Abstract:
A method of fault detection for battery chargers includes sensing a charge current applied to a battery with a resistive element. The method includes measuring a voltage across the resistive element. The method includes generating a trigger signal when the measured voltage across the resistive element exceeds a predetermined value. The method includes generating from the trigger signal an interrupt signal for a microprocessor. The method includes initiating an over-current handling routine in the microprocessor.
Abstract:
A power source management system disposed within a device is configured to communicate with a power source and perform an authentication procedure to determine whether the power source is an approved power source. The authentication procedure may involve the use of a challenge-response procedure using keys resident in the device and the power source. If it is determined that the power source is not an approved power source, the power source management system prevents use of or disables certain functionality of the device.
Abstract:
A hybrid power supply used in a device generally includes a fuel cell plant configured to produce a DC voltage via electrochemical conversion of a fuel, a fuel reservoir attached to the fuel cell plant for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell plant, and a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the fuel cell plant. The fuel cell plant keeps rechargeable battery substantially charged while rechargeable battery accommodates load variations resulting from operation of the device. In this way, the hybrid power supply maintains operation of the device when the fuel reservoir is removed.
Abstract:
The application describes a mobile computing arrangement which incorporates a camera and also comprises a means for detecting camera shake and a processor for performing software control. If the detection means detects camera shake during the taking of a picture, the processor determines whether the amplitude of the motion is within a predetermined threshold when the camera captures the image and applies software compensation if necessary.