Method of regulating power consumption by electronic equipment containing integral rechargeable backup batteries and used in systems where the equipment operates from a vehicle engine battery and the like, and improved apparatus therefor

• US 20030197484A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Micrologic, Inc. (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kotlow, Daniel B., Barberis, Carlos A., Mahon, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,747,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for regulating power consumption by electronic equipment containing integral rechargeable backup batteries used, among other places, in systems operating with vehicle engine main batteries and the like, and wherein techniques are employed to minimize the depletion of the main batteries used to maintain the charge on the backup battery, particularly under circumstances of engine shut down, but with electronic equipment continued power demands on the backup batteries.

Claims

1. In a vehicular engine equipment system provided with an engine-chargeable main battery and provided also with engine operational information (and where desired positional information) communicating electronic radio transponder/transceiver communications equipment having backup batteries, a method of enabling the efficient charging of such backup batteries from the main equipment battery while regulating the power consumption by the communication equipment, that comprises, charging the main battery from the engine during the operating of the engine;

fully charging the backup battery from the main battery;

monitoring the charge state of the backup battery during periods of non-operating of the engine and of continued power demands upon the backup battery by the communication equipment; and

, upon the monitored reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, further charging the backup battery from the main battery back to full charge and thereupon terminating such further charging; and

repeating said monitoring and further charging and terminating as needed during the continued non-operating of the engine and the continued operational power demands of the communication equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the further charging during the continued non-operating of the engine is maintained for a limited time based upon earlier experimental determination of the minimum percentage of time required to ensure the full charge of the backup battery in the event of a worst case current consumption by the communication equipment while the engine was non-operating for extended periods of time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined level of discharge corresponds to a drop in the backup battery voltage below a predetermined voltage or the running average of voltage drops below a second predetermined voltage.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein when the monitoring indicates that the backup battery voltage has increased above a third predetermined voltage indicating that the charge current has dropped below a charger current limit, the further charging being continued for a further minimum predetermined period of time based upon earlier experimental determination of the additional time required to achieve full charge.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input current to the backup battery during its charging is sensed, and when the input current is sensed to drop below a predetermined level indicative that the backup battery is fully charged, further charging of the backup battery is terminated.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the charging current into the backup battery is monitored, and when the charge current drops below the predetermined level indicative of full charge while the voltage output of the backup battery remains above a predetermined voltage below which the charging is in current limit, thereupon terminating the charging.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the charging termination is maintained for a further period of time calculated to ensure that, under worst case conditions, the backup battery will not be discharged below a minimum desired capacity, at which time the further backup battery charging is resumed.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the charging current into and out of the backup battery are both monitored while the engine is non-operating, and when such monitoring determines that the backup battery voltage has dropped below a predetermined voltage relative to the existing discharge current, the further charging of the backup battery is re-enabled.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein when the monitored backup battery charge current drops below a predetermined level indicative of the backup battery reaching full charge and without the start of the discharge current, the further backup battery charging is again terminated.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the backup battery is discharged from its own battery charger, and which is connected or disconnected to or from the main battery under the control of the monitoring.

11. In a vehicular engine equipment system provided with an engine-chargeable main battery and electronic equipment having backup batteries, a method of minimizing during periods of engine non-operating the depletion of the main battery used to maintain the charge on a backup battery, that comprises, charging the main battery from and at the engine during the operating of the engine;

fully charging the backup battery from the main battery;

during periods of non-operating of the engine and power demands upon the backup battery by the electronic equipment, monitoring the charge state on the backup battery, and upon the reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, further charging the backup battery from the main battery back to full charge of the backup battery, and thereupon terminating such further charging; and

repeating said monitoring, charging and terminating as needed during the continued non-operating of the engine and the continued operational power demands of the electronic equipment.

12. In an equipment system provided with a main battery chargeable from a power source and provided also with electronic or electrical equipment having backup batteries, a method of minimizing during periods of shutdown of the power source the depletion of the main battery used to maintain the charge on a backup battery, that comprises, charging the main battery from the source;

fully charging the backup battery from the main battery;

during periods of shutdown of the source but during continued power demands upon the backup battery by the electronic or electrical equipment, monitoring the charge state on the backup battery, and upon the reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, further charging the backup battery from the main battery back to full charge of the backup battery, and thereupon terminating such further charging; and

repeating said monitoring, further charging and terminating as needed during the continued shutdown of the source and the continued operational power demands of the electronic or electrical equipment.

