Patent ID: 6072250
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A battery pack having a hibernate mode and a normal mode, comprising:at least one battery cell;a power switch coupled to at least one battery cell, the power switch operable in at least an open and a closed state;a regulator circuit coupled to the power switch and having an output;a control circuit coupled to the output of the regulator circuit;an electronic driver switch coupled to the power switch and having a control input coupled to the control circuit, the electronic driver switch for holding the battery pack in the normal mode while a control signal is present at the control input, and for placing the battery pack in hibernation mode upon removal of the control signal, the control signal provided by the control circuit; anda mechanical driver switch coupled to the power switch and having a normal state and an actuated state for causing a battery pack to change from the hibernation mode to the normal mode;whereby the battery pack may be placed in either hibernate or normal mode more than one time.