LXE MX3-CE, Reference Manual, Page: 67 / 166

Critical Suspend State 55
E-EQ-MX3CERG-E MX3-CE Reference Guide
Critical Suspend State
The Critical Suspend state or mode can only be entered because of a Main Battery Power failure.
A Main Battery Power failure can occur because the battery’s energy has been depleted or the
battery has been removed.
When the MX3-CE is in the Critical Suspend state the main battery LED illuminates, the System
LED blinks red, all peripherals are shut down, the CPU clock is stopped, and power is removed
from the PCMCIA card(s). The MX3-CE is saving the state prior to the backup battery failing and
cannot be used.
If a new fully charged main battery is installed before the timer expires the MX3-CE will
transition to the Suspend state. To resume operation tap the Power key.
If the Off Timer expires the MX3-CE will turn itself off and all unsaved information is lost. Insert
a fully charged main battery and press the Power button to turn the MX3-CE back on.
Note: The Off Timer can be configured in the Control Panel.
Backup Battery
The MX3-CE has a backup battery that is designed to provide limited-duration electrical power in
the event of Main Battery Pack failure. The Backup Battery is a 50 mAh Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
battery that is factory installed in the unit. The need for recharging of the backup battery is
automatically detected and controlled by the MX3-CE. The energy needed to charge the backup
battery comes from the Main Battery.
It takes several hours of operation before the Backup Battery is capable of supporting the
operation of the computer. The duration of Backup Battery life is dependent upon operation of the
MX3-CE, it’s features and any operating applications.
The backup battery is replaced by LXE.
Note: An uninterrupted external power source (wall AC adapters or DC/DC converters)
transfers power to the MX3-CE internal charging circuitry which, in turn, recharges the
Main Battery and Backup Battery.
About Lithium-Ion Batteries
Li-Ion batteries (like all batteries) gradually lose their capacity over time (in a linear fashion) and
never just stop working. This is important to remember -- the MX3-CE is always 'on' even when
in the Suspend state and draws battery power at all times. Use the Start|Settings|Control
Panel|Power Properties| Charge tab to check the battery status and power reading.
The following chart is an approximation. Actual battery capacity may vary based on usage,
ambient temperature and peripherals drawing power from the MX3-CE:
100% capacity 1800 mAh minimum
80% capacity 1440 mAh minimum
Deciding when to put a fully charged Main Battery pack in the MX3-CE is difficult to quantify
because it is very application specific. 1000 mAh may be the cutoff for one customer who uses the
computer frequently, while 300 mAh may be perfectly fine for a customer who occasionally uses
the computer. You need to determine the point at which battery life becomes unacceptable for
your business practices and replace the Main Battery pack before that point.