Power Management
Power Management System Operation
4-2
SPARCbook Portable Workstation User Guide
Power Management System Operation
The power management system monitors the DC-In connector, external
battery connector and the internal battery.
Battery charging
Your SPARCbook detects when it is powered from the AC adapter or
car adapter, automatically charges the battery and displays a DC symbol
in the lower line of the status display. The charging current is adjusted
according to the battery’s existing level of charge and according to
system temperature. The battery is charged at a faster rate until it is
almost fully charged, and then the system automatically switches to a
trickle charge to maintain the battery in good condition. You can use
your SPARCbook as normal while the battery is being charged.
Battery status
Battery status information is shown on the upper line of the status
display. This provides an indication of the battery’s level of charge,
expressed as a percentage, with a plus (+) sign to indicate that it
receiving a charge or with a minus sign (-) to indicate that it is being
drained. See Figure 4-1.
The power management system detects when the system is being
powered from the internal battery or from an external battery pack
(SPARCbook 3 models only). These conditions are shown in the status
display as follows:
Int. Battery
Indicates that the internal battery’s status is being
displayed.
Figure 4-1 The Status Display
S3UG4_Book Page 2 Friday, August 8, 1997 11:37 am
