Processor-Based Battery Management Without EC Chip
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of electronic device circuits and increased costs due to the need for an embedded controller (EC) chip to manage battery and charging information, along with the operational burden of implementing separate programs to utilize EC chip functions, complicate the management and maintenance of electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device configuration that obtains battery-related and charging state information without an EC chip, using a processor coupled to a battery and charging circuit through an always-on electronic component, allowing the device to manage power and terminate the operating system based on battery levels, thereby reducing implementation and maintenance costs and operational burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an EC chip is used to manage battery and charging information, then power management function is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery management functionality from a separate EC chip and integrates it directly into the processor. This eliminates the need for a dedicated EC chip while maintaining the power management functions, thereby reducing device complexity and implementation cost while preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the battery management functions previously handled by the EC chip into the processor itself. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining all necessary power management capabilities.
2Reliability
If an EC chip is used to manage battery and charging information, then power management function is improved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate EC chip component and extracts its battery management functions into the processor. This elimination of a separate component directly reduces implementation cost while maintaining the necessary power management reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor is designed to perform multiple functions including both general computing tasks and specialized battery management functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated EC chip, thereby reducing implementation cost while maintaining comprehensive power management capabilities.
3Reliability
If an EC chip is used to manage battery and charging information, then power management function is improved, but operational burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts battery management functionality from a separate EC chip and integrates it into the processor. This integration eliminates the need for separate program implementation to access EC chip functions, as the processor can directly access battery information through its integrated functions, thereby reducing operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor directly manages battery information and power management functions through its integrated capabilities, without requiring separate program implementations or external controller interactions. This self-service approach simplifies operation while maintaining reliable power management.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a battery, a charging circuit coupled to the battery, at least one first electronic component coupled to the charging circuit, at least one second electronic component coupled to the charging circuit and the battery, and a chipset disposed separately from the at least one first electronic component and the at least one second electronic component, coupled to the at least one first electronic component, the at least one second electronic component, and including at least one processor, at least one processor may be configured to execute an operating system, when an operating system-related state is a first state, receive battery-related information from the at least one second electronic component, and when the operating system-related state is a second state, receive an interrupt configured to terminate the execution of the operating system from the at least one second electronic component.