BATTERY LIFE ESTIMATOR

• US 20040017180A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cook, Steven D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,870,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided to calculate capacitance remaining on a power source in a battery powered device. A database is provided to store data associated with past battery performance data and data associated with a battery operating the device. The battery data includes battery drainage factors associated with the battery make and model, and the percent of time the apparatus has historically operated in a particular status. An algorithm is provided utilizing current and past data associated with the power source and the associated device to calculate time remaining for operation of the device with the current power source.

Claims

1. A method for calculating capacitance remaining in a battery powered apparatus comprising the steps of:

dynamically tracking usage of a power source; and

calculating time remaining for usage of said power source based upon a battery drainage factor and usage of said power source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically displaying remaining power usage time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dynamically tracking usage of said power source includes tracking current and past usage patterns.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a battery make and model.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of identifying said battery make and model includes entering said battery make and model into an interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery draining factor is selected from a group consisting of:

an idle battery drainage factor, an active battery drainage factor, and an off battery drainage factor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a prior battery'"'"'s battery drainage factor in a historical table prior to installation of a subsequent battery into said battery powered device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of averaging said prior battery'"'"'s battery drainage factor with a historical battery drainage factor for producing a new historical battery drainage factor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating time remaining for usage of said power source includes a historical usage factor of a power receiving apparatus

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said historical factor includes data selected from the group consisting of:

percent of time said apparatus has been in an active state, percent of time said apparatus has been in an off state, and percent of time said apparatus has been in an idle state.

11. An apparatus adapted to receive a power source, comprising:

a database of past battery performance data;

a database of current battery performance data; and

an algorithm to determine usage time remaining in said power source based upon said past battery performance data and current battery performance data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said database of past battery performance data includes data selected from a group consisting of:

battery type, battery size, battery make, battery drainage factors, device usage pattern, and combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said database of current battery performance data includes data selected from a group consisting of:

time battery was inserted into said apparatus, time battery has been idle, time battery has been active, and time battery has been off, and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said algorithm is based upon a type of battery operating said apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an interface to enable an operator to interact with said database.

16. A method for calculating capacitance remaining in a battery powered apparatus comprising the steps of:

dynamically tracking usage of a portable power source;

calculating an estimate of time remaining for usage of said power source based upon a battery drainage factor; and

graphically displaying remaining usage time of said power source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of dynamically tracking usage of said power source includes tracking current and past usage patterns of said power source.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of dynamically tracking usage of said power source includes tracking current and past usage patterns of said battery powered apparatus.