U.S. patent application number 12/604681 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-18 for system and method for information handling system battery with integrated communication ports.
Invention is credited to Johnny Fraga, Philip Seibert.
Application Number | 20100042758 12/604681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40252914 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100042758 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seibert; Philip ; et
al. |
February 18, 2010 |
System and Method for Information Handling System Battery With
Integrated Communication Ports
Abstract
Space along the perimeter of a portable information handling
system is made available for I/O connections with external devices
by integrating I/O ports into a battery housing having some length
extending along the perimeter. The I/O ports interface with the
information handling system with wires running through the battery
housing from the I/O ports to a location aligned with connectors of
the information handling system, such as in a chassis bay sized to
accept the battery housing. In one embodiment, the battery housing
has a first portion for containing battery cells and a second
portion that couples to the first portion, the second portion
having selected I/O ports for selective configuration of the
information handling system with desired I/O ports.
Inventors: |
Seibert; Philip; (Round
Rock, TX) ; Fraga; Johnny; (Round Rock, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMILTON & TERRILE, LLP
P.O. BOX 203518
AUSTIN
TX
78720
US
|
Family ID: |
40252914 |
Appl. No.: |
12/604681 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11776951 |
Jul 12, 2007 |
7626814 |
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12604681 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
710/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1616 20130101;
G06F 1/1635 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/33 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/00 20060101
G06F013/00 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for communicating with an information handling system,
the method comprising: receiving communication signals at a port,
the port integrated at a battery housing outer surface, the battery
housing outer surface exposed at the exterior of the information
handling system; transmitting the communication signals from the
port along the battery housing to a location at the battery housing
outer surface, the location exposed at the interior surface of the
information handling system; and transmitting the communication
signals from the location at the battery housing outer surface to a
location at the interior surface of the information handling system
for use by the information handling system.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the port comprises an HDMI
port.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the port comprises a component
video port.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the port comprises an S-video
port.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the communication
signals further comprises: transmitting the communication signals
through one or more wires to a port at the location at the battery
housing outer surface; and transmitting the communication signals
from the port at the location at the battery housing outer surface
to a port at the location at the interior surface of the
information handling system.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting the communication
signals further comprises: transmitting the communication signals
from the port to a hub located in the battery housing; and
transmitting the communication signals from the hub to the location
at the battery housing outer surface exposed at the interior
surface of the information handling system.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery housing comprises
first and second portions, the first portion having the port, the
second portion having the battery, the method comprising:
separating the first portion from the second portion, the first
portion having a first configuration of one or more ports; and
attaching a replacement first portion to the second portion, the
replacement first portion having a second configuration of one or
more ports.
17.-20. (canceled)
21. A method for communicating information at an information
handling system, the method comprising: interfacing a device with
the information handling system at a port disposed in a battery
housing of the information handling system; and communicating
signals between the device and the information handling system with
one or more wires interfacing the port with the information
handling system, the one or more wires routed through the battery
housing to the information handling system.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the port comprises a USB
port.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising: interfacing plural
devices with the information handling system at plural ports
disposed in the battery housing of the information handling system;
and communicating signals from each port with one or more wires to
a hub disposed in the battery housing, the hub communicating the
signals from the battery housing to the information handling
system.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising processing the
signals at the battery housing for communication to the information
handling system.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein the port comprises an HDMI
port.
26. The method of claim 21 wherein the port comprises a display
device port.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein the port comprises a networking
port.
28. The method of claim 21 wherein communicating further comprises
communicating signals from the information handling system to the
device.
29. The method of claim 21 wherein communicating further comprises
communicating signals from the device to the information handling
system.
30. The method of claim 21 wherein communicating further comprises
communicating the signals through a hub disposed in the battery
housing.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the hub comprises a PCI Express
controller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates in general to the field of
information handling system communications, and more particularly
to a system and method for information handling system battery with
integrated communication ports.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] 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.
[0005] Information handling system users tend to prefer systems
with as much processing power as possible in as small of a
footprint as possible for a given price point. In addition, end
users tend to prefer systems that provide mobility, such as
portable systems that typically have an integrated display and a
battery power source. As a result, information handling system
manufacturers have generally sought to design portable information
handling systems having as much functionality as possible in as
small of a portable chassis as possible. One difficulty that
commonly arises in the design of such portable information handling
systems is including a battery having a charge sufficient enough so
that the information handling system can operate independent of an
external power source for an adequate period of time. One solution
to this difficulty is to use components that consume reduced
amounts of power; however, components that offer greater
functionality, such as CPUs with more rapid clock speeds, also tend
to consume greater amounts of power. Another solution is to use a
battery that carries a greater charge; however, batteries with
greater charge capacity tend to have a larger size. Including a
battery with a larger size in a portable information handling
system chassis tends to reduce the footprint available for
components and, thus, tends to reduce the functionality of the
information handling system.
