Charge rate optimization for enhanced battery cycle life

• US 10,250,052 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Patil, Radhika Bharath, Rajasekaran, Arvindh
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US14/958,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 320139
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for battery charging are provided. The apparatus determines a level of a charge current for charging a battery based on a user preference. The apparatus determines a number of rest periods in the charge current, wherein during the rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery. The apparatus charges the battery with the determined level of the charge current and the determined number of rest periods.

Claims

1. A method of battery charging by an apparatus, comprising:

determining a level of a charge current to be used during a charging mode for charging a battery based on a user preference;

determining a number of rest periods to be used during the charging mode based on the user preference, wherein during the rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery; and

charging the battery with the determined level of the charge current and the determined number of rest periods;

wherein, when the determined level is a low level of the charge current, the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and has one or more rest periods, and

wherein, when the determined level is a high level of the charge current, the number of the rest periods is determined to be zero.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and one or more rest periods, each of the one or more rest periods being smaller than each of the one or more charge periods.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein during the one or more rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of rest periods is determined based on another user preference.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of rest periods is determined via a user-selectable option for the number of rest periods.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the level of the charge current based on the user preference comprises determining the level of the charge current based on a scheduled time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a charge speed for charging the battery among a plurality of charge speeds based on the user preference,

wherein the level of the charge current is determined based on the selected charge speed.

8. The method claim 7, wherein if a low charge speed is selected, a low level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery, and

wherein if a high charge speed is selected, a high level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a user-selectable option for selecting the charge speed among the plurality of charge speeds, wherein the selecting the charge speed based on the user preference comprises selecting the charge speed using the user-selectable option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user-selectable option is provided upon determination that a battery charger is connected to the apparatus.

11. An apparatus for battery charging, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a level of a charge current to be used during a charging mode for charging a battery based on a user preference;

determine a number of rest periods to be used during a charging mode based on the user preference, wherein during the rest periods, the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery; and

charge the battery with the determined level of the charge current and the determined number of rest periods;

wherein, when the determined level is a low level of the charge current, the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and has one or more rest periods,

wherein, when the determined level is a high level of the charge current, the number of the rest periods is determined to be zero.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and one or more rest periods, each of the one or more rest periods being smaller than each of the one or more charge periods.

13. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein during the one or more rest periods, the at least one processor is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the number of rest periods is determined based on another user preference.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of rest periods is determined via a user-selectable option for the number of rest periods.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the determining the level of the charge current based on the user preference comprises determining the level of the charge current based on a scheduled time.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

select a charge speed for charging the battery among a plurality of charge speeds based on the user preference,

wherein the level of the charge current is determined based on the selected charge speed.

18. The apparatus claim 17, wherein if a low charge speed is selected, a low level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery, and

wherein if a high charge speed is selected, a high level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide a user-selectable option for selecting the charge speed among the plurality of charge speeds, wherein the selecting the charge speed based on the user preference comprises selecting the charge speed using the user-selectable option.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user-selectable option is provided upon determination that a battery charger is connected to the apparatus.

21. An apparatus for battery charging, comprising:

means for determining a level of a charge current to be used during a charging mode for charging a battery based on a user preference;

means for determining a number of rest periods to be used during a charging mode based on the user preference, wherein during the rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery; and

means for charging the battery with the determined level of the charge current and the determined number of rest periods;

wherein, when the determined level is a low level of the charge current, the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and has one or more rest periods,

wherein, when the determined level is a high level of the charge current, the number of the rest periods is determined to be zero.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and one or more rest periods, each of the one or more rest periods being smaller than each of the one or more charge periods.

23. The apparatus of claim 21,

wherein during the one or more rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the number of rest periods is determined based on another user preference, and wherein the number of rest periods is determined via a user-selectable option for the number of rest periods.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the determining the level of the charge current based on the user preference comprises determining the level of the charge current based on a scheduled time.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for selecting a charge speed for charging the battery among a plurality of charge speeds based on the user preference,

wherein the level of the charge current is determined based on the selected charge speed.

27. The apparatus claim 26, wherein if a low charge speed is selected, a low level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery, and

wherein if a high charge speed is selected, a high level of the charge current is determined for charging the battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

means for providing a user-selectable option for selecting the charge speed among the plurality of charge speeds, wherein the selecting the charge speed based on the user preference comprises selecting the charge speed using the user-selectable option.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the user-selectable option is provided upon determination that a battery charger is connected to the apparatus.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for battery charging by an apparatus, comprising code for:

determining a level of a charge current to be used during a charging mode for charging a battery based on a user preference;

determining a number of rest periods to be used during a charging mode based on the user preference, wherein during the rest periods, the apparatus is configured to perform at least one of setting the charge current to zero or discharging the battery; and

charging the battery with the determined level of the charge current and the determined number of rest periods;

wherein, when the determined level is a low level of the charge current, the charge current has one or more charge periods with a continuous current and has one or more rest periods,

wherein, when the determined level is a high level of the charge current, the number of the rest periods is determined to be zero.