Now that some 6 million
Sony-manufactured batteries have been recalled, and all the big names are preparing for a
summit on standardizing manufacturing processes for li-ion cells, we were just waiting for the fingers to start a pointin'. Well, a pointin' they have begun, as Japan's trade ministry ordered Sony (with Dell) to investigate the issues surrounding how a few million batteries were manufactured in such a way that a percentage of them
might just explode all crazy on their owners. The Japanese trade ministry ain't screwing around, either -- Sony and Dell are to report back their findings, or face severe penalties under Japan's consumer safety laws. Hey, if we were Japan we wouldn't want Sony's flub on our hands either, you know? We'll let you know when we find out about their findings.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andy @ Aug 24th 2006 4:51PM
Everything's coming up Sony!...er, not?
Tony @ Aug 24th 2006 4:52PM
How about "Japan orders Sony not to suck"
Karl Viklund @ Aug 24th 2006 5:08PM
This will Sony hard and I guess they have to compensate Dell, Apple and more. Is ther any area left for Sony to fail in?
M. Rod Von Hugenstein @ Aug 24th 2006 5:08PM
Glad to see Japan is forcing Sony to investigate. Maybe they can ask about the PS3 while they are at it.
Karl Viklund @ Aug 24th 2006 5:09PM
Tony lol :)
Nate @ Aug 24th 2006 5:09PM
All this because of karma, they killed Aibo, now they have to pay =P
Ketsuke @ Aug 24th 2006 5:14PM
Nate, that was the funniest comment so far today. I had to stifle my laugh at work.
But anyways, that is great from the GOJ. We will see what happens, until then RIP Aibo.
shon @ Aug 24th 2006 6:19PM
but exploding laptops make for such sWiit news!!
Toe TagR @ Aug 24th 2006 6:45PM
Wait a minute my keyboard has Sony batteries...AHHHHH dasjl s jdafjkl sd;ji fdi f ivwojriovd,mefwlqe;cccc
Toe TagR @ Aug 24th 2006 7:39PM
Sorry I was trying to put out the fire from my keyboard. Now I have to take my cat to the emergency room. Should've used something less flamable to put out the fire.
sputnik @ Aug 24th 2006 7:40PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14500443/
Apple to recall 1.8 million notebook batteries
Recall is second-biggest in U.S. history involving electronics or computers
Toe TagR @ Aug 24th 2006 7:59PM
SONY is going to have to call in the energizer bunny to get out of this mess!
dmill89 @ Aug 24th 2006 11:45PM
I'm glad that my Acer Laptop has panasonic cells (and heat sensors to shut it down and prevent chargeing if the battery starts to overheat).I don't know why Dell and Apple did not use these sensors in all their laptops. I feal sorry for those who have apple Laptops and have to deal with this mess. I think sony's quality ingeneral has been deteriorateing progressively sence the early to mid 90s. I wonder weather HP or Lenovo which also use sony batteries in atleast some of their laptops will also issue recalls?
Perrey Z. @ Aug 25th 2006 9:29AM
dmill89: that's what's so good about Panasonic, they will never put their end-consumer in any danger, So different with Sony...
The Japanese government has always been a straight arrow when it comes to public conduct involving their country's companies., It's all about pretending to be perfect something they aren't but pretending is what they do best.
What i don't get is why their government have to drag Dell into the dirt? they don't manufacture Sony batteries. Sony does! Sony is the ONLY culprit here, Not Dell. The incidents started on Dell unit, that doesn't mean is Dells fault!
I'm not defending Dell either, hell i don't even like the company for their policies or products, but i don't want some foreign government taking it personal with a company from MY country regardless of what is happening.
Besides, Japan is the corrupt dirt devil here, let me not start with their price dumping of TV sets and automobiles in the 1970's and early 1980's. And a few of other tricks that have driven this country to the ground.
This country should have an iron hand when it comes to Japanese imports. If they don't allow ours into their country let free investment without the damn co-investment with one of them, we should NOT let them in or own 100% companies here either, period. Fair is Fair!
M. Rod Von Hugenstein @ Aug 25th 2006 10:05AM
Perry, I hope you are as worked up over China, since they are a much bigger threat than Japan ever was.
DAVID J JONES @ Sep 13th 2006 4:41AM
thisa is a waste of time where are the numbers for MY laptop a sony VAIO .
my battery numbers is VGPBPS2A.
