# US 2014/0195827 A1 · Electronic device with power control function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195827 A1 - Document ID: US20140195827A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/862,765 - Filed: 2013-04-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Quanta Computer Inc. - Applicants: Quanta Computer Inc. - Inventors: Wei-Ting Yen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195827A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3212: Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level - G06F 1/32: Means for saving power - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a main system processing a process, a power control unit and a battery module. The power control unit provides operating power to the main system via an external power source when the external power source has been connected, and detects whether the power control unit has received a battery protection signal. The battery module discharges with a self-discharge rate when the battery module has received the protection signal from the power control unit. When the power control unit has not received the battery protection signal, the power control unit provides a charging power to the battery module via the external power source. When the power control unit has received the battery protection signal, the power control unit does not provide the charging power to the battery module, and transmits the protection signal to the battery module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device with power control function for executing a process, comprising: a main system, processing the process; a power control unit, providing an operating power to the main system via an external power source when the power control unit is connected to the external power source, and detecting whether the power control unit has received a battery protection signal; and a battery module, discharging with a self-discharge rate when the battery module has received the protection signal, wherein when the power control unit has not received the battery protection signal, the power control unit provides a charging power to the battery module via the external power source, and wherein when the power control unit has received the battery protection signal, the power control unit does not provide the charging power to the battery module, and transmits the protection signal to the battery module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the battery module determines the self-discharge rate according to a temperature parameter, and the self-discharge rate is in direct proportion to the temperature parameter, wherein when the battery module has received the protection signal, the battery module further determines whether the temperature parameter is higher than a predetermined value, wherein when the temperature parameter is higher than a predetermined value, the battery module raises the temperature parameter, and wherein when the temperature parameter is not higher than a predetermined value, the battery module reduces the temperature parameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the power control unit is not connected to the external power source, the power control unit provides the operating power to the main system via the battery module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the power control unit provides the operating power to the main system via the battery module, the power control unit keeps detecting whether the power control unit is connected to the external power source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power control unit processes data communications with the battery module via a communication interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein when the battery module has received the protection signal, the battery module further determines whether a residual power of the battery module is lower than a predetermined residual power, and wherein when the residual power of the battery module is lower than the predetermined residual power, the power control unit stops processing data communications with the battery module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein after the power control unit stops processing data communications with the battery module, the power control unit keeps detecting whether the power control unit is not connected to the external power source when the power control unit is not connected to the external power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein when the power control unit is not connected to the external power source, the power control unit returns to ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein when the battery module has received the protection signal, the battery module starts counting a self-discharge duration, and wherein when the self-discharge duration has exceeded a predetermined duration, the power control unit stops processing data communications with the battery module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein after the power control unit stops processing data communications with the battery module, the power control unit keeps detecting whether the power control unit is connected to the external power source when the power control unit is not connected to the external power source.