Battery detection via voltage regulation of battery terminals
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJose V. Santos, Yongxuan Hu, Steve Sterz, Rob Hoyt, Soundararajan Manthiri
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Abstract
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system attempts to regulate a voltage on a battery terminal in the portable electronic device to a first voltage level. Upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the first voltage level during a first detection period, the system detects a presence of the battery in the portable electronic device.
Claims17
A method for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:
- attempting to regulate, from a charging circuit, a voltage on a battery terminal in the portable electronic device to a first voltage level;
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the first voltage level during a first detection period, attempting to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to a second voltage level;
- and
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the second voltage level during a second detection period following the first detection period, detecting the presence of the battery in the portable electronic device.
A system for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a voltage-generation mechanism configured to generate a first voltage level and a second voltage level separately from a system voltage used to power components in the portable electronic device;
- and
- a detection circuit configured to:
- attempt to regulate a voltage on a battery terminal in the portable electronic device to the first voltage level;
- and
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the first voltage level during a first detection period, attempt to regulate a voltage on a battery terminal in the portable electronic device to the second voltage level;
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the second voltage level during a second detection period following the first detection period, detect the presence of the battery in the portable electronic device.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a battery;
- a set of components powered by the battery;
- and
- a charging circuit configured to:
- attempt to regulate a voltage on a battery terminal in the portable electronic device to a first voltage level;
- and
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the first voltage level during a first detection period, attempt to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to a second voltage level;
- and
- upon identifying an inability to regulate the voltage on the battery terminal to the second voltage level during a second detection period following the first detection period, detect the presence of the battery in the portable electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.