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 a routine to switch to a working power supply so that the device may resume normal operation. The power system fault detection mechanism therefor allows for the switching between system power supplies without disrupting a running process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to accomodate a card designed to operate, with an alternate bus standard within a computer designed to operate with a primary bus standard, where the primary bus standard and the alternate bus standard are not directly compatible. The card is designed to fit within the computer in the available physical space and to connect to a card connector as required for the primary bus. However, the card is designed to be electrically compatible with the alternate bus standard. In a preferred embodiment the card draws power and any other signals, perhaps including clock, that are useful to both bus standards, but the address, data and control bus signals for the alternate bus are delivered to the card through an independent channel. This independent channel can be a separate connector to carry any signals needed for the alternate bus standard, which according to the application may or may not repeat signals already available through the primary bus.

Abstract: A master agent and a slave agent are interconnected over a two-conductor bus system. One conductor is utilized to transfer data signals between the agents and the second conductor is utilized to transfer a clock signal between the agents. The master agent includes a single data port for both input and output. The slave agent includes two data ports: an input port and an output port. The input port and the output port are coupled to a single conductor, thereby allowing data to be input to and output from the slave agent on a single line. An open collector device is situated between the output port of the slave agent and the data conductor. Data is transferred between the master and slave agents by first synchronizing the agents. The agents are synchronized by first allowing the data conductor to obtain a high state. Upon sensing the data conductor high, the master agent drives the clock conductor to a low state. The slave agent responds by driving the data conductor low if the agent is ready for a transfer.

Abstract: A circuit enabling simultaneous independent charging, sequential charging and sequential discharging of multiple batteries within a computer system and a method for charging the batteries independent of their technology or chemistry. Each battery of the multiple batteries in incorporated within a battery pack. The battery pack includes at least the battery, but may also include a module for supplying information regarding the battery to a system micro-controller unit to assist the system micro-controller unit in charging of the battery. For such battery packs, the method for charging each battery, regardless of its technology or chemistry and without hardware modification or software downloading of information, includes a monitoring phase, a charging phase and an error phase.

Abstract: A novel battery monitoring device is described. The monitoring device determines amount of battery self-discharge, determines amount of battery discharge from a monitoring circuit, determines amount of battery discharge from a host device when the host device is in a first power consumption mode, and determines amount of battery discharge from the host device when the host device is in a second power consumption mode. The first mode causes greater discharge of the battery during a given period of time than the second mode.

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 a routine to switch to a working power supply so that the device may resume normal operation. The power system fault detection mechanism therefor allows for the switching between system power supplies without disrupting a running process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the power consumption of a processor in a computer system where a programming structure running on the processor determines when the processor is in an inactive state to cause clocking signals and the power supply to be disabled to the processor. The processor is again coupled to the power supply and the clock signals in response to a periodic interrupt signal, a non-periodic interrupt or a bus request from a peripheral device. Thereafter, the programming structure signals the control logic again when the processor reenters the inactive state, such that the control logic disables the clock signals and decouples the power supply to the processor when the processor returns to the inactive state. The method is extended to offer the ability to shut down the processor from programming structures running on alternate masters or subsystem controllers within the same system.

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.

Abstract: A system for distributing power throughout a computer system, preferably a portable computer, while still maintaining a desired power mode hierarchy so that the most critical components or circuits-within the computer system receive power before non-critical components. The system includes a micro-controller unit for controlling power allocations throughout the system. The system further includes a power connector for interfacing with a dual-line AC-to-DC adapter, a switching regulator for providing regulated DC power outputs to a central processing unit, memory unit and the like, a battery switching circuit having two battery packs to support simultaneous charging and sequential discharging of the battery packs in the event that the AC-to-DC adapter is decoupled from the computer system and an auxiliary battery source for supplying power to critical components in the computer system as a last resort.