Battery Charge Reservation for Power Subsystem Diagnostics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnosing failures in portable information handling systems is challenging when power subsystem failures prevent the system from recovering, making it difficult to identify and address issues such as a non-functional AC adapter.

Innovation Solution

A power diagnostics module that transitions the system to a power down state with sufficient battery charge remaining to run diagnostics, allowing for analysis of power subsystem faults and communication of fault indicators to the user, even if the system cannot be powered up normally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system enters a power down state when battery charge is depleted, then the system prevents damage and loss of data, but the system cannot perform diagnostics to identify power subsystem failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem protectionVSAvoiddiagnostic capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary diagnostics before entering the power down state by monitoring battery charge levels and executing diagnostic routines while sufficient charge remains. This allows the system to identify power subsystem failures before the battery is depleted, preventing the contradiction between system protection and diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system reserves a minimum battery charge threshold specifically for diagnostic operations. This cushioning charge ensures that even when the battery is depleted, sufficient power remains to execute diagnostic routines and identify failures, resolving the contradiction by preparing in advance for the power down state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the system requires sufficient battery charge to run diagnostics after power down, then the system can identify power subsystem failures, but the system cannot diagnose failures when battery charge is completely depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault identificationVSAvoidbattery charge consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs diagnostics preliminarily before battery depletion by monitoring charge levels and executing diagnostic routines while power is available. This preliminary action ensures fault identification occurs before the battery is completely depleted, resolving the contradiction between fault identification and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own battery power to service diagnostic operations without requiring external power sources. By designing the diagnostic module to operate on minimal battery power and implementing self-diagnostic routines, the system can identify failures using only its internal resources, resolving the contradiction between fault identification and external power dependency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the system performs comprehensive diagnostics before power down, then the system can identify all potential failures, but the system consumes excessive battery charge reducing operational time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic thoroughnessVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial diagnostics focused specifically on power subsystem components before power down, rather than comprehensive system-wide diagnostics. This selective approach identifies the most critical failures (power adapter, battery, power circuitry) while consuming minimal battery charge, resolving the contradiction between diagnostic thoroughness and operational time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the diagnostic parameter from comprehensive system diagnostics to targeted power subsystem diagnostics. By adjusting the scope and depth of diagnostic routines to match the specific need (identifying power failures before shutdown), the system achieves sufficient diagnostic thoroughness for the critical function while minimizing battery consumption and preserving operational time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7844844B2System and method for reserving information handling system battery charge to perform diagnostics

Publication Date: 2010.11.30 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A power diagnostics module running on an information handling system initiates a power down state of the information handling system upon detection of a predetermined battery charge that is sufficient to allow the information handling system to recover from the power down state and run the power diagnostics module. The power diagnostics module runs on the predetermined charge to diagnose faults associated with the power system, such as failure of an external AC adapter, and to present the faults to an end user, such as at a display, with LEDs or through a network message.