Patent ID: 7202631

Claim:
An information handling system (IHS) comprising: a processor; a system bus; a memory coupled to the processor through the system bus; a power supply system operable to provide power to the processor, the bus and the memory, the power supply system being connectable to an AC adapter for deriving power from an AC power source; a controller coupled to the processor and memory through the system bus, the controller operable to control the power supply system; and wherein the power supply system includes: a pair of smart batteries each capable of being individually selected to be operable, wherein each of the smart batteries includes: an electronics device, each respective electronics device being coupled to the controller to jointly control charging and discharging of a rechargeable cell in the associated smart battery, each rechargeable cell being coupled in series to a charge switch and a discharge switch whereby, during a discharge operating condition, each respective electronics device monitors the energy level of its rechargeable cell, and when requested by the controller, provides energy to the IHS and notifies the controller when the energy level falls below a threshold level, and during a charge operating condition, each respective electronics device receives a charge and transfers the charge to its rechargeable cell, when required; and a battery charger operable to receive charge from the AC adapter and provide the charge to a selected one of the smart batteries; and a power source selector operable to select either the smart batteries or the AC power source.