Mobile device with a smart battery

• US 20070123303A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Mak-Fan, David, Guthrie, Martin, Book, Christopher, Brubacher, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are described for a mobile communication device having a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device; a device memory coupled to the main processor for storing a plurality of battery information profiles; and a smart battery coupled to the main processor for providing supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and a battery memory coupled to the battery processor for storing a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery. The main processor is configured to communicate with the battery processor to obtain the Battery ID and select one the battery information profiles based on the Battery ID.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

a device memory coupled to the main processor and adapted to store a plurality of battery information profiles; and

a smart battery coupled to the main processor, the smart battery being adapted to provide supply power to the mobile device, the smart battery comprising;

a battery processor adapted to control the operation of the smart battery and communicate with the main processor; and

a battery memory coupled to the battery processor, the battery memory being adapted to store a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery,

wherein, the main processor is configured to communicate with the battery processor to obtain the Battery ID and select one of the battery information profiles based on the Battery ID.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery memory further comprises an additional battery information profile, and the main processor is configured to use the additional battery information profile provided by the battery memory.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery memory further comprises an additional battery information profile with a version number and the main processor is configured to use the additional battery information profile when the version number indicates that the additional battery information profile is newer than the battery information profiles stored in the device memory.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery memory further comprises an additional battery information profile with a corresponding version number and the mobile device comprises version information identifying version numbers associated with erroneous additional battery information profiles and wherein the main processor is configured not to use the additional battery information profile if the corresponding version number is indicated in the version information.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery memory further comprises additional battery information profiles for different communication standards, and the main processor is configured to use one of the additional battery information profiles that correspond to the communication standard employed by the communication subsystem.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 5, wherein one of the additional battery information profiles comprise a lookup table with voltage versus charge capacity information, and another of the additional battery information profiles comprise a set of offsets that are applied to the lookup table.

7. A method for obtaining battery information for a mobile communication device that comprises a main processor, and a smart battery comprising a battery processor and a battery memory, wherein the method comprises:

storing a plurality of battery information profiles in the device memory;

storing a Battery ID in the battery memory indicating the model of the smart battery;

providing a communication interface between the smart processor and the main processor;

sending the battery ID from the battery processor to the main processor; and

selecting one of the battery information profiles at the mobile communication device based on the Battery ID.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing the battery memory with an additional battery information profile, and using the additional battery information profile rather than the battery information profiles stored in the device memory.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing the battery memory with an additional battery information profile along with a version number and using the additional battery information profile rather than the battery information profiles stored in the device memory when the version number indicates that the additional battery information profile is newer than the battery information profiles stored in the device memory.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing the battery memory with an additional battery information profile with a corresponding version number and providing the mobile device with version information identifying version numbers associated with erroneous additional battery information profiles and wherein the method comprises not using the additional battery information profile if the corresponding version number is indicated in the version information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises providing the battery memory with additional battery information profiles for different communication standards, and using one of the additional battery information profiles that correspond to the communication standard employed by the mobile communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises providing one of the additional battery information profiles as a lookup table with voltage versus charge capacity information, and another of the additional battery information profiles with a set of offsets that are applied to the lookup table.

17. A computer readable medium for obtaining battery information for a mobile communication device that comprises a main processor, and a smart battery comprising a battery processor and a battery memory, the computer readable medium comprising program code executable by a processor of the mobile device for causing said device to implement the method of claim 7.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the battery memory is provided with an additional battery information profile, and the program code comprises instructions for causing said device to use the additional battery information profile rather than the battery information profiles stored in the device memory.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the battery memory is provided with additional battery information profiles for different communication standards, and the program code comprises instructions for causing said device to use one of the additional battery information profiles that correspond to the communication standard employed by the mobile communication device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein one of the additional battery information profiles as a lookup table with voltage versus charge capacity information, and another of the additional battery information profiles with a set of offsets that are applied to the lookup table.

13. A smart battery for providing supply power to a mobile device, the smart battery being capable of being connected to the mobile device, the smart battery comprising:

a battery processor adapted to control the operation of the smart battery and communicate with a processor of the mobile device when the smart battery is connected to the mobile device; and

a battery memory coupled to the battery processor, the battery memory being adapted to store a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery, a battery information profile along with an identifier for indicating situations in which the battery information profile is to be used by the mobile device.

14. The smart battery of claim 13, wherein the identifier is a version number and the battery information profile is used by the mobile device when the version number indicates that the battery information profile is newer than battery information stored in the mobile device.

15. The smart battery of claim 13, wherein the battery memory comprises several battery information profiles for different communication standards.

16. The smart battery of claim 15, wherein one of the battery information profiles comprise a lookup table with voltage versus charge capacity information, and another of the battery information profiles comprise a set of offsets that are applied to the lookup table.