Method and system to determine external power available and fault states

Patent 6795302 Issued on September 21, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 20, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Application

No. 10442025 filed on 05/20/2003

US Classes:

361/679, For electronic systems and devices320/128With charging

Examiners

Primary: Tibbits, Pia

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Classes

H05K 500
H02J 700

Abstract

A method and system determines the status of an external power supply connection to an information handling system. A subsystem manager of the information handling system compares an external power source identification signal and a power available signal to determine whether external power is available, unavailable or faulty. For instance, an information handling system configured as a portable computer receives external power from an AC/DC converter along with an identification signal for the converter. A state machine running on the portable computer system's Super I/O compares the identification signal and a power available signal from an internal charger to determine state of the external power source and indicate the state to a user.