Battery management

• US 20070182376A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

An electronic tool and method to manage a battery includes a processor to monitor a battery charge and estimate a required charge needed by the electronic tool to complete any task or job shift. When the processor determines the battery charge is insufficient, the processor applies business rules to reduce and terminate functions of the electronic tool to conserve power.

Claims

1. A method for managing a battery in an electronic device during use, comprising:

determining an actual charge for a battery of the electronic device;

estimating a power consumption requirement for a task to be performed;

determining whether the actual charge for the battery is sufficient for the estimated power consumption; and

if it is determined that the actual charge for the battery is not sufficient, providing a warning of insufficient battery charge.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an initial charge when the electronic device is removed from a power source and the step of determining whether the actual charge for the battery is sufficient for the estimated power consumption further includes the step of determining whether the initial charge is sufficient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining when an electronic device is removed from an external power source is made by monitoring a discharge rate from the battery.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining when an electronic device is removed from an external power source is made by a switch.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining when an electronic device is removed from an external power source is made by a motion sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating the power consumption is based on historical data regarding actual power consumption.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating the power consumption is based on a weighted average of historical data regarding actual power consumption.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating the power consumption is based on known power consumption of the task.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating power needed to complete the task;

determining power remaining in the battery;

determining whether sufficient power remains in the battery based on the estimated power needed;

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, reducing the operation of at least one function of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, terminating at least one function of the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, terminating at least one function of the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying non-essential functions and reducing the operation of non-essential functions first.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying non-essential functions and terminating the operation of non-essential functions first.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an alert to a dispatch center to deliver a new battery or a new electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the electronic tool for unusually power consumption variants; and

flagging the electronic tool for maintenance when power consumption variants are discovered.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein power consumption variants include large power discharges.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein power consumption variants include a history of requiring more power than comparable tools performing comparable tasks.

18. A method for managing a battery in an electronic device during use, the method comprising:

estimating power needed by an electronic device to complete a task;

determining power remaining in a battery of the electronic device;

determining whether sufficient power remains in the battery based on the estimated power needed;

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, reducing the power requirements of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, reducing the operation of at least one function of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, terminating at least one function of the electronic device.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if it is determined that sufficient power does not remain in the battery, terminating at least one function of the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising identifying non-essential functions and reducing the operation of non-essential functions first.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising identifying non-essential functions and terminating the operation of non-essential functions first.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising sending an alert to a user to deliver a new battery or a new electronic device.

25. An electronic device capable of managing power requirements and monitoring a battery status, the device comprising:

a processor, and

a battery;

the processor monitoring a battery charge and estimating a required charge needed by the electronic device to complete a task;

and when the processor determines the battery charge is insufficient, the processor applies business rules to reduce and terminate functions of the electronic tool to conserve power.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the processor reduces non-essential functions first.

27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the processor terminates non-essential functions first.

28. The electronic device for claim 25, further comprising a sensor to determine when the electronic tool is removed from an external power source, when the electronic tool is removed from the external power source, the processor determines an estimated charge required to complete the task.

29. The electronic device of claim 28 further comprising a display device such that when power is insufficient to complete the task, the display device displays a warning.