I might be old nd wrinkle but it took My B ropther to tell me that my laptop might go big bang why was IT NOT PUT OUT ON ALL SERVERS?
not just in the news . ? Tere are people who donot read the news as it does not affect them in anyway( most times).
Many Thanks
Lord David
James Armistead @ Apr 24th 2007 12:42PM
MILLIONS IN DAMAGES DUE TO FAST VOLTAGE SENSORS.
LAPTOP BATTERY PROBLEMS.
My Compaq Presario 1255 NiMH battery pack would charge 100%, sometimes, and fail to charge more than 20%, at other times, but the charge would increase about 20% after each new “Start-Up”. And, a 100% charged battery would seem to fall, suddenly, to random levels, between Start-Ups, if Start-UP was under battery power, as if the smart battery forgot the last battery reading. The special, smart battery, LED, “fuel gauge” would read the same as Windows, since both were reading the same battery memory.
Not Battery Cells: But, nothing seemed to be wrong with the battery pack, except the fuel gauge; since, it measured 9.6 volts; and, it would burn a 1 amp, 12 volt, 12 ohm lamp bulb for 3 hours (over 2 ampere hours). Plus, the manufacturer’s suggested battery calibration procedures would fix the fuel gauge reading, but not for very long.
Not Windows Software: So, Windows software was reading my “smart battery’s” microcomputer, which was confused, internally; and, engineers have been aware of the inaccuracy in most fuel estimates for over 10 years. (See battery calibration procedures.)
Not Leaky Batteries: At first, it was thought that the fuel gauge error was due to the power consumption of the microcomputer inside the battery, overnight, if the “smart circuits” continued to run and consume power. But, if my battery pack is removed for several days, it will retain its 100% charge. Therefore, battery leakage was not a problem within my Compaq Presario 1255 battery, nor idle thinking!
The Final Clues: But, eventually, it was concluded that any random event, like the fan or floppy turning On & Off, created a dip in the DC power supply, which would trigger the speedy, low voltage sensor in the “Smart Battery” and confuse the smart microcomputer.
Original “dumb batteries” were difficult to read by faster computers, since their serial data was asynchronous; therefore, “smarter batteries” were invented with an external clock input pin to synchronize the transmission of 8-bit serial data messages. Plus, more thinking was added within the “smarter batteries”; plus, the data pins were reversed. At present, “smart batteries” are able to transmit about 30, unique alarms or codes to the host computer. But, who really needs 30 data points, if they’re wrong? (See: Smart Batteries on the Internet, where Bushmann@Codax.com may have the best, detailed data.)
At present, Windows software engineers, many computer designers, and many parts distributors seem to be confused about which computers need “dumb batteries” and which computers need “smarter batteries”; where the data input pins (3 & 4) are different. So, my present battery is a Compaq 2941-B, which could even be the wrong type of battery for my Presario 1255 computer; since, specification data or all details of any recent “smart battery” seem to be “inside corporate secrets”.
Therefore, in the process of trying to diagnose my battery fuel gauge indicator problem, it was also discovered that:
1. Any new, $150 battery may appear faulty, if purchased, from the wrong vendor.
2. Charging a “dumb” battery in a sleeping computer, is like leaving a hot iron on an ironing board, overnight, and sooner or later any thermal, safety, circuit may fail.
3. The Screen Saver Timer in the Display Options of the Control Panel Software will override the Power Monitor Settings of the Display Screen in the Control Panel Software. So, who needs this type of redundancy? One variable Monitor Screen Saver is enough, already!
4. The Power Monitor Meter page indicates “charging”, if the AC Power is ON, and if the main charging LED is OFF. So, at least one sub-routine is confused about charging. Or, software messages should say “fast or trickle charging” to be more accurate, whichever is true.
5. The Battery Bar Graph indicates FULL, while claiming the battery condition is “Unknown”, when the main battery is missing, which is confusing and reversed.
6. Most of the time, the Battery would overheat and abort the charging process, since it was already FULL. And, normally, it required exactly 3 hours to charge after being bled to death, and truly dead. So, all internal mystery circuits are timers!
7. Software charges the battery for exactly 20 minutes after any START-UP, even after reading 100% full. Therefore, overheating occurs, repeatedly, which challenges any battery safety circuits in my battery, Compaq type 2941B.
