Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying power from a multi-cell battery to a single-cell power management integrated circuit. One implementation of the system includes a voltage converter circuit, a control circuit, and a signal buffer circuit. The voltage converter circuit is configured to scale a positive battery terminal voltage signal received from the multi-cell battery to generate a scaled voltage signal. The control circuit is configured to select one of the scaled voltage signal or a cell voltage signal received from the multi-cell battery. The control circuit is also configured to output a high-impedance single-cell power signal including the selected one of the scaled voltage signal or the cell voltage signal. The signal buffer circuit is configured to buffer the high-impedance single-cell power signal to generate a low-impedance single-cell power signal for a voltage sense pin of the single-cell power management integrated circuit.

Abstract: A device, method and system for throttling current and/or power to peripherals is provided. A device comprises peripherals powered by a power source. The device further comprises a throttling circuit configured to: in response to receiving a given interrupt, cause throttling of respective currents to a given subset of the peripherals. The device further comprises a sensing circuit configured to: in response to determining that a sensed current from the power source exceeds a threshold current, provide the given interrupt to the throttling circuit. The device further comprises a primary processor configured to: determine the threshold current based at least on a predetermined maximum current of a presently prioritized peripheral; and provide the threshold current to the sensing circuit. The device further comprises a secondary processor configured to: determine the given subset of the peripherals based on an available current overhead.

Abstract: A device, method and system for throttling current and/or power to peripherals is provided. A device comprises peripherals powered by a power source. The device further comprises a throttling circuit configured to: in response to receiving a given interrupt, cause throttling of respective currents to a given subset of the peripherals. The device further comprises a sensing circuit configured to: in response to determining that a sensed current from the power source exceeds a threshold current, provide the given interrupt to the throttling circuit. The device further comprises a primary processor configured to: determine the threshold current based at least on a predetermined maximum current of a presently prioritized peripheral; and provide the threshold current to the sensing circuit. The device further comprises a secondary processor configured to: determine the given subset of the peripherals based on an available current overhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a battery operating mode. The method includes connecting an electronic processor to a first electrical contact of a battery interface via a switch; generating, with the electronic processor, an initialization pulse for a signal demultiplexer of a battery; transmitting the initialization pulse to the signal demultiplexer; generating, with the electronic processor, a data word indicating a desired operating mode; transmitting the data word to the signal demultiplexer; generating, with the signal demultiplexer, a signal to electrically connect a first battery switch to the first electrical contact, the first battery switch selected based on the data word; receiving, with an analog to digital converter of the electrical device, a signal indicating the operating mode voltage; and verifying, with the electronic processor, a correct operating mode based on the operating mode voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying power from a multi-cell battery to a single-cell power management integrated circuit. One implementation of the system includes a voltage converter circuit, a control circuit, and a signal buffer circuit. The voltage converter circuit is configured to scale a positive battery terminal voltage signal received from the multi-cell battery to generate a scaled voltage signal. The control circuit is configured to select one of the scaled voltage signal or a cell voltage signal received from the multi-cell battery. The control circuit is also configured to output a high-impedance single-cell power signal including the selected one of the scaled voltage signal or the cell voltage signal. The signal buffer circuit is configured to buffer the high-impedance single-cell power signal to generate a low-impedance single-cell power signal for a voltage sense pin of the single-cell power management integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a battery operating mode. The method includes connecting an electronic processor to a first electrical contact of a battery interface via a switch; generating, with the electronic processor, an initialization pulse for a signal demultiplexer of a battery; transmitting the initialization pulse to the signal demultiplexer; generating, with the electronic processor, a data word indicating a desired operating mode; transmitting the data word to the signal demultiplexer; generating, with the signal demultiplexer, a signal to electrically connect a first battery switch to the first electrical contact, the first battery switch selected based on the data word; receiving, with an analog to digital converter of the electrical device, a signal indicating the operating mode voltage; and verifying, with the electronic processor, a correct operating mode based on the operating mode voltage.

Abstract: A portable battery-operated communication device includes a high-speed communication bus, a first high-speed communication processor coupled to the bus and configured for transferring communication signals to a second high-speed communication processor over the bus, and an isolation circuit for the bus with a first terminal coupled to the bus and configured to receive a first communication signal from the first processor via the bus, and a first resistor that is coupled to the first terminal and configured to protect the first terminal from an overcurrent failure condition, in which the isolation circuit is configured to match impendences between the isolation circuit and bus, isolate series inductance associated with the first terminal, protect the first terminal from an overvoltage failure while maintaining signal integrity of the first communication signal, and pass through the first communication signal from the first terminal to a second terminal coupled to the high-speed communication bus.

