Processes and apparatus for battery compensation

• US 20070202836A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Butzine, Jonathan, Zaman, Sabih
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

Systems, processes and apparatus are described through which signals are received from a controller, where the signals include a power ON signal. A time measurement element is started responsive to the power ON signal to assess a current duration of operation of the system. An existing cumulative record of system operation is recalled from a non-volatile memory in the system and the existing cumulative record is combined with the current duration to provide a representation of a running elapsed time, which is recorded in the non-volatile memory and is compared to a threshold to provide an indication when the running elapsed time has traversed the threshold.

Claims

1. A signal conditioning module configured for insertion into a system, the module including non-volatile memory capability, the module being configured to:

receive signals from a controller contained in the system, the signals including a power ON signal;

initiate a time-measurement element responsive to the power ON signal to assess a current duration of operation of the system;

recall an existing cumulative record of system operation from the non-volatile memory;

combine the existing cumulative record with the current duration to provide a representation of a running elapsed time;

record the running elapsed time in the non-volatile memory;

compare the running elapsed time to a threshold; and

indicate when the running elapsed time has traversed the threshold.

3. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a battery-powered mobility function.

4. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array.

5. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array, the module being further configured to accept and store a revised template in the non-volatile memory.

2. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the module is further configured to reset the existing cumulative record upon completion of a battery-charging event.

6. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a cumulative total value for one or more system operations parameters.

6-1. (canceled)

7. The signal conditioning module of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system and wherein the non-volatile memory includes a cumulative total value for estimated battery discharge subsequent to a most-recently completed battery recharge cycle.

7-2. (canceled)

8. A process operative within a system including non-volatile memory capability, the process comprising acts of:

receiving signals from a controller contained in the system, the signals including a power ON signal;

initiating a time-measurement element responsive to the power ON signal to assess a current duration of operation of the system;

recalling an existing cumulative record of system operation from the non-volatile memory;

combining the existing cumulative record with the current duration to provide a representation of a running elapsed time;

recording the running elapsed time in the non-volatile memory;

comparing the running elapsed time to a threshold; and

indicating when the running elapsed time has traversed the threshold.

9. The process of claim 8, further comprising an act of resetting the existing cumulative record upon completion of a battery-charging event.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a battery-powered mobility function.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, and wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array.

12. The process of claim 8, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array, the process further comprising acts of accepting and storing a revised template in the non-volatile memory.

13. The process of claim 8, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, and wherein the non-volatile memory includes a cumulative total value for one or more system operations parameters.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system and wherein the non-volatile memory includes a cumulative total value for estimated battery discharge subsequent to a most-recently completed battery recharge cycle.

15. An article of manufacture having computer code embodied thereon that includes computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

receive signals from a controller contained in the system, the signals including a power ON signal;

initiate a time-measurement element responsive to the power ON signal to assess a current duration of operation of the system;

recall an existing cumulative record of system operation from the non-volatile memory;

combine the existing cumulative record with the current duration to provide a representation of a running elapsed time;

record the running elapsed time in the non-volatile memory;

compare the running elapsed time to a threshold; and

indicate when the running elapsed time has traversed the threshold.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable instructions include instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to reset the existing cumulative record upon completion of a battery-charging event.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a battery-powered mobility function.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system including a digital detector array, wherein the non-volatile memory includes a template descriptive of current draw for the system including the digital detector array, and wherein the computer-readable instructions include instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to accept and store a revised template in the non-volatile memory.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the system comprises an X-ray imaging system and wherein the non-volatile memory includes a cumulative total value for estimated battery discharge subsequent to a most-recently completed battery recharge cycle.