[0006] In an effort to increase the room available for a battery
within an information handling system, the battery is sometimes
built into a housing that couples to an internal port of the
information handling system at one end and extends out the rear of
the information past the rear wall of the chassis. For example, an
information handling system user can insert a six cell battery into
a rear battery port that aligns with the rear wall of the chassis
or can insert a nine cell battery into a rear battery port to
obtain extra battery life with the rear wall of the battery
extending past the rear wall of the chassis to provide room for the
extra battery cells. In addition to providing more room for
additional battery cells, a rear battery design is more conducive
to slimming the industrial design of the front edge of the
information handling system. Unfortunately, perimeter space for
portable information handling systems is typically in short supply.
A variety of I/O ports are typically disposed along the perimeter
of a portable information handling system chassis, and a variety of
internal and peripheral devices also typically use perimeter space,
such as optical drives, hard disk drives, fan exhaust, etc. . . .
Generally, the front perimeter of a portable information handling
system does not adapt well to support I/O ports for aesthetic and
practical reasons, so using valuable perimeter space at the rear of
a portable information handling system to accept a battery tends to
limit the functionality supported by the information handling
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which
integrates I/O ports into a battery housing for use at the rear of
a portable information handling system.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a system and
method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages
and problems associated with previous methods and systems for
supporting communications with a portable information handling
system. I/O ports are integrated in a battery housing to support
communication between external devices and an information handling
system with a communication interface established through the
battery housing.
[0009] More specifically, an information handling system chassis
has a bay sized to accept a battery. The battery has a battery
housing that contains battery cells and connects to a power
connector of the information handling system located in the bay so
that the cells provide power to the information handling system.
The battery housing integrates I/O ports along an exterior
perimeter so that the I/O ports are exposed along the chassis
perimeter when the battery is inserted in the chassis bay. Signals
are communicated between the I/O ports and the information handling
system with wires that run along the battery housing to I/O port
connectors disposed in the chassis bay. As the battery is inserted
into the chassis bay, the battery connectors and I/O port
connectors between the battery housing and information handling
system align and couple with each other. In one embodiment, the
battery inserts into a chassis bay located at the rear of an
information handling system so that I/O ports exposed along the
outer periphery of the battery housing are disposed proximate the
rear perimeter of the chassis for convenient access by an end
user.
[0010] The present invention provides a number of important
technical advantages. One example of an important technical
advantage is that I/O ports are provided at the rear of a portable
information handling system having a rear mounted battery. The use
of a rear-mounted battery having integrated I/O ports provides more
design freedom in the use of perimeter space to support desired
functionality. End users can order ports integrated with a battery
as a build-to-order option so that the cost of the information
handling system is only selectively increased based on end-user
preferences. By integrating lesser-used or duplicative ports in the
battery housing, the cost for many end users will not increase for
an information handling system having desired functionality, while
the availability of extra battery life will provide increased
satisfaction to many end users. The expense of the additional I/O
ports will remain minimal by routing wire line at the battery
housing between the I/O ports and supporting connections within the
information handling system where the battery is inserted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention may be better understood, and its
numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those
skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The
use of the same reference number throughout the several figures
designates a like or similar element.
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an information handling
system having I/O ports integrated in a battery housing;
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of an information handling system
having I/O ports integrated in a battery housing;
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a battery housing having integrated I/O ports
that interface with wires running through the housing to I/O ports
that connect to I/O ports aligned in an information handling system
chassis battery bay; and
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts a battery housing having a first portion for
supporting I/O ports and a second portion for supporting battery
cells.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Providing I/O ports integrated in a battery housing
increases the effective perimeter space of an information handling
system for improved functionality in a reduced footprint. 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.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts an
information handling system 10 having I/O ports 12 integrated in a
battery housing 14. Information handling system 10 has a variety of
processing components that cooperate to process information, such
as a CPU 16, RAM 18, a chipset 20, a hard disk drive 22 and an
optical drive 24. The processing components are disposed in a
chassis 26 having a chassis bay 28 that accepts a battery 30.
Battery 30 provides power for the operation of the processing
components with battery cells 32 contained in battery housing 14.
The processing components communicate with external devices through
a variety of I/O ports exposed along the perimeter of chassis 26.
For example, a USB port 34 interfaces with a USB cable to support
communication with a variety of peripheral devices, an RJ45 port 36
interfaces with a CAT 5 cable to support Ethernet network
communications, and DVI port 38 and VGA port 40 interface with
displays to support presentation of visual information from
information handling system 10. In alternative embodiments, various
types of I/O ports available to support communication with an
information handling system might include HDMI ports, composite
video ports, component video ports, S video ports, Firewire ports,
PCI ports, PCI Express ports, DisplayPort ports and a variety of
other types of ports. In addition to the I/O ports which generally
need space along the perimeter of chassis 26, other devices that
are typically located along the perimeter of chassis 26 include
optical drive 24, which opens to accept optical media, and a fan 42
which maintains cooling airflow through chassis 26.