8. So, the Control Panel Alarm Point software appears to be faulty, as well as unnecessary, since it allows too many options. One software, “low battery alarm” is enough; since, one 10% warning is sufficient (if accurate), and the real battery power low alarm input from any battery pack will panic the software into “Sleep Mode”, then into “Comatose”, if shaken. But, the “Wide Awake Mode” is necessary to control the battery charge, overnight, if the battery memory circuits get confused!
9. Bleeding the battery for 4 hours (by using a 10 ohm, 10 watt resistor from Radio Shack or a 12 volt, 1 amp, 12 ohm, automotive, tail light bulb) is the easiest way to clarify any confusion in the battery microcomputer. But, any calibration procedure is only a temporary fix, since the battery’s confusion will return, randomly.
10. WARNING! Do not attempt the above battery bleeding procedure, unless you are a qualified technician and need a reliable, $150, flashlight. Use the computer to bleed the battery, as instructed in your laptop manual, since it has been known for over 10 years that Smarter Battery, secret software has problems with their fuel estimates.
Diagnosis:
Therefore, Compaq, Type 2941-B, and many other laptop batteries have circuit problems and battery, safety, high temperature circuits prevent charging my battery 100%, on the first cycle, after the battery becomes confused. And, the consistent fuel gauge error is caused by random resets of the battery, memory; plus, more errors may be due to circuits that consume power, when the battery is idle and the host computer is OFF.
All batteries over-heat as resistance drops to almost zero, if fully charged and still charging. And, the combination of heat created by new, internal wireless modems, unnecessary battery charging , and the higher heat caused by faster and faster laptop processors have caused several laptop fires, ruined the credibility of several corporations, and has sold millions of $150 batteries, needlessly, Worldwide.
Plus, another problem seems to be the random, high voltage sparks that are created by any reversal of the 2-prong AC Plug, which may reset timing counters on any internal battery charging circuits (on newer, smarter batteries); thus, providing a false battery reading or interpolation. Therefore, turn your computer off, before inserting power cords!
Many engineers may have suspected the capacitive or inductive discharge problem for years, since most new laptops now contain polarized (3-prong) AC Plugs and "Line Chokes", that look, like bubbles in the power cord. And, Windows XP may have the same battery charging problems.
Solutions:
A. Never charge faulty battery, overnight, if the host computer is comatose!
B. Software should read all battery status data, at least twice, several seconds apart; because, false data may occur (since the battery is always connected to the DC plug in the Laptop) during any power surge. But, do we really need 30 different battery alarms or status messages to charge any battery?
C. For reliability reasons, all 2-prong AC Adapters should be recalled or exchanged for polarized AC Power Adapters, which will help protect other computer components, too, from random "AC power transients", from any transformer adapter “static discharges”, and from any stray transients caused by Power ON/OFF relays.
D. Fix the Control Panel, Power Monitor variable alarms, or remove them.
E. Double-check to determine which battery type is intended for your computer.
F. Quadruple-check all battery software routines for “smart battery” errors.
G. Check all battery software for “secrets” that could be implanted to sell more batteries.
H. Recall all batteries that are suspected of having internal software problems.
Recall Solutions:
Since battery problems have cost consumers billions of dollars, already, battery makers could be sued for product liability damages, unless the failure to predict transient pluses is blamed on computer designers. Therefore, a compromise solution could please all.
Open Software should be developed to insure that the correct software logic is being used to estimate battery time, as expected by the computer designers. Lithium, NiMH, Alkaline, NiCd, and Gel-Type Battery Packs can all be recharged, safely, with smarter, open software. But, Secret, Proprietary, Faulty, Battery Software has ruined the reputation of several corporations, already.
THE COMPROMISE SOLUTION:
The high temperature battery alarm could be used as an upper calibration point, minus 5 to 15 minutes, and used to abort all charging current. The battery hardware, power low alarm could be used to “panic save” all data, safely; where, the same, variable, Power Monitor Software Alarms would become unnecessary and redundant in Windows software. New, fully charged or randomly charged batteries could be substituted, without calibration, if the programmers would learn how to use both alarm points for calibration of their time estimates. An example follows:
Logic for: “A Software Battery Fuel Gauge”, where, the charge current is equal to the average discharge current, and the time count is displayed in minutes:
1. Ignore all internal battery fuel gauge readings, except low voltage and temperature.
2. Preset a battery stopwatch timer to “zero” during any new software configuration.
3. Preset a “Full” battery constant to 360 minutes. (This could be a variable reference.)
4. If Start-UP is on AC Power. Check timer for Full, and begin charging if not Full. Start the stopwatch timer, and stop same if power drops, or on high temperature.
