Patents by Inventor Richard C. Thompson

Richard C. Thompson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11909243
    Abstract: Embodiments of information handling systems (IHSs) having rechargeable batteries and improved battery charge control methods are provided herein. For example, a method is disclosed for dynamically switching between a plurality of battery charging profiles, each having different recharge thresholds and charge termination thresholds for controlling battery recharge. Such a method may include detecting discharge current from a rechargeable battery of an IHS, determining whether or not the IHS is coupled to an external power source, and switching from using a first battery charging profile to using a second battery charging profile to recharge the rechargeable battery in response to detecting the discharge current while the IHS is coupled to the external power source and/or determining that the discharge current is a short term supplemental power event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard C. Thompson, Karunakar P. Reddy, Yan Ning
  • Patent number: 11573618
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for powering an Information Handling System (IHS). The system includes a multimode AC adapter that reports supported outputs, including USB-PD (Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery) outputs and also including high-power outputs of a voltage greater than the USB-PD output voltages. The IHS detects a coupling of the multimode AC adapter to a USB-C port of the IHS. Based on information provided by the multimode adapter, the IHS determines the multimode adapter supports transmission of the high-power outputs to the USB-C port. The high-power outputs are negotiated and a power circuit of the IHS is configured for converting the negotiated high-power output. The configured power circuit converts the negotiated high-power output received via the USB-C port to an input utilized by the IHS. The high-power conversion circuit may provide efficient conversion of input voltages of up to 60 volts to voltages for use by the IHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11537488
    Abstract: An user profile may be used to adjust one or more system power management settings of an information handling system. An information handling system may transmit one or more user profile credentials. The information handling system may receive user profile data and may compare the user profile data with one or more system characteristics of the information handling system. Based on the comparison of the user profile data with the system characteristics of the information handling system, the information handling system may adjust one or more power management settings of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard C. Thompson, Nikhil M. Vichare, Vivek Viswanathan Iyer
  • Patent number: 11502544
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide wireless power to an Information Handling System (IHS). A multimode wireless power transmission unit supports USB-PD (Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery) power transmissions and also supports a high-power transmission of a voltage greater than USB-PD transmission voltages. The IHS detects the wireless coupling of the wireless power transmission unit. As part of this coupling, the IHS determines whether the wireless power transmission unit supports high-power transmissions. A wireless power transfer is negotiated and a power circuit of the IHS is configured for converting the negotiated high-power transmission to an input utilized by the IHS. Embodiments utilize a power circuit that provides efficient conversion of power transmissions of up to 60 volts. This same power circuit also provides efficient conversion of power transmissions of up to 60 volts by a multimode USB-C power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11495121
    Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to employ a programmable integrated circuit within a smart battery pack to detect and/or log occurrence of chassis intrusion and/or tampering events in a battery-powered information handling system within which the smart battery pack is installed. A battery management unit (BMU) or other programmable integrated circuit of the installed smart battery pack may be utilized to detect occurrence of a tampering and/or intrusion event into the chassis of the host information handling system based on a current state of a system present (Sys_Pres) signal at the battery pack that indicates temporary or permanent disconnection of system motherboard circuitry from the smart battery pack of the battery-powered information handling system. Such a detected occurrence of a tampering and/or intrusion event may be reported to a remote human user of remote system and/or to a local human user of the local system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Grobelny, Geroncio O. Tan, Richard C. Thompson, Adolfo S. Montero
  • Publication number: 20220351150
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for managing an Information Handling System (IHS) based upon a proxy calendar are described. In some embodiments, an IHS may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: receive context information, build a proxy calendar based upon the context information and in the absence of any access to calendar application data, and, in response to the proxy calendar indicating an event, perform one or more management actions associated with the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikhil Manohar Vichare, Richard C. Thompson, Vivek Viswanathan Iyer
  • Patent number: 11422601
    Abstract: The measured capacity of a rechargeable battery provides the full charge capacity of the battery, but does not reflect degradation of the battery capacity between measurements. Embodiments initiate a first measurement of a rechargeable battery capacity. Parameters of use of the rechargeable battery are monitored, such as the depth and number of discharge cycles of the battery. Until a second capacity measurement is initiated, a battery capacity correction factor is generated based on the monitored parameters of the use of the rechargeable battery. During this interval until the second measurement, a remaining available capacity of the rechargeable battery is reported based on an adjustment of the first capacity measurement using the generated correction factor. The correction factor for a particular battery may be based on learned battery degradation for a large number of batteries and also based on events and conditions of use of that particular battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikhil Manohar Vichare, Michael Nechay, Richard C. Thompson, Tyler Ryan Cox
