Method and apparatus for rapidly and dynamically adjusting current limiting in a portable communication device
First Claim
1. A portable communication device, comprising:
- a battery for powering the portable communication device, the battery having a battery profile stored therein;
a push-to-talk (PTT) button;
a master processor uploaded with the battery profile, the master processor controlling a primary load of the portable communication device;
a slave processor controlling a secondary load of the portable communication device;
a comparator bank programmed by the master processor based on the uploaded battery profile, the comparator bank monitoring for transients on the battery and generating a plurality of comparator output control signals in response thereto;
a logic interface receiving the plurality of comparator output control signals and a push-to-talk (PTT) status, the logic interface generating a plurality of current limit control signals in response thereto,wherein;
at least one of the plurality of current limit control signals controls a current limiter selection stage, the current limiter selection stage providing a current supply to the primary load of the portable communication device; and
at least one of the plurality of current limit control signals providing an interruption alert to the slave processor for current limiting the secondary load, the interruption to the secondary load occurring during predetermined high current drain conditions of the primary load during a PTT button assertion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery operated portable communication device provides converged functionality while avoiding resets to the device. Composite logic circuitry formed of at least one comparator and a logic interface controls current limiting to a primary load formed of high power land mobile radio (LMR) devices and programming to secondary loads formed of non-LMR peripherals. At least one current limit control signal is used to control current to the primary load under high current mode operations. Another control signal provides an interruption alert to a slave processor for controlled programming of the secondary loads during the high current operations of the primary load. Current to the primary load is restored while the secondary load is interrupted. Operation of secondary load processes is resumed when the primary load ceases high power operation.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A portable communication device, comprising:
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a battery for powering the portable communication device, the battery having a battery profile stored therein; a push-to-talk (PTT) button; a master processor uploaded with the battery profile, the master processor controlling a primary load of the portable communication device; a slave processor controlling a secondary load of the portable communication device; a comparator bank programmed by the master processor based on the uploaded battery profile, the comparator bank monitoring for transients on the battery and generating a plurality of comparator output control signals in response thereto; a logic interface receiving the plurality of comparator output control signals and a push-to-talk (PTT) status, the logic interface generating a plurality of current limit control signals in response thereto, wherein; at least one of the plurality of current limit control signals controls a current limiter selection stage, the current limiter selection stage providing a current supply to the primary load of the portable communication device; and at least one of the plurality of current limit control signals providing an interruption alert to the slave processor for current limiting the secondary load, the interruption to the secondary load occurring during predetermined high current drain conditions of the primary load during a PTT button assertion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of managing a portable communication device, comprising:
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reading, by a master processor, battery information of a battery of the portable communication device; configuring a comparator bank with a plurality of voltage thresholds based on the battery information; applying a sensed battery voltage to the comparator bank for comparing to the plurality of voltage thresholds; detecting a push-to-talk (PTT) assertion; tripping one or more of the comparators in response to the sensed battery voltage exceeding one or more of the plurality of voltage thresholds thereby indicating a high current condition; asserting a plurality of logic control signals including asserting a primary load control signal and asserting a slave processor interrupt control signal during a predetermined time; selectively current limit a primary load of the portable communication device in response to the primary load control signal; reducing loading of secondary load processes in response to the slave processor interrupt control signal in an amount suitable to restore current to the primary load; and restoring the primary load to a full current during the reduced loading of the secondary load processes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification