Method and apparatus allowing a battery to regain charge in a handheld device without an applied external charge while still supplying power selected designated components
AssigneepalmOne, Inc.
InventorsJoe Tate, Sean O'Hara, Gary Responte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment includes a power management method for regulating power to a handheld computer. A source voltage is received from a battery module. The source voltage is regulated to power a plurality of internal components, including a processor and a memory. If the source voltage is detected to be less than a designated threshold, the plurality of internal components powered by the source voltage are reduced to allow a charge of the battery module to increase in absence of an external charge.
Claims25
A handheld computer comprising:
- a rechargeable battery module to output a source voltage;
- a power management module coupled to the battery module to regulate the source voltage from the battery module;
- a plurality of internal components including a processor and a memory component that draw power from the source voltage;
- and
- wherein in response to the source voltage falling below a first threshold, the power management module signals a lockout that reduces the number of internal components that are powered by the source voltage;
- wherein in response to the number of internal components that are powered by the source voltage being reduced, —the battery module is configured to regain a charge for an interval after the lockout is signaled, wherein no external charge is applied to the battery module during the interval;
- and
- wherein during the interval, the battery module applies the charge to maintain the source voltage at a level that is sufficient to sustain a designated one or more, but not all, of the plurality of internal components.
A method for regulating power to a handheld computer, the method comprising
- receiving a source voltage from a battery module;
- regulating the source voltage to power a plurality of internal components, the plurality of components including a processor and a memory component;
- detecting if the source voltage is less than a first threshold;
- in response to detecting the source voltage is less than the first threshold, for an interval during which no external charge is applied to the battery module, reducing the plurality of internal components powered by the source voltage;
- in order to allow a charge of the battery module to increase;
- and
- sustaining a designated one or more, but not all, of the plurality of internal components during the interval.
A handheld computer comprising:
- a means for receiving a source voltage from a battery module;
- a means for regulating the source voltage to power a plurality of internal components, including a processor and a memory component;
- a means for detecting if the source voltage is less than a first threshold;
- when the source voltage is detected as being less than the first threshold, for an interval during which no external charge is applied to the battery module, a responsive means for reducing the plurality of internal components powered by the source voltage in order to allow a charge of the battery module to increase;
- and
- a means for sustaining a designated one or more, but not all, of the plurality of internal components during the interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.