  • Patent number: 11422600
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adaptively powering an Information Handling System (IHS) using a multimode AC adapter. Information reported by the multimode adapter is utilized to determine whether it supports USB-PD power transmissions and also supports high-power transmissions. The power demand of the IHS is monitored. When the power demand is greater than the USB-PD power levels, the multimode adapter is configured for providing a high-power transmission and a power circuit of the IHS is configured for converting the high-power transmission to a voltage used by the IHS. When the power demand is not greater than the USB-PD power levels, the multimode adapter is configured for providing a USB-PD transmission. Some embodiments may detect events associated with high power demand and may preemptively configure the power circuit of the IHS for providing high-power outputs upon detecting such events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20220260639
    Abstract: Systems and methods manage use of rechargeable battery power of Information Handling Systems (IHSs). In managing power draws from the batteries of an IHS, use of software applications of the IHS is monitored and use is detected of a software application that has been designated as prioritized for use of the IHS batteries. A power throttling factor is selected for use in drawing power from the rechargeable batteries of the IHS while the prioritized software application remains in use. The selected power throttling factor is transmitted to an embedded controller of the IHS and the embedded controller is notified when the prioritized software application is no longer in use by a user of the IHS. The embedded controller receives the power throttling factor and, while the prioritized software application remains in use, the embedded controller limits power drawn from the IHS rechargeable batteries according to the power throttling factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard C. Thompson, Vivek Viswanathan Iyer, Nikhil Manohar Vichare
  • Patent number: 11416059
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for powering an Information Handling System (IHS) that receives a high-power transmission from a multimode AC adapter supporting USB-PD transmission and also supporting the high-power transmissions of a voltage greater than the supported USB-PD voltages. A power circuit converts the high-power transmission to a charging voltage used to charge a battery system of the IHS. After the multimode AC adapter is unplugged from the IHS, power is drawing power from the battery system of the IHS. When the battery system drops below a low-voltage threshold, the power drawn from the battery system is routed to the same power circuit. While operating this low-voltage threshold, power is drawn from the battery system via the power circuit. When the battery system drops below a second low-voltage threshold, an off power state of the IHS is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11372049
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage medium, for identifying, for a power source, a lookup table (LUT) that includes, for each condition of the power source, i) a maximum power (p-max) of the power source for the condition and ii) a sustained power (p-sus) of the power source for the condition; examining the LUT to define calibration triggers associated with the conditions; identifying an event that satisfies a particular calibration trigger of the calibration triggers; in response to identifying the event, creating a workload for the power source; in response to the workload, determining for a particular condition associated with the particular calibration trigger, an updated p-max value for the particular condition and an updated p-sus value of the power source for the particular condition; and updating the LUT, for the particular condition, based on the updated p-max value and the updated p-sus value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard C. Thompson, Merle Jackson Wood, Mohammed K. Hijazi, Adolfo S. Montero
  • Patent number: 11347293
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for managing turbo states based upon user presence are described. In some embodiments, a method may include detecting, by an Information Handling System (IHS), a presence state of a user, and modifying a turbo configuration of a component of the IHS in response to the presence state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Vivek Viswanathan Iyer, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11314311
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing battery runtime and performance based upon presence detection are described. In some embodiments, a method may include: receiving a first amount of energy from a power source directed to supporting operation of an Information Handling System (IHS); receiving a second amount of energy from the power source directed to charging a battery of the IHS; determining a user's presence state with respect to the IHS; and modifying the first and second amounts in response to the presence state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Vivek Viswanathan Iyer, Richard C. Thompson, Nikhil Manohar Vichare
  • Patent number: 11262828
    Abstract: Systems and methods employ an external energy storage device (e.g., intelligent battery pack) interposed between a an information handling system (IHS) and its AC-to-DC adapter. The information handling system may be a fixed compute system, may lack an internal battery and/or may execute an operating system that does not have power management capability. The external energy storage device provides power and power state information to the IHS, e.g., that is based on state of charge (SOC) of the battery and/or absence/presence of AC power. IHS may perform one or more actions based on the power state information such as automatically save data and shutdown when notified AC power is lost and/or SOC is low, and may automatically restart and restore saved data when notified AC power is restored and/or SOC is sufficiently high. The external energy storage device may actively signal or command the IHS to act or may passively supply power state information and let the IHS decide how to act.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard C. Thompson, Karthikeyan Krishnakumar