Abstract: A portable battery-operated communication device includes a high-speed communication bus, a first high-speed communication processor coupled to the bus and configured for transferring communication signals to a second high-speed communication processor over the bus, and an isolation circuit for the bus with a first terminal coupled to the bus and configured to receive a first communication signal from the first processor via the bus, and a first resistor that is coupled to the first terminal and configured to protect the first terminal from an overcurrent failure condition, in which the isolation circuit is configured to match impendences between the isolation circuit and bus, isolate series inductance associated with the first terminal, protect the first terminal from an overvoltage failure while maintaining signal integrity of the first communication signal, and pass through the first communication signal from the first terminal to a second terminal coupled to the high-speed communication bus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining available current for a battery in a portable electronic device. One method includes, in response to determining that a received current level of an auxiliary supply rail is equal to or below a predetermined threshold, acquiring a plurality of unloaded voltages for the battery and calculating an unloaded voltage based on the unloaded voltages. The method includes activating a switchable load coupled between the battery and ground, acquiring a plurality of loaded voltages for the battery, and calculating a loaded voltage based on the loaded voltages. The method includes calculating an impedance for the battery based on the unloaded and loaded voltages and an impedance for the switchable load. The method includes determining a current budget based on the impedance, a minimum operating voltage, and a maximum allowable current draw, and adjusting an operating parameter of the portable electronic device based on the current budget.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining available current for a battery in a portable electronic device. One method includes, in response to determining that a received current level of an auxiliary supply rail is equal to or below a predetermined threshold, acquiring a plurality of unloaded voltages for the battery and calculating an unloaded voltage based on the unloaded voltages. The method includes activating a switchable load coupled between the battery and ground, acquiring a plurality of loaded voltages for the battery, and calculating a loaded voltage based on the loaded voltages. The method includes calculating an impedance for the battery based on the unloaded and loaded voltages and an impedance for the switchable load. The method includes determining a current budget based on the impedance, a minimum operating voltage, and a maximum allowable current draw, and adjusting an operating parameter of the portable electronic device based on the current budget.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mission critical standby of a portable communication device are disclosed. A portable communication device may include a primary processor for a first operating platform, a secondary processor for a second operating platform and communicatively coupled to the primary processor, and a power state manager that may have a first mode and a second mode. The power state manager may be configured to determine whether the primary processor is in a powered off state and sequence supply of power to the secondary processor. The first mode may allow the primary processor to monitor a power state of the secondary processor based on a determination that the primary processor is not in the powered off state and the second mode may enable the power state manager to monitor the power state based on a determination that the primary processor is in the powered off state.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device having a battery and a speaker is disclosed. The method includes receiving an audio data signal, monitoring a battery-related parameter of the battery, determining whether the monitored battery-related parameter traverses a threshold, and bit-shifting the audio data signal based on the monitored battery-related parameter traversing the threshold. Also disclosed is an attenuator circuit for an electronic device having a battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce communication device peak current for alert tones are disclosed. A portable device may include a processor coupled to a transceiver and an alert tone controller coupled to the processor. The transceiver may be configured to process an audio signal representing an alert tone. The processor may be configured to determine whether an audio volume level setting exceeds a predetermined threshold. The alert tone controller may be activated based on the determination. The alert tone controller may be configured, based on the activation, to reduce an audio signal by adjustment to a peak-to-peak amplitude of the audio signal and generate an adjusted audio signal by a restriction on the maximum amplitude of the reduced audio signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mission critical standby of a portable communication device are disclosed. A portable communication device may include a primary processor for a first operating platform, a secondary processor for a second operating platform and communicatively coupled to the primary processor, and a power state manager that may have a first mode and a second mode. The power state manager may be configured to determine whether the primary processor is in a powered off state and sequence supply of power to the secondary processor. The first mode may allow the primary processor to monitor a power state of the secondary processor based on a determination that the primary processor is not in the powered off state and the second mode may enable the power state manager to monitor the power state based on a determination that the primary processor is in the powered off state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce communication device peak current for alert tones are disclosed. A portable device may include a processor coupled to a transceiver and an alert tone controller coupled to the processor. The transceiver may be configured to process an audio signal representing an alert tone. The processor may be configured to determine whether an audio volume level setting exceeds a predetermined threshold. The alert tone controller may be activated based on the determination. The alert tone controller may be configured, based on the activation, to reduce an audio signal by adjustment to a peak-to-peak amplitude of the audio signal and generate an adjusted audio signal by a restriction on the maximum amplitude of the reduced audio signal.

Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.

Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.

Abstract: Method and system for maintaining output voltage regulation of a non-synchronous switching regulator providing a voltage supply to a main load. The method includes determining, using an electronic processor, that the main load is transitioning from a first load state to a second load state. The method also includes connecting, using the electronic processor, a switchable load to the non-synchronous switching regulator in response to determining that the main load is transitioning from the first load state to the second load state.

Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.

Abstract: A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.