Abstract:
A battery failure discharge apparatus includes a battery discharge device operable to drain power from a battery. A controller is coupled to the battery discharge device and operable to detect that a battery is in an over-voltage condition. In response to detecting a battery in an over-voltage condition, the controller is operable to discharge a battery through the battery discharge device until the battery charge is below a predetermined value.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/839,591, attorney docket number 16356.852, filed on May 5, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a battery failure discharge apparatus.  
         [0003]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information, Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
         [0004]     Batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, may be employed in information handling systems for a number of reasons, such as increasing their portability. Issues may arise when these batteries begin to fail.  
         [0005]     Batteries may fail for a number of reasons, including when the battery cell experiences an over-voltage condition. An over-voltage condition is usually said to exist when the battery achieves a voltage magnitude that is substantially higher than its nominal value. When a battery enters this failure mode, that battery will no longer charge but may maintain a high charge level until internal resistance can reduce the voltage in the battery. Voltage reduction to a desired level by internal resistance may take a period of months, during which the battery will be unstable. This instability may result in the electrolyte liquid in the battery emitting a gas, which can build up pressure in the battery. In addition, subjecting the battery to high temperatures may cause, or increase, the gas emission. This gas emission can ultimately cause battery failure.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved battery failure discharge apparatus in an information handling system absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     According to one embodiment, a battery failure discharge apparatus includes a battery discharge device operable to drain power from a battery. A controller is coupled to the battery discharge device and operable to detect that a battery is in an over-voltage condition. In response to detecting a battery in an over-voltage condition, the controller is operable to discharge a battery through the battery discharge device until the battery charge is below a predetermined value.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a housing for an information handling system.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a housing for an information handling system.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a battery.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a battery and a housing for an information handling system being connected.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a battery coupled to a monitor/controller device, with the monitor/controller device coupled to a battery discharge device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the monitor/controller device in operation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment, information handling system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . A housing  26  contains the components of information handling system  10 . Housing  26  may be a single housing or a plurality of housings. It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0017]     A housing  26 ,  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , may be a housing for a portable computer. Housing  26  includes a base section  28 . Base section  28  includes an upper surface  30  and a lower surface  32 . A cavity  34  is located in the base section  28  adjacent the lower surface  32 . A plurality of light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s)  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c ,  36   d , and  36   e  are situated on the lower surface  32 . A screen section  38  is pivotally coupled to the base section  28  by a hinge  40 . A battery connection  44  is located on a surface  46  of the cavity  34 .  
         [0018]     A battery  48 ,  FIG. 3 , includes a connector  50  on a surface  52  of the battery  48 .  
         [0019]     In operation,  FIG. 4 , battery  48  may be connected to system  10  by placing battery  48  into cavity  34 . Surface  52  on battery  48  is then brought towards surface  46  in cavity  34 , causing battery connection  44  to engage connector  46  on battery  36  in order to provide power to the system  10 .  
         [0020]     With battery  48  situated in the housing  26  and connector  46  engaging battery connector  44 , battery  48  provides power to the system  10 . Battery  48  carries a charge, which can be measured as a percentage of a value called the relative state of charge (RSOC). The RSOC is a close approximation of the remaining capacity of the battery  48  and depends on a number of factors including the age, the number of charge/discharge cycles, the voltage level, the current consumption, and the temperature of battery  48 . Coupled to battery  48  is a monitor/controller device  54 ,  FIG. 5 . Coupled to monitor controller device  54  is a battery discharge device  36  including the plurality of LED&#39;s  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c ,  36   d , and  36   e . Monitor/controller device  54  monitors battery  48  and controls LED&#39;s  36   a - e  in battery discharge device  36 . Monitor/controller device  54  may be a single device or a plurality of devices.  
         [0021]     In operation,  FIG. 6 , monitor/controller device  54  is monitoring battery  48  (not shown). Monitor/controller device  54  conducts a test at decision block  56  to determine whether battery  48  is in an over-voltage condition. If the battery is not in an over-voltage condition, LED&#39;s  36   a - e  are not supplied power from battery  28 . However, if the battery is in an over-voltage condition then monitor/controller device  54  conducts another test at decision block  58  to determine whether battery  48  has a charge lower than 40% of the RSOC. In other embodiments, this charge threshold may be higher or lower than 40% of the RSOC, depending on considerations such as battery environment. If battery  48  has a charge lower than 40% of the RSOC, LED&#39;s  36   a - e  are not supplied power from battery  48 . However, if battery  48  has a charge higher than 40% of the RSOC, LED&#39;s  36   a ,  36   c , and  36   e  are supplied power from battery  48 . Supplying LED&#39;s  36   a ,  36   c , and  36   e  power from battery  48  will cause them to emit light and begin to drain battery  48  of its charge. This will continue until battery  48  has a charge lower than 40% of the RSOC, resulting in the stabilization of battery  48  from its over-voltage condition. Furthermore, the lighting of particular LED&#39;s, such as LED&#39;s  36   a ,  36   c , and  36   e  and not LED&#39;s  36   b  and  36   d , may be used to indicate to a service technician that the battery is experiencing an over-voltage condition. In other embodiments, indicators may include supplying power to different combinations of the LED&#39;s or flashing the LED&#39;s in unison or possibly in a timed pattern.  
         [0022]     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.