13. A vehicular engine equipment system provided with an engine-chargeable main battery and provided also with vehicle positional and/or engine operational information-communicating electronic radio transponder/transceiver communication equipment having backup batteries, apparatus for enabling the efficient charging of such backup batteries from the main battery, while regulating the power consumption by the communication equipment, said apparatus having, in combination, an engine-power charging circuit for charging the main battery from the engine during the operating of the engine;

a backup battery charging circuit connectable to and disconnectable from the main battery charging circuit for fully charging the backup battery from the main battery;

a monitor and control circuit for monitoring the charge state of the backup battery of the transponder/transceiver and during the operation of the same during periods of non-operating of the engine;

upon the reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, said circuit controlling the connecting of the main and backup battery charging circuits for further charging the backup battery from the main battery back to full charge and thereupon terminating such further charging;

the monitor and control circuit enabling the repeating of said monitoring further charging and terminating as needed during the continued non-operating of the engine and the continued operational demands of the communication equipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the further charging is maintained during the non-operating of the engine for a limited time based upon earlier experimental determination of the minimum percentage of time required to ensure full charge of the backup battery in the event of a worst case current consumption by the communication equipment while the engine was non-operating for extended time periods.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said predetermined level of discharge corresponds to a drop in the backup battery voltage below a predetermined voltage or a running average of voltage drops below a second predetermined voltage.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein when the monitor indicates that the backup battery voltage has increased above a third predetermined voltage indicating that the charge current has dropped below a charger current limit, the further charging is continued for a further minimum predetermined period of time based on earlier experimental determination of the additional time required to achieve full charge.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a sensor is provided for sensing the input current to the backup battery during its charging, and when such senses that the input current drops below a predetermined level indicative of the backup battery being fully charged, said further charging of the backup battery is terminated.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the monitor circuit also monitors charging current into the backup battery, and when the charge current drops below the predetermined level indicative of full charge while the voltage output of the backup battery remains above a predetermined voltage below which the charging is in current limit, terminating the charging.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the charging termination is maintained for a further period of time calculated to ensure that, under worst case conditions, the backup battery will not be discharged below a minimum desired capacity, at which time re-instituting of the backup battery charging is resumed.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a sensor is provided for sensing the charging current into and out of the backup battery and both are monitored by the monitor circuit while the engine is non-operating;

and when such monitoring determines that the backup battery voltage has dropped below a predetermined voltage relative to the existing discharge current, the re-instituting of the further charging of the backup battery is re-enabled.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein when the monitored backup battery charge current drops below a predetermined level indicative of the backup battery reaching full charge and without the start of the discharge current, the further backup battery charging is again terminated.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the backup battery is charged from its own battery charger, which is connected to or disconnected from the main battery under the control of the monitor.

23. In a vehicular engine equipment system provided with an engine-chargeable main battery and electronic equipment having backup batteries, apparatus for minimizing during periods of engine non-operating the depletion of the main battery used to maintain the charge on a backup battery, the apparatus having, in combination, means for charging the main battery from and at the engine during the operating of the engine;

a backup battery charger connectable to the main battery charging means for fully charging the back-up battery from the main battery;

a monitor circuit operable during periods of non-operating of the engine but during continued power demands upon the backup battery by the electronic equipment, for monitoring the charge state of the backup battery, and, upon the reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, re-instituting or further charging of the same from the main battery back to full charge of the backup battery, and thereupon terminating such re-instituted charging; and

means for enabling repeating said monitoring, re-instituted charging and terminating as needed during the continued non-operating of the engine and the continued operational power demands of the electronic equipment.

24. In an equipment system provided within a main battery chargeable from a power source and provided also with electronic or electrical equipment having backup batteries, apparatus for minimizing during periods of shutdown of the power source the depletion of the main battery used to maintain the charge on a backup battery, said apparatus having, in combination, means for charging the main battery from the source;

means for fully charging the back-up battery from the main battery;

a monitor operable during periods of shutdown of the source but during continued power demands upon the backup battery by the electronic or electrical equipment, for monitoring the charge state of the backup battery, and upon the reaching of a predetermined level of discharge of the backup battery, for controlling the charging means to enable further charging of the backup battery from the main battery back to full charge of the backup battery, and thereupon terminating such further charging;

the monitor enabling repeating said monitoring, further charging and terminating as needed during the continued shutdown of the source and the continued operational power demands of the electronic or electrical equipment.