Connection multiple batteries to battery powered devices

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG.
1, in a simplified view, in accordance with principles of the present invention, a circuit 10 is interposed between a computer 12 or other portable electronic device and a number of batteries 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d.
In essence, circuit 10 provides a switchable connection, such that a selected one of the batteries 14 is connected through circuit 10 to computer 12.
As noted above, circuit 10 will connect batteries serially to computer 12, while monitoring power flow between computer 12 and the selected battery 14.
When the power flow between computer 14 and the selected battery 14 reduces below a threshold, circuit 10 will select another battery for connection to computer 12.
Referring to FIG.
2, an electrical circuit 10 for performing these functions includes a connector 16 for connection to computer 12 and four connectors 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d respectively for connection to batteries 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d.
Each connector includes four terminals.
The connectors include power and ground terminals 20 and 21 through which electrical power flows from a battery to the computer or vice versa.
Each connector also includes two signal lines 22 through which electrical signals flow to facilitate communication between computer 12 and batteries 14.
The format and timing of the signals on lines 22 is not relevant to the invention, and in fact does not need to be known to manufacture a suitable circuit 10, since circuit 10 simply connects between computer 12 and a battery 14 and does not receive or interpret communications on lines 22.
It should also be noted that while the disclosed embodiment includes two signal lines 22 in other embodiments there may be only one signal line 22 or three or more signal lines 22 connected between computer 12 and battery 14, as is required by the proprietary smart battery scheme of the manufacturer of the computer or other device 12.
In any of these cases, it is not necessary to understand the nature of the communications on signal lines 22, but only to include a connectors 16 and 18 which suitably connect to signal lines 22 and a circuit 10 which can provide connections between connector 16 and one of connectors 18