IEEE Plans Safer Laptop Batteries

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IEEE is going to revise its laptop battery standard which will seek to improve overall performance, make systems more reliable and address the concerns over the recent laptop battery rant. IEEE is coded IEEE 1625, which was approved back in 2004 as a part of the "Livium" family of battery standards. IEEE 1625 adopts a systems approach by addressing the battery envelope from cells to the mobile computers they power, both alone and in concert. It encompasses such areas as battery pack electrical and mechanical construction, cell chemistries, packaging, pack and cell controls, and overall system considerations.

“In revising IEEE 1625 to further safeguard the reliability of these batteries, we will leverage the streamlined corporate standards process and incorporate lessons learned in developing the IEEE 1725 standard for cellular telephone batteries,” says Edward Rashba, Manager, New Technical Programs at the IEEE-SA. “We have an opportunity to further strengthen the Livium portfolio, which already incorporates hundreds of man-hours of technical work and represents consensus views on best practices from leading industry experts.”

The update looks to guide the industry in planning and implementing controls for battery design and manufacture. It also defines approaches for evaluating and qualifying such batteries, verifying their quality and reliability, and educating and communicating with end users. “ The 1625 update will be a global effort,” says Rashba. “The leading laptop OEMs and battery manufacturers such as Apple, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo, Panasonic, Sanyo, Intel and Sony have indicated strong interest to participate.”

The group will meet bi-monthly in the U.S. and Asia, with project completion expected within 18 months. The first working group meeting is scheduled for November 15-16 at the Intel in Santa Clara, California. A follow-on meeting is planned in Japan for January 16-18 of next year.

News source: DailyTech

#1 Athernar on 12 Nov 2006 - 18:40

It's good that they are bringing in higher standards, might of prevented all this ruckus in the first place.

Also
Typo on line 3: "as a part of the Livium battery standards"

#2 Dice on 12 Nov 2006 - 18:43

Noted and corrected. Thanks Athernar.

#3 eAi on 12 Nov 2006 - 19:00

Quote -

Apple, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo, Panasonic, Sanyo, Intel and Sony

Notice how the list of battery manufacturers is alphabetical apart from Intel... Wonder why....

(1 reply) #4 Kushan on 12 Nov 2006 - 19:03

How about they just Ban sony from ever making them?

#4.1 guylaroche on 13 Nov 2006 - 04:19

A fine idea

#5 tezze on 12 Nov 2006 - 19:22

Well if the speed at which wireless N is being standardised is anything to go by, we can expect new battery types by about 2010.

#6 Foub on 13 Nov 2006 - 11:57

Well, if some weren't so greedy, and cut quality control, to get a few extra cents than this wouldn't be an issue at all.

(1 reply) #7 Jon 5 on 13 Nov 2006 - 23:36

I love how the laptop screen has Neowin open on it. That is great!

#7.1 hotdog963al on 14 Nov 2006 - 17:01

They still need to update that image actually

#8 Cadaver69 on 15 Nov 2006 - 04:45

Does this mean we will start to see standard battery form factors across Laptop manufacturers. I'd love to be able to say take the spare battery I have for my 2007 laptop and then in 2008 or 2009 continue to use the spare on my new laptop from a different manufactures. Kinda like how AA AAA D C and 9volts are standard form factors across brands.

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