[0018] Information handling system 10 increases the amount of the
perimeter of chassis 26 that can accept I/O ports by integrating
I/O ports 12 in battery housing 14. Battery 30 is sized to fit in
chassis bay 28 so that battery connectors 42 align between battery
30 and chassis bay 28 to provide power from battery 30 to
information handling system 10. In addition to aligning battery
connectors 42, battery 30 fits in chassis bay 28 to align I/O port
connectors 44 between battery 30 and chassis bay 28 so that I/O
signals are communicated from I/O ports 12 integrated in battery
housing 14 to processing components of information handling system
10. I/O ports 12 integrated in battery housing 14 may include any
of the ports listed above or other more specialized ports. In one
embodiment, a manufacturer builds information handling system 10 to
an end user order that defines the types of I/O ports 12 that are
integrated in battery housing 14. For example, specialized I/O
ports and I/O ports that are not commonly sought by end users are
made available to end users at additional cost by including the I/O
ports in a battery housing 14.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, a rear view is depicted of an
information handling system 10 having I/O ports 12 integrated in a
battery housing 14. An LCD panel lid 46 rotates relative to chassis
26 so that, at the front of information handling system 10, an end
user has access to a keyboard and presentation of information by an
LCD panel. Inserting battery housing 14 into a bay located at the
rear of chassis 26 allows battery housing 14 to extend outward past
the perimeter of chassis 26, allowing additional room for storing a
battery charge without interfering with end user operation of
information handling system 10. Integrating I/O ports 12 into
battery housing 14 helps to make a rear battery chassis bay a more
practical option by allowing the perimeter of battery housing 14 to
be used to support I/O ports 12. As an example, an end user who
selects a six cell battery will have the battery housing
substantially align with the information handling system chassis so
that I/O ports exposed at the battery housing appear to be located
along the information handling system chassis. In contrast, an end
user who selects a nine cell battery will have the battery housing
extend outwards from the information handling system chassis to
provide extra room for the additional three battery cells with the
I/O ports available at the surface of the extended battery
housing.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, a battery housing 14 is depicted
having integrated I/O ports 12 that interface with wires 48 running
through housing 14 to I/O ports 12 that connect to I/O ports
aligned in an information handling system chassis battery bay.
Battery 30 is, for example, built with a contiguous battery housing
14 that contains battery cells 32 and that includes openings for
I/O ports 12. Signal communication wires 48 run along the exterior
surface of battery housing 14 to I/O ports 12 proximate battery
connector 42 so that the wires will be hidden from view when the
battery is inserted into an information handling system chassis.
Alternatively, wires are incorporated within the battery housing,
such as with a FPC or FFC. As battery 30 is inserted into an
information handling system chassis bay, battery connector 42 and
I/O ports 12 located at the interior of the chassis bay align with
and couple to a battery connector and I/O ports of the information
handling system. Signal communication wires 48 are hidden from view
within the chassis bay. When an end user interfaces a cable with an
I/O port 12 on the exposed portion of battery housing 14, signals
from the cable proceed through signal communication wires 48 to I/O
ports 12 located at the interior portion of battery housing 14 for
communication with the information handling system. Similarly,
signals generated at the information handling system for
communication to an external device are sent from I/O ports of the
information handling system located within the chassis bay to I/O
ports 12 at the interior location of battery housing 14. The
information handling system signals are communicated across signal
communication wires 48 to I/O ports 12 at the exterior portion of
battery housing 14 for communication with exterior devices through
cables couple to the exterior I/O ports 12.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 4, a battery housing 14 is depicted
having a first I/O port portion 50 for supporting I/O ports 12 and
a second battery cell housing portion 52 for supporting battery
cells 32. The example embodiment depicted by FIG. 4 has a hub 54
that interfaces with each I/O port 12 to consolidate signals for
communication with an information handling system through a common
signal communication wire 48. For example, hub 54 includes a PCI
Express controller that accepts signals from plural exterior I/O
ports 12 and translates the signals for communication over a common
PCI Express link. As an alternative example, hub 54 is a USB hub
that concentrates information received from plural USB I/O ports to
a single USB connector interfaced with an information handling
system. Battery cell housing portion 52 is sized to fit into I/O
port portion 50 so that, when coupled together, the two portions
form a battery housing 14. Separate housing portions allows
assembly of various configurations of I/O ports and battery cells
to provide increased flexibility to build information handling
systems to order with I/O ports selected by an end user for
integration along the outer surface of a battery 30.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described in detail,
it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and
alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *