What is Inside A Smart Battery? by Dan Hagopian
If you have a PDA, MP3, MP4, Laptop, Cell Phone, Smartphone, DVD players, or other electronic device then more likely then not the battery within your device is a high capacity smart battery pack. What is a high capacity smart battery pack? A high capacity smart battery pack is a complex battery... This specialized hardware includes: the connector the fuse the charge and discharge FETs the cell pack the sense resistor (RSENSE) the primary and secondary protection ICs the fuel-gauge IC the thermistor the pc board the EEPROM or firmware for the fuel-gauge IC In...

Dissecting A Smart Battery – Part 2 by Dan Hagopian
In part 1 of Dissecting A Smart Battery I mentioned that smart batteries have contained within them specialized hardware that when working in concert provides the power necessary to run a device such as a PDA, digital camera, or ipod player. Continuing the dissection of a smart battery this... Before we begin let’s just recap some of the specialized hardware within the smart battery: the connector the fuse the charge and discharge FETs the cell pack the sense resistor (RSENSE) the primary and secondary protection ICs the fuel-gauge IC the thermistor the pc board the...

Integrated Power Management Circuits by Dan Hagopian
Discussing internal battery design would be incomplete if we did not write on the subject of integrated circuits. Batteries for PDAs, MP3s, Digital Cameras, and Laptops have designed within them integrated power management circuits that insure that the deliverance of reliable power is properly... A real example of a battery pack protector circuit is a Texas Instrument two-cell lithium-ion (Li-Ion) and lithium-polymer (Li-Pol) battery pack protector device. ... Power management integrated circuits offer other key benefits as well including maximizing battery life between charges, minimize...

Internal Battery Design by Dan Hagopian
The wireless revolution, the prolific use of PDAs, MP3s, MP4s, Laptops, Cell Phones, Smartphones, DVD players, and other portable devices have increased the need for smart and high capacity portable batteries. Portable batteries however are not typical in design. ... A smart battery can request a conditioning cycle, which will fully discharge a battery pack and then recharge it to allow the internal remaining capacity value to be accurately calibrated. ... A safety requirement for a battery that contains lithium requires protection circuitry to prevent the cells in the battery from...

How to Prepare a "Bug Out" Laptop Kit by TJ Smith
Can you imagine being away from your computer for an extended period of time? No internet, no email, no funny jokes, no games to play? Many people have found themselves in this position when the unexpected happens. In the event of a natural disaster, terrorist event or a bird flu pandemic,... A good basic laptop with a cd rom and a good battery will do the trick. ... Any other laptop accessories you feel necessary such as external mouse or even a solar battery charger. ... A spare battery. ... You could run your laptop directly off 12 volt or run it through a converter to charge the battery.

How Long will My iPod Video Play? by Dan Hagopian
Is it true the ipod video (fifth gen ipod) will hold a charge for up to 20 hours? Let's see! First of all the legal fine print on Apple's iPod page explicitly refers to the 60 Gb iPod Video only being able to play (hold a charge in the battery) up to 20 hours. ... If you are using an ipod battery (or any lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery) when your battery's capacity reaches 60% to 70% the pda battery will need to be replaced. ... My problem wasn't the battery, but the battery life calibration, which has not been done as it should." The reality is all batteries including batteries...

Laptop Care: How to Protect Your Laptop When Traveling by Jonathan Chase
Most business people who travel these days have a laptop in tow. Since the workflow doesn’t stop when the need to travel arises, these are necessities that connect them to the rest of the world and allow them to take care of whatever business comes up during the time that they’re away. ... That being the case, there are certain guidelines that should be followed in order to ensure the safety and protection of your laptop when you get called away from the office. ... If they happen to use a digital phone system which differs in voltage from that of a standard phone jack, your modem will...

Hurricane Proof Computer by Daniel Foster
Part I: Backing Up Data And Things to Have Hurricane season or not, you should always be backing up your data. Whether you plan on riding out the storm (a bad idea) or evacuating to another location, you should have a backup of your computer data either on an external hard drive or optical... Remove the CMOS battery and other parts. ... Because generators provide unstable power, a battery backup UPS and a surge protector are a must. ... If you can, place other objects around your computer to offer it additonal protection from blowing rain and flying debris.