Battery Charge Profile Switching for Supplemental Power Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charge control methods in portable information handling systems frequently trigger recharging during short duration supplemental power events, leading to repeated full recharges, which accelerates battery degradation and shortens battery life, necessitating more frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic battery charge control methods that switch between multiple charging profiles, with different recharge and charge termination thresholds, to avoid frequent recharging during short duration supplemental power events, such as those occurring during turbo boost modes or with undersized AC adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is recharged to full power when the remaining state of charge drops below a recharge threshold or when the battery supplies a significant discharge current, then the battery is kept ready to support high discharge rate events, but repeated recharging during short duration supplemental power events accelerates battery degradation and shortens battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between a first battery charging profile and a second battery charging profile based on system conditions. When the system detects a short duration supplemental power event, it switches to the second profile with different recharge and charge termination thresholds, preventing unnecessary full recharges and extending battery life while maintaining reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charging parameters (recharge threshold and charge termination threshold) based on the detected operating conditions. The first profile uses higher thresholds suitable for normal operation, while the second profile uses adjusted thresholds that prevent over-charging during supplemental power events, thereby reducing battery degradation.
2Productivity
If the battery is recharged frequently during short duration supplemental power events, then the battery maintains high state of charge for immediate power delivery, but the frequent recharging cycles increase battery degradation and replacement frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts charging behavior by switching between two charging profiles based on whether a short duration supplemental power event is detected. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain power delivery readiness when necessary while avoiding frequent recharging cycles that would degrade battery durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the charging parameters (recharge threshold and charge termination threshold) depending on the operating mode. During short duration supplemental power events, the second profile with adjusted parameters is used to reduce recharging frequency while maintaining adequate power delivery capability.
Data Source
AI summary
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.