery power source corresponding to the power consumed by said load and based upon an available recharge rate of said recharge current.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is disposed within said modular electronic component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as in claim 21, wherein said charging circuit is disposed within said battery pack.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as in claim 14, wherein said connector is a PCMCIA connector.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as in claim 14, wherein said modular electronic component is a PCMCIA module.
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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) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |