Surging demand for more powerful portable computer batteries

Surging demand for more powerful portable computer batteries

has led to a new standards effort at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The standard underway, IEEE P1625 (TM), dell laptop battery

, "Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Portable Computers," will help guide how battery systems are developed to support mobile computing applications.

The standard is being created by the IEEE P1625 Laptop Battery Working Group, which draws upon battery suppliers, original development manufacturers and computer systems manufacturers, including HP, Dell, IBM, Motorola, Panasonic, Compal, Quanta, Sony, Sanyo and Toshiba. Other interested organizations with portable battery systems expertise are invited to join the group, which will hold its first meeting on Oct 17 and 18 in San Jose, Calif. A draft standard should be ready for final balloting in May 2003.

"The standard will reflect real mobile user profiles and the growing demand for ever more reliable power in mobile computing applications," says Bruce Riggs, IEEE P1625 Working Group Chairman and Dell's Vice President of Operations and Quality for the Client Product Group.

"We expect laptop power demand to accelerate as increasingly powerful mobile processors,2834T, wireless solutions and advanced graphics capability become more prevalent in mobile computing," he said. "We've also seen increasing battery duty cycles as the average daily use of mobile computers continues to climb."

The IEEE P1625 standard will focus on system management and control, battery pack communications, energy density and reliability. The standard anticipates smarter battery system designs, including self-monitored charge, discharge and environmental conditions. It will also address redundant protections needed to assure system reliability.

In terms of the work on the standard, Riggs says, "We chose to participate in the IEEE-SA's organization-only standards route for several reasons. First, functioning as an organization-only working group will enable us to fast track our efforts. Second, the IEEE, as the largest organization of its kind, gives us access to a huge pool of computer, battery and other technology-oriented companies. And third, it offers a broad range of support services that can help us stay focused and make our task more efficient."

This project is sponsored by the Stationary Batteries Committee of the 4834T ,IEEE Power Engineering Society.

The IEEE-SA Organizational Standards Program

The IEEE-SA's organizational standards development program allows profit and not-for-profit entites to create standards within an ANSI-based open process. Standards in this consensus program follow a clear path from concept to completion guided by five basic principles - due process, openness, consensus, balance and right of appeal.

The IEEE-SA enables corporate standards working groups to function more efficiently by providing such elements as a legal structure within which working groups function, well-defined intellectual property rules, broad administrative and project management support,Hp laptop battery,Web hosting in its own servers, in-house writing and editing services, and a structure for publishing standards and distributing them globally.

About the IEEE Standards Association

The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set specifications and procedures to ensure that products and services are fit for their purpose and perform as intended. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards in development. Over 15,000 IEEE members worldwide belong to IEEE-SA and voluntarily participate in standards activities. F4098A,For further information on IEEE-SA see:

About the IEEE

The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately 150 countries. Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 technical conferences each year. Additional information about the IEEE can be found at

Passengers using laptops from computer companies Apple and Dell are being asked to remove the batteries from the devices prior to take-off on Virgin Atlantic international flights.

Virgin banned the use of the batteries on its flights following reports that some laptop batteries may present a fire hazard.F4809A, Virgin's Upper Class sections have 11 seats with power sockets and a number of seats in Premium Economy offer power supplies on newer aircraft, but laptop use will be limited for other seating areas on the international flights.

Dell recalled over 4m laptop batteries, made by Sony, in mid-August after a manufacturing fault was identified, while Apple recalled 1.8m batteries, also made by Sony, late last month.

Virgin Atlantic said the batteries removed must be wrapped up and protected and held in carry-on baggage and confirmed passengers are only permitted to take two batteries on board. It is the third airline to issue restrictions on Apple and Dell laptops, with Qantas and Korean Air having already placed restrictions.