  • Patent number: 11256647
    Abstract: Multimode docking station embodiments provide power to an Information Handling System (IHS). The docking station detects the coupling of a multimode USB-C adapter that supports USB-PD (USB Power Delivery) transmissions and also supports a high-power transmission of a voltage greater than the USB-PD transmissions. The docking station configures a power transmission by the multimode USB-C adapter based on a power request by the IHS. Based on the power request by the IHS, a power circuit of the docking station is configured for providing the transmission to the IHS. When the multimode adapter provides a USB-PD power transmission, the power circuit routes the transmission directly to the docking port. When a high-power transmission is provided, a portion of the power transmission is converted by the power circuit for use by external devices coupled to the docking station, with another portion being provided to the IHS as a USB-PD transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11251645
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for charging a battery system of an Information Handling System (IHS) using a multimode AC adapter. Information reported by the multimode adapter is used to determine its capabilities, including whether it supports USB-PD transmission and also supports high-power transmissions of a voltage greater than the USB-PD voltages. The charge state of the battery system is monitored. When the battery is in a pre-charge state, the battery is charged using USB-PD transmissions negotiated with the multimode adapter. When the battery is in a bulk-charge state, the battery is charged using a high-power transmission negotiated with the multimode adapter. When the battery is in a top-off-charge state, the battery is charged using USB-PD transmissions negotiated with the multimode adapter. In light of the charging efficiency of a battery varying based on its charge level, the multimode adapter supports efficient charging at different charge levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11147186
    Abstract: Airflow cooling is provided in an IHS (Information Handling System), where the airflow cooling may be adapted to reduce noise generated by the airflow cooling system and to provide cooling that is particularized to specific users. The operation of a software application by a user is detected. A workload profile associated with that application is determined and used to provide airflow cooling. The workload profile specifies parameters for providing cooling during use of applications associated with a first type of resource utilization. Upon detecting use of a different application, a different workload profile associated with applications of a second type of resource utilization may be determined and used to provide cooling. The user may provide noise feedback inputs specifying noise level preferences that are used in adapting the cooling provided by workload profiles. The workload profiles may be further adapted to reduce noise generated by the cooling system while still providing adequate cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Travis C. North, Mitchell Anthony Markow, Richard C. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20210271303
    Abstract: The measured capacity of a rechargeable battery provides the full charge capacity of the battery, but does not reflect degradation of the battery capacity between measurements. Embodiments initiate a first measurement of a rechargeable battery capacity. Parameters of use of the rechargeable battery are monitored, such as the depth and number of discharge cycles of the battery. Until a second capacity measurement is initiated, a battery capacity correction factor is generated based on the monitored parameters of the use of the rechargeable battery. During this interval until the second measurement, a remaining available capacity of the rechargeable battery is reported based on an adjustment of the first capacity measurement using the generated correction factor. The correction factor for a particular battery may be based on learned battery degradation for a large number of batteries and also based on events and conditions of use of that particular battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikhil Manohar Vichare, Michael Nechay, Richard C. Thompson, Tyler Ryan Cox
  • Patent number: 11086380
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for managing battery runtime based upon power source activity are described. In some embodiments, a method may include determining, based at least in part upon location and context information, that a battery of an Information Handling System (IHS) is expected to be charged by a given alternating current (AC) adapter; and modifying one or more IHS settings to reduce a power consumption of the IHS in response to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Vivek Viswanathan Iyer, Richard C. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20210232526
    Abstract: Multimode docking station embodiments provide power to an Information Handling System (IHS). The docking station detects the coupling of a multimode USB-C adapter that supports USB-PD (USB Power Delivery) transmissions and also supports a high-power transmission of a voltage greater than the USB-PD transmissions. The docking station configures a power transmission by the multimode USB-C adapter based on a power request by the IHS. Based on the power request by the IHS, a power circuit of the docking station is configured for providing the transmission to the IHS. When the multimode adapter provides a USB-PD power transmission, the power circuit routes the transmission directly to the docking port. When a high-power transmission is provided, a portion of the power transmission is converted by the power circuit for use by external devices coupled to the docking station, with another portion being provided to the IHS as a USB-PD transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss, Richard C. Thompson