Battery Leakage Reduction via BMU Standby Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems (IHS) experience battery leakage due to current leakage when batteries are coupled to IHS without an external power supply, leading to battery exhaustion and increased costs, with existing solutions either requiring redesign of the packing process or impacting manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a battery management unit (BMU) with a detector pin and a power switch, allowing the BMU to remain in standby mode unless an external power supply is coupled to the IHS or the power switch is activated, thereby disabling battery power until necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery is coupled to the portable IHS for immediate operation, then the customer can use the IHS right after purchase, but the battery experiences current leakage (2-5 mA) that eventually exhausts all battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The BMU is pre-configured with a detector pin that monitors the presence of an external power supply. Before the battery begins discharging, the system checks whether AC power is available. If AC power is present, the BMU prevents the battery from discharging, thereby avoiding premature battery exhaustion while still allowing the device to be powered on and used immediately.
2Loss of energy
If a utility is executed to force the BMU into standby mode before delivery, then battery leakage is prevented, but the utility must be run and the BMU may never enter standby mode again after exiting
Solution Approach 1:
The BMU incorporates a detector pin that automatically monitors the presence of an external power supply and self-regulates the battery discharge state based on detected conditions. This eliminates the need for external utilities or manual configuration, as the system autonomously determines when to enable or disable battery discharge based on the detector pin's monitoring of AC power presence.
3Loss of energy
If the portable IHS is separated from the battery in different packages, then battery leakage is avoided, but the packing process must be redesigned
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is packaged together with the portable IHS in the same package, but the BMU is pre-configured with a detector pin that monitors external power supply presence. This preliminary configuration allows the battery to remain coupled to the IHS during shipping and storage without risk of leakage, since the BMU will prevent discharge until AC power is detected, thereby eliminating the need to redesign packing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing current leakage in a battery in communication with an information handling system (IHS). The method includes providing a battery management unit (BMU) in the battery, the BMU in communication with an embedded controller (EC), the BMU in a standby mode while the battery is coupled to the IHS, and configuring the BMU to exit the standby mode if an external power supply is coupled to the IHS. Also disclosed is an IHS which includes an EC in communication with a BMU, a power switch in communication with the EC and the BMU, and a control switch configured to be switched on if an external power supply is coupled to the IHS or if the power switch is activated without the external power supply, wherein the BMU unit exits the standby mode if the control switch is switched on.