Patent Application
20130311120
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting batteries on a circuit board and power levels of the batteries.
2. Description of Related Art
In computer systems, the memory and real-time clock are generally powered by RTC (real-time clock) batteries. Firstly, the RTC batteries may not be installed on motherboards during the assembly by mistake. Secondly, the life of the RTC batteries depends on the length of time that the computer system is powered off. Users may not know that the charge of the RTC battery is exhausted and needs to be replaced.
Therefore there is a need for improvement in the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
The apparatus includes an embedded controller 100, a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2, a third resistor R3, a capacitor C, a Schottky diode D, an integrated Southbridge chip 200, and a display interface 300 electrically connected to the embedded controller 100.
The embedded controller 100 includes an analog to digital (A/D) conversion terminal 101. The A/D conversion terminal 101 is grounded via the first resistor R1, the third resistor R3, and the capacitor C in series. A connection point between the third resistor R3 and the capacitor C is electrically connected to a voltage output terminal 401 of the battery 400. The A/D conversion terminal 101 is grounded via the second resistor R2. The A/D conversion terminal 101 detects a voltage value of a connection point between the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2. The embedded controller 100 detects and calculates a voltage of the battery 400 to determine whether the battery 400 is installed on the motherboard. The embedded controller 100 stores a rated voltage and a final voltage. In one embodiments, the rated voltage is +3V, the final voltage is +2V. In other embodiments, any of various other kinds of circuit boards take the place of the motherboard.
The Schottky diode D includes a first anode, a second anode, and a cathode. The A/D conversion terminal 101 is electrically connected to the first anode of the Schottky diode D via the first resistor R1. The second anode of the Schottky diode D receives a direct current (DC) voltage. The cathode of the Schottky diode D is electrically connected to the integrated Southbridge chip 200. In one embodiment, the DC voltage is +3.3V. When the motherboard is powered on, the +3.3V DC voltage is provided to the integrated Southbridge chip 200 via the second anode of the Schottky diode D. The integrated Southbridge chip 200 does not use or consume the voltage of the battery 400. When the motherboard is powered off, the battery 400 provides power to the integrated Southbridge chip 200 via the third resistor R3 and the second anode of the Schottky diode D.
S201: the A/D conversion terminal 101 detects the voltage value of the connection point between the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2.
S202: the embedded controller 100 calculates the voltage of the battery 400 according to the voltage value and resistances of the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, and the third resistor R3.
S203: the embedded controller 100 determines whether a battery is installed on the motherboard according to the voltage of the battery 400; if a detected voltage is lower than the final voltage, the embedded controller 100 determines that the battery 400 is not installed on the motherboard and indicates accordingly (that the battery 400 needs to be installed or replaced), by the display interface 300.
S204: if the voltage of the battery 400 is greater than the final voltage but is less than the rated voltage, the embedded controller 100 determines that the battery 400 is installed on the motherboard and indicates the voltage of the battery 400 on the display interface 300.
For example, the embedded controller 100 calculates the current of the second resistor R2 by using the voltage value of the connection point between the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2, divided by the resistance of the second resistor R2. The embedded controller 100 calculates the voltage of the battery 400 by using the current of the second resistor R2 multiplied by the sum of the resistances of the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, and the third resistor R3.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101117923 | May 2012 | TW | national |
The present application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIRCUIT BOARD,” Attorney Docket Number US44544, simultaneously filed with the present application.
