Systems and methods for managing power for a mobile device

• US 10,142,460 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premergy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Premergy, Inc.
• Inventors: Botts, Richard Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/789,453
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 455573, 4555751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/10 Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/73 Battery saving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing power for a mobile device. In one embodiment, an example mobile device may include at least one memory, at least one processor, a first rechargeable battery, a second rechargeable battery, and one or more solid state relays. The at least one memory may store computer-executable instructions, and the at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions. The first rechargeable battery may be configured to power the at least one processor, and the second rechargeable battery may be configured to power the at least one processor. The one or more solid state relays may be electrically coupled to the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery and configured to transition between a first state in which the one or more solid state relays form a series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery and a second state in which the one or more solid state relays form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions;

a first rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor;

a second rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor; and

one or more transistors electrically coupled to the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery, the one or more transistors configured to transition between a first state in which the one or more transistors form a series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery and a second state in which the one or more transistors form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine a first voltage of the first rechargeable battery;

receive a first user request to run a first application on the mobile device;

determine that the at least one processor requires a first required voltage to run the first application;

determine that the first voltage is less than the first required voltage;

cause the one or more transistors to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery;

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series;

determine that the mobile device is connected to an external power source;

cause the one or more transistors to form the parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged by the external power source while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive a second user request to run a second application on the mobile device;

determine that the at least one processor requires a second required voltage to run the second application;

determine that the first voltage is greater than the second required voltage;

cause the one or more transistors to form the parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that a peripheral device is connected to the mobile device;

determine a second required voltage to power the peripheral device;

determine that the first voltage is less than the second required voltage;

cause the one or more transistors to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the peripheral device while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the at least one memory, the at least one processor, the first rechargeable battery, the second rechargeable battery, and the one or more transistors are enclosed within the housing.

5. A mobile device comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions;

a first rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor;

a second rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor; and

one or more solid state electronic switches electrically coupled to the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery, the one or more solid state electronic switches configured to transition between a first state in which the one or more solid state electronic switches form a series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery and a second state in which the one or more solid state electronic switches form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery during discharging of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery during charging of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

7. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine a first voltage of the first rechargeable battery;

receive a first user request to run a first application on the mobile device;

determine that the at least one processor requires a first required voltage to run the first application;

determine that the first voltage is less than the first required voltage;

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.

8. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the mobile device is connected to an external power source;

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged by the external power source while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel.

9. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the one or more solid state electronic switches comprises one or more transistors.

10. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the one or more solid state electronic switches comprises one or more MOSFETs.

11. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the first rechargeable battery has a first voltage and a first capacity, wherein the second rechargeable battery has a second voltage and a second capacity, wherein the first voltage is equal to the second voltage, and wherein the first capacity is equal to the second capacity.

12. The mobile device of claim 5, further comprising a housing, wherein the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are enclosed within the housing.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory, the at least one processor, and the one or more solid state electronic switches are enclosed within the housing.

14. A method comprising:

determining, by at least one processor coupled to at least one memory of a mobile device, a first voltage of a first rechargeable battery of the mobile device, the first rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor;

determining that the first voltage is less than a first required voltage of the at least one processor;

causing one or more solid state electronic switches to form a series connection between the first rechargeable battery and a second rechargeable battery of the mobile device; and

causing the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a first user request to run a first application on the mobile device; and

determining that the at least one processor requires the first required voltage to run the first application.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that the mobile device is connected to an external power source;

causing the one or more solid state electronic switches to form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

causing the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged by the external power source while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that the first voltage is greater than a second required voltage of the at least one processor;

causing the one or more solid state electronic switches to form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery;

causing the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel;

receiving a second user request to run a second application on the mobile device; and

determining that the at least one processor requires the second required voltage to run the second application.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that a peripheral device is connected to the mobile device;

determining that the first voltage is less than a second required voltage of the peripheral device;

causing the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

causing the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the peripheral device while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.

19. A system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions;

a first rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor;

a second rechargeable battery configured to power the at least one processor; and

one or more solid state electronic switches electrically coupled to the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery, the one or more solid state electronic switches configured to transition between a first state in which the one or more solid state electronic switches form a series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery and a second state in which the one or more solid state electronic switches form a parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

a peripheral device removably connectable to the mobile device;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine that the peripheral device is connected to the mobile device;

determine a first voltage of the first rechargeable battery;

determine that the first voltage is less than a first required voltage of the peripheral device;

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery; and

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to power the peripheral device while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the peripheral device comprises a voltmeter, a taser, or a DSLR flash.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a charging device removably connectable to the mobile device, the charging device comprising:

at least one second memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one second processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine that the charging device is connected to the mobile device and an external power source;

determine the first voltage of the first rechargeable battery;

determine that the at least one processor has received a user request to run an application on the mobile device;

determine that the at least one processor requires a second required voltage to run the application;

determine that the first voltage is less than the second required voltage;

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the parallel connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery;

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged by the external power source while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel; and

cause the external power source to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in parallel.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a charging device removably connectable to the mobile device, the charging device comprising:

at least one second memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one second processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

determine that the charging device is connected to the mobile device and an external power source;

determine the first voltage of the first rechargeable battery;

determine that the at least one processor has received a user request to run an application on the mobile device;

determine that the at least one processor requires a second required voltage to run the application;

determine that the first voltage is less than the second required voltage;

cause the one or more solid state electronic switches to form the series connection between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery;

cause the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery to be charged by the external power source while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series; and

cause the first rechargeable battery, the second rechargeable battery, and the external power source to power the at least one processor while the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are connected in series.