SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE POWER SOURCE LIFE BETWEEN MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALLY POWERED DEVICES IN A WIRED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20080028239A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rapps, Jason A., Grundy, Richard D., Mitrosky, James S., Koskan, Patrick D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

A power management system (100) includes a group of individually powered electronic devices (101-107) connected with a power management controller (109). The power management controller (109) operates to determine the operation and charge of each power source of the electronic devices (101-107) for managing the power source life of at least one of the devices through the use of pre-selected power management algorithms. These include a preprogrammed and predictive algorithm (203, 205) based on anticipated or actual device activity, a priority algorithm (207) based on device priority or a maximize work shift algorithm (209) based on the time period of the user'"'"'s work shift.

Claims

1. A power management system comprising:

a plurality of individually powered electronic devices connected with a power management controller; and

wherein the power management controller operates to determine the operation and charge of each power source of the electronic devices for controlling power source life of at least one device.

2. A power management system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually power electronic devices are physically connected to the power management controller.

3. A power management system as in claim 1, wherein the power management controller utilizes at least one power management algorithm for controlling operation of the plurality of devices.

4. A power management system as in claim 3, wherein the at least one power management algorithm provides for allowing the plurality of electronic devices to fully discharge at the same moment based upon preprogrammed information.

5. A power management system as in claim 3, wherein the at least one power management algorithm provides for allowing the power sources in the plurality of electronic devices to fully discharge at the same moment based upon predicted historical information.

6. A power management system as in claim 3, wherein the at least one power management algorithm provides for allowing one of the plurality of devices to maximize its power source life.

7. A power management system as in claim 3, wherein the at least one power management algorithm provides for allowing at least one of the plurality of devices to maximize its power source life over a predetermined time period.

8. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices comprising:

a power management controller for use with the plurality of electronic devices;

a plurality of power sources each individually powering each one of the plurality of electronic devices; and

wherein the flow of power from the plurality of power sources is regulated based upon the specific use of the electronic devices as well as their desired life expectancy.

9. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of electronic devices are wired to the power management controller.

10. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 8, wherein the power sources are regulated based upon a pre-selected algorithm.

11. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 10, wherein the pre-selected algorithm utilizes a preprogrammed expectation of electronic device usage to provide that all the electronic devices discharge at substantially the same moment.

12. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 10, wherein the pre-selected algorithm utilizes measured historical data record from each electronic device to provide that all the electronic devices discharge at substantially the same moment.

13. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 10, wherein the pre-selected algorithm selects a single electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices to maximize its life.

14. A system for managing the power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 10, wherein the pre-selected algorithm selects at least one of the plurality of electronic device to ensure that its power source is maintained over a predetermined period of time.

15. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices comprising the steps of:

connecting the plurality of electronic devices directly to a power management controller;

determining power source information from power sources connected to each of the plurality of electronic devices by the power management controller; and

managing the charge and drain of each of the power sources based upon the specific use of the electronic devices and a desired life expectancy.

16. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

regulating the charge and drain of each of the power sources based upon a pre-selected algorithm.

17. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

utilizing an algorithm based upon a preprogrammed expectation of electronic device usage such that all the electronic devices discharge at substantially the same moment.

18. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

utilizing an algorithm that operates based upon measured historical data recorded from each electronic device such that the plurality of electronic devices discharge at substantially the same moment.

19. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

utilizing an algorithm which selects one electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices for maximizing the life of the one electronic device.

20. A method for managing power source life between a plurality of electronic devices as in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

utilizing an algorithm which selects at least one of the plurality of electronic devices for ensuring that its power source is maintained over a predetermined time period.