5. If the charge cycle was from zero to full; then, reduce the elapsed time in the stopwatch timer by 10 minutes, and save the value as the “Full” reference constant.
6. If Start-Up is attempted on DC Power, Check the stopwatch timer for battery time, allow the Start-up, if battery has more than 5 minutes of fuel, and use the stopwatch timer as a countdown timer. Always Save Data and Shut-Down on the hardware “battery low alarm”, and reset the stopwatch timer to zero for automatic calibration.
7. If running on battery, always announce “Battery needs fuel”, every minute, if power is below 10%. (The fuel alarm could be changed to 20%, if desired.)
8. The reversible stopwatch counter is only used to estimate the battery time expected, after switching to DC Power, and tells how much time is available in minutes.
9. Display the fuel stopwatch timer in minutes in RED or GREEN digits, every minute.
Red = less than 20 minutes. Green = more than 20 minutes. Yellow could be used.
10. Software could compensate for high Wireless Modem energy demands, also, and observe any deterioration of the battery by long term changes in the charging time.
Future Battery Status Signals:
Only three status alarms lines are needed to provide 8 different alarms or data readings.
Therefore, all battery data could be read in binary, like 0 = battery missing, 1 = ¼ full, 2 = ½ full, 3 = ¾ full, 4 = full, 5 = low voltage, 6 = high temperature and 7 = fault; where, any external clock would not be required.
All future recharging circuits should be removed from battery packs to reduce costs; since, computer software can be corrected or improved cheaper than internal battery “smart software”. And, all Real Time Clocks should be powered from the main battery pack, when available, which would increase the life of the hidden, internal, tiny, back-up, watch battery.
To read over 6000 additional consumer battery complaints, use Google and search for: “Dell Laptop Battery Blues” and “Laptop Battery Problems” on the Internet.
To read “The Armistead Family Story”, use a Google Search and discover 280 typo-errors in only 21 of Shakespeare’s perfect Sonnets, that were missed by millions of scholars in the last 400 years. Shakespeare was too busy (like Microsoft) organizing Jamestown to proof read his sonnets; plus, he was shipwrecked on Bermuda for a year, where he wrote “The Tempest” and built another ship, with 100 survivors, from scrap lumber, which included Gov. Thomas Gates and John Rolfe of Darmstadt, Germany.
The Four Computer Modes (or Moods):
Comatose = Fully OFF, or in a coma with a Window open.
Hibernation = Almost OFF, but may remember the last unfinished task.
Sleeping or Standby = Almost ON, bored, and just saving energy.
Awake = Fully ON and thinking, mischievously, in microseconds.
Research by: James H. Armistead, Inventor and Poet
Sacramento, CA. 95822, and is believed to be true and accurate.
(Ex-IBM, Burroughs, RCA, TRW, Varian, & DWR Computer Technician.)
Christopher Witkowski @ Dec 25th 2007 11:38PM
The "Final Clue" was misread. What is missing here is the internal resistance of the battery. The "Final Clue" is an indication that it has become too high and it should have been measured.
I've been having problems with a 2941B battery myself (it's in a Compaq Presario 1230). Charging and discharging the battery outside of the computer indicated it would take a full charge, BUT, the internal resistance worked out to be 1.55 to 1.75 ohms (depending on how I measured it). I figure the 1230 needs to draw at at least 1 amp, more likely 1.5 - 2 Amps. So there's enough internal resistance to drop the voltage to 8 volts or less. Which is as low as an 8 cell battery should be allowed to go (when a cell reaches 1 volt it needs to be considered discharged). NiMH batteries have a higher internal resistance than NiCad or Li Ion batteries to begin with and after a certain amount of use it seems it just takes off (see http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-36.htm). In a high-drain application like a laptop the internal resistance needs to be low. When it gets too high it's going to bugger things up on both the charge and the discharge and there's nothing you can put in the battery chip or the computer to fix it.