Circuit for selecting and designating a master battery pack in a computer system

摘要

The present invention relates to circuitry for selecting a master battery pack for supplying power to a computer system capable of incorporating multiple battery packs. A bi-directional master battery signal is communicated to the microcontroller of each installed battery pack and arbitration circuitry contained within the host computer system. The master battery signal operates in conjunction with a serial communications interface between each of the installed battery packs and the host computer system. Battery status information is communicated to the host computer system via the serial communications interface, and the host computer system then selects a master battery pack. The battery pack selected to be the master asserts the master battery signal while all other battery packs monitor this signal waiting for it to be deasserted. Other battery packs utilize the master battery signal to control their own charge and discharge circuitry. Deassertion of the master battery signal denotes that the master battery pack is no longer capable of supplying power to the host computer system and the master battery pack arbitration process is repeated.