Device and method for detecting battery voltage level

• US 20080094056A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Premier Image Technology Corp (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Premier Image Technology Corp (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Huang, Yu Lin
• Application Number:
  US11/583,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements

Abstract

A device and an associated method for detecting a voltage level of a battery are disclosed. The device employs an analog-to-digital converter or digital-to-analog converter to accurately detecting the voltage level. In one embodiment, the device includes a digital-to-analog converter, a comparison circuit, and a microprocessor. The digital-to-analog circuit outputs a plurality of reference levels according to a setting signal. The comparison circuit is for comparing the output voltage of the battery with the reference levels and outputting a comparison signal. The microprocessor then determines the voltage level of the battery according to the comparison signal.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a voltage level of a battery comprising:

an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for outputting a digital signal corresponding to an output voltage of the battery; and

a microprocessor, coupled to the A/D converter, for determining the voltage level of the battery according to the digital signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the battery is used by an electronic device comprising a digital signal processor, and the digital signal processor comprises the A/D converter and the microprocessor.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor determines the voltage level of the battery by executing a firmware program.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, coupled to the microprocessor, for displaying the voltage level of the battery according to a level signal corresponding to the voltage level, wherein the level signal is outputted by the microprocessor.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays the voltage level of the battery by a level indicator.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor activates a protective process of the electronic device when the microprocessor determines that the voltage level of the battery is below a threshold.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the protective process is an automatic shutdown procedure or entering a standby mode.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage dividing circuit, coupled between the battery and the A/D converter, for outputting a voltage dividing signal to the A/D converter according to the output voltage of the battery;

wherein the A/D converter generates the digital signal according to the voltage dividing signal.

9. A device for detecting a voltage level of a battery comprising:

a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter for outputting a plurality of reference levels according to a setting signal;

a comparison circuit, coupled to the battery and the D/A converter, for comparing an output voltage of the battery with the reference levels and outputting a comparison signal; and

a microprocessor, coupled to the comparison circuit, for determining a voltage level of the battery according to the comparison signal.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the battery is used by an electronic device comprising a digital signal processor, and the digital signal processor comprises the D/A converter and the microprocessor.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the microprocessor determines the voltage level of the battery by executing a firmware program.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the microprocessor generates the setting signal to the D/A converter.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the microprocessor generates the setting signal by executing a firmware program.

14. The device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display unit, coupled to the microprocessor, for displaying the voltage level of the battery according to a level signal corresponding to the voltage level, wherein the level signal is outputted by the microprocessor.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the display unit displays the voltage level of the battery by a level indicator.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein the microprocessor activates a protective process of the electronic device when the microprocessor determines that the voltage level of the battery is below a threshold.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the protective process is an automatic shutdown procedure or entering a standby mode.

18. A method for detecting a voltage level of a battery comprising the steps of:

outputting a plurality of reference levels according to a setting signal;

comparing an output voltage of the battery with the reference levels to output a comparison signal; and

determining the voltage level of the battery according to the comparison signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the battery is used by an electronic device comprising a digital signal processor, the step of outputting the reference levels is carried out by a digital-to-analog converter included in the digital signal processor, and the determining step is carried out by a microprocessor included in the digital signal processor.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the setting signal is generated by the microprocessor via the execution of a firmware program.