# US 7,612,536 B2 · Pre-set discharging of batteries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,536 B2 - Document ID: US7612536B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/252,669 - Filed: 2005-10-17 - Published: 2007-04-26 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-17 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Cary J. Hoffer; Memphis-Zhihong Yin; Cynthia K. Head - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612536B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/875: {Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation} - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract One embodiment relates to a method of pre-set discharging of a battery in a portable device which is connected to external power. The battery is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, and the time at the fully-charged level is tracked. The charging of the battery is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed. The charging is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached. Other embodiments are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable battery-powered computing apparatus comprising: a power connector on the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, the connector being configured to be coupled to a power adaptor and to receive power therefrom; a charging regulator in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, the charging regulator being coupled to the power connector; a battery in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, the battery being coupled to the charging regulator; a processor in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, the processor being configured to execute program instructions; memory in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, the memory being configured to store program instructions and data; and processor-executable instructions in the memory which are configured to control the charging regulator such that (a) the battery is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, (b) a time at the fully-charged level is tracked, (c) the charging of the battery is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed, and (d) the charging of the battery is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached, wherein the pre-set charge level is in a range of 10% to 25% of the fully-charged level so as to achieve battery conditioning. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to track the time by starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached and using the timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to notify a user when the charging of the battery is halted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to notify the user when the charging of the battery is restarted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum full-charge time period is selectable by way of a user interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-set charge level is selectable by way of a user interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharging of the battery is enabled or disabled by way of a user interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharging is temporarily disabled at option of a user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a portable personal computer device. ### Claim 10 A portable personal computer comprising: a power connector configured to be coupled to an AC-to-DC power adaptor and to receive power therefrom; a motherboard switching regulator coupled to the power connector and to a motherboard of the personal computer; a charging regulator coupled to the power connector; a battery coupled to the charging regulator; a processor configured to execute program instructions; memory configured to store program instructions and data; computer-readable data in the memory which is configurable to indicate whether pre-set discharging is enabled for the personal computer; and processor-executable instructions in the memory which are configured to control the charging regulator such that (a) the battery is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, (b) a time at the fully-charged level is tracked, (c) if the preset discharging is enabled, then the charging of the battery is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed, and the charging of the battery is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached, wherein the pre-set charge level is in a range of 10% to 25% of the fully-charged level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable personal computer of claim 10, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to track the time by starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached and using the timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The portable personal computer of claim 10, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to notify a user via an on-screen message when the charging of the battery is halted so as to perform the pre-set discharging. ### Claim 13 A portable battery-powered computing apparatus comprising: power connector means, on the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, for coupling to a power adaptor and for receiving power therefrom; charging regulator means, in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, for coupling to the power connector; battery means, in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus and being coupled to the charging regulator means; processor means, in the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, for executing program instructions; memory means, In the portable battery-powered computing apparatus, for storing program instructions and data; and means for controlling the charging regulator means such that (a) the battery means is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, (b) a time at the fully-charged level is tracked, (c) the charging of the battery means is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed, and (d) the charging of the battery means is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached, wherein the pre-set charge level is in a range of 10% to 25% of the fully-charged level so as to achieve battery conditioning. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further including means for tracking that comprises: means for starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached; and means for using a timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising: means for notifying a user when the charging of the battery means is stopped; and means for notifying the user when the charging of the battery means is resumed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the maximum full-charge time period and the pre-set charge level are configurable by way of a user interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the discharging is temporarily disabled at option of a user.