Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an apparatus for power adapter detection is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first detection module to detect if a first signal from a power adapter is present and in a first voltage range, a second detection module to detect if a second signal from the power adapter is present and in a second voltage range, and a third module to permit a system to be powered by the power adapter if the first signal is present and in the first voltage range and if the second signal is present and in the second voltage range.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are approaches for providing an adapter that may operate efficiently to provide a DC voltage to systems requiring different voltages.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are some embodiments for safely charging a mobile system battery pack, even when the power source (e.g., adapter) voltage is at a relatively high level that would otherwise result in excessive charge current.

Abstract: A system may include control of a voltage regulator to provide a regulated output voltage and output current to a load coupled to an output node of the voltage regulator, and changing of a gate-drive supply voltage provided to the voltage regulator based on the output current.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a method and apparatus to facilitate battery management using a hall-effect sensor. The apparatus includes a hall-effect sensor and a battery management unit. The hall-effect sensor is disposed near the electrical transmission line to detect an amount of current flowing through the electrical transmission line. The current originates from a direct current power source coupled to the transmission line. The power source management unit is coupled to the hall-effect sensor to process a sensor signal from the hall-effect sensor. The power source management unit also determines the amount of current flowing through the electrical transmission line. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a voltage regulator is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a step-down portion to step down an input voltage to a desired voltage when the input voltage is provided by a battery power source; and a step-up portion to step up the input voltage to the desired voltage when the input voltage is provided by a system rail. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the voltage regulator provides power to a display device such as an LCD, a flat panel display, a plasma screen, and a TFT display.

Abstract: A hybrid power system includes a fuel cell and a secondary power source.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for efficiently utilizing adapter power. By utilizing a control line in the system, the system is able to condition the battery while an external adapter is being used as the source of the system power.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing power to a central processing unit (CPU) provide for enhanced surge protection during CPU current consumption going from high current to low current consumption. In one approach, a circuit as a power output stage with an output node, and a controller circuit coupled to the power output stage. The controller circuit selectively switches the power output stage into a current ramp down mode based on detection of a voltage surge at the output node. The power output stage has an associated current ramp down rate. The CPU is coupled to the output node and a surge notification input of the power output stage, where the power output stage accelerates the current ramp down based on a notification signal from the CPU for a duration proportional to the change in CPU current consumption from high to low current consumption.

Abstract: A power system includes an input power port, a power rail, a battery unit, and a system charger voltage regulator (VR). The system charger VR couples the input power port to the battery unit. The battery unit couples with the system charger VR and the power rail.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a method, apparatus, and system for power source failure prediction are described. According to some embodiments, the system may include, among other things, a display device to draw power from a direct current power source, two or more electrical lines positioned on either side of the direct current power source to determine a voltage across the direct current power source, and a power source management unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage. In some embodiments, a cell monitoring unit may be coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage for the power source management unit, where the cell monitoring unit is capable of converting the measured voltage to a digital signal, measuring the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time, and providing information to the power source management unit. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: An indicator of a brightness level for a backlight is received. The backlight has a voltage inverter. Either a continuous mode of operation for the voltage inverter or a burst mode of operation for the voltage inverter is selected based at least in part on the indicator.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a switching control port, a battery stack, an output power port, and switch circuitry. The switching control port receives a switch control signal from a battery pack port. The switch circuitry selectively couples the battery stack to the output power port based at least in part on the switch control signal.

Abstract: A digital input power rail receives an input voltage for a display. A voltage regulator regulates the input voltage to a start-up voltage during a start-up period. After the start-up period, the voltage regulator regulates the input voltage to a steady-state voltage. The steady-state voltage is lower than the start-up voltage.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a method and apparatus to facilitate battery management using a hall-effect sensor. The apparatus includes a hall-effect sensor and a battery management unit. The hall-effect sensor is disposed near the electrical transmission line to detect an amount of current flowing through the electrical transmission line. The current originates from a direct current power source coupled to the transmission line. The power source management unit is coupled to the hall-effect sensor to process a sensor signal from the hall-effect sensor. The power source management unit also determines the amount of current flowing through the electrical transmission line. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Multiple voltage regulators for use with a single load. The present invention allows power to be supplied to an electrical load using multiple voltage regulators based on the operating environment of the load. In one embodiment, a primary voltage regulator that is built of relatively low capacity and relatively high efficiency components is used to supply power from a limited power source. A secondary voltage regulator built of higher capacity and possibly lower efficiency components is used when power is from a less limited source. In one embodiment, a tertiary voltage regulator is used that is built of possibly higher capacity and lower efficiency components to provide even more power. It is important to note that use of voltage regulators as described herein does not require that higher capacity voltage regulators be less efficient than lower capacity voltage regulators.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed. The system includes a chassis including a printed circuit board (PCB) and a battery pack. The battery pack includes a connector to enable the battery pack to couple to a PCB which is mounted either above the centerline of the battery pack connector and on or below the centerline of the battery pack power connector.

Abstract: For a battery-operable device, an overload protector may prevent a catastrophic malfunction. Using the overload protector, a power source may enable controlled delivery of power to the battery-operable device as a result of a timely intervention. More particularly, in mobile devices or systems with variable power consumption components and/or operational modes, the frequency of the occurrence of tripping in a battery may be reduced or even eliminated in some cases. In one embodiment, a battery overload protector may continuously monitor available power from a power delivery unit and alert a processor-based system before a threshold of available power is reached by tracking power consumption against the threshold. The battery overload protector may issue a warning to the processor-based system in order to avoid exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing power to a central processing unit (CPU) provide for enhanced surge protection and increased battery life. In one approach, an integrated circuit as a power output stage with an output node, and a voltage regulator coupled to the power output stage. The voltage regulator selectively switches the power output stage into a current ramp down mode based on detection of a voltage surge at the output node. The power output stage has an associated current ramp down rate. The CPU is coupled to the output node and a surge notification input of the power output stage, where the power output stage accelerates the current ramp down based on a notification signal from the CPU.