Quick Conditioning Battery Backup for Memory
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems face performance degradation due to battery pack capacity issues, such as gas gauge errors and cell failure, leading to the need for frequent learning cycles and potential insufficient capacity to protect cache memory during power outages.
Innovation Solution
A quick conditioning cycle system that discharges the battery to a level where the remaining capacity is high enough to ensure memory backup for a desired period, eliminating fixed RSOC thresholds and using a mid-way voltage checkpoint to accelerate the conditioning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a full learning cycle is performed to calibrate battery capacity, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to system performance degradation during the cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing only a portion of the full learning cycle. Instead of discharging the battery to complete depletion (full action), the system performs a truncated learning cycle that stops when a predetermined capacity threshold is reached. This partial discharge approach provides sufficient calibration data to improve measurement precision while avoiding the complete system performance degradation that would occur with a full learning cycle.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed RSOC threshold is used to determine battery capacity, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates for aged battery packs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for battery capacity determination from a fixed RSOC (Relative State of Charge) threshold to a dynamic threshold based on actual measured capacity. Instead of relying on the predetermined RSOC value that becomes inaccurate with battery aging, the system continuously monitors actual capacity through the learning cycle and adjusts the threshold accordingly. This parameter change maintains ease of operation while significantly improving reliability for aged battery packs.
3Reliability
If the battery is discharged to ensure sufficient capacity for memory backup, then reliability is improved, but productivity worsens due to extended conditioning time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by discharging the battery only to the extent necessary to verify sufficient memory backup capacity, rather than performing a complete discharge to zero. The system stops the discharge process when the predetermined capacity threshold (e.g., 2 Whr) is confirmed, which provides adequate reliability for memory backup while significantly reducing the conditioning cycle time compared to a full discharge approach.
4Productivity
If a truncated learning cycle is performed, then productivity is improved by reducing conditioning time, but measurement precision may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the battery capacity during the truncated learning cycle and using this information to determine when to stop the discharge process. The system measures capacity at intermediate points and compares it against the predetermined threshold, providing feedback that ensures sufficient calibration data is collected even within the shortened time frame. This feedback mechanism maintains measurement precision while enabling the productivity benefits of a truncated cycle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The quick conditioning cycle system maintains performance by ensuring the battery capacity is sufficient for memory backup, avoiding unnecessary performance degradation and accommodating aged battery packs, while being backward compatible with existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a battery pack is used to backup memory, (such as a dirty cache memory located on PERC expansion card) when AC power is lost
Data Source
AI summary
A quick conditioning cycle system to avoid performance degradation at the end of calibrating cycle. The quick conditioning cycle system discharges a battery to a level where battery remaining capacity is still high enough to backup memory at a guaranteed period of time. During the quick learning cycle, the battery pack is discharged from a full charge. If measured capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold (Cpc), calibration stops. Otherwise, the quick conditioning cycle system reports a defected battery when measured capacity is less than Cpc and continues discharging to a full conditioning cycle, if desired.