Circuits, systems and methods for balancing power for system load components

A battery-powered information handling system, comprising:

• a display panel;
• at least one programmable integrated circuit coupled to provide signals to display visual images on the display panel;
• a system load comprising power-consuming components, all of the power-consuming components of a first portion of the system load having an input voltage requirement that is higher than an input voltage requirement of all the power- consuming components of a second portion of the system load, where the power-consuming components of the first portion of the system load comprises backlight circuitry for the display panel, and where the power- consuming components of the second portion of the system load comprises the programmable integrated circuit;
• one or more battery cells coupled to provide power to the power-consuming components of the system load through a first power node;
• a narrow voltage DC (NVDC) charger circuit having a charger input coupled to receive input direct current (DC) power having an input DC voltage from an external power source, and a charger output coupled to provide output DC power having an output DC voltage that is less than the input DC voltage to the first power node and to the battery cells as battery charging power;
• and
• a multiplexer switch having first and second multiplexer inputs and a multiplexer output coupled to provide power to the power-consuming components of the first system load portion, the first multiplexer input coupled to receive power from the first power node, and the second multiplexer input coupled to receive power directly from a second power node coupled between the external power source and the charger input;
• where the power-consuming components of the second system load portion are coupled to receive power only from the first power node.

A method, comprising:

• operating a system load comprising power-consuming components, all of the power-consuming components of a first portion of the system load having an input voltage requirement that is higher than an input voltage requirement of all the power-consuming components of a second portion of the system load;
• using a charger circuit to receive input direct current (DC) power having an input DC voltage from an external power source, and to provide output DC power having an output DC voltage that is less than the input DC voltage to a first power node;
• always using power from the first power node to provide power to the power-consuming components of the second system load portion;
• and
• switching power for the power-consuming components of the first system load portion in real time between the first power node and a second power node that is coupled between the external power source and the charger input.