SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING RUN-TIME OF AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS BY INDIRECT MEASUREMENT
First Claim
1. A wireless autonomous transducer system comprising:
- a load circuit comprising a number of functional blocks providing a given functionality to the load circuit, the load circuit requiring a varying electric current during performance of the functionality, the functional blocks comprising a variable gain amplifier comprising a plurality of stages switchable between an active and an inactive mode, and a control block configured to set the number of active stages of the variable gain amplifier;
an energy storage system for storing electric energy, connected to the load circuit for supplying the varying electric current thereto; and
an energy storage management system for estimating a remaining run-time of the autonomous system, the energy storage management system comprising at least a first input for receiving a first parameter indicative of the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit and being configured to determine the remaining run-time from the first parameter,wherein the first parameter is an indirect measure for the varying electric current and is supplied by a first of the functional blocks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for estimating remaining run-time of an autonomous system by indirect measure is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a load circuit, an energy storage system (ESS) and an energy storage management system (ESM). The load circuit includes functional blocks. The ESS stores electric energy and is connected to the load circuit and configured to supply the varying electric current to the load circuit. The ESM is configured to estimate a remaining run-time of the autonomous system. The ESM includes an input connected to one of the functional blocks of the load circuit from which a first parameter being an indirect measure for the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit is received. The ESM determines the remaining run-time from this first parameter.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A wireless autonomous transducer system comprising:
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a load circuit comprising a number of functional blocks providing a given functionality to the load circuit, the load circuit requiring a varying electric current during performance of the functionality, the functional blocks comprising a variable gain amplifier comprising a plurality of stages switchable between an active and an inactive mode, and a control block configured to set the number of active stages of the variable gain amplifier; an energy storage system for storing electric energy, connected to the load circuit for supplying the varying electric current thereto; and an energy storage management system for estimating a remaining run-time of the autonomous system, the energy storage management system comprising at least a first input for receiving a first parameter indicative of the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit and being configured to determine the remaining run-time from the first parameter, wherein the first parameter is an indirect measure for the varying electric current and is supplied by a first of the functional blocks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a load circuit comprising a number of functional blocks, the functional blocks comprising a variable gain amplifier having a plurality of stages switchable between an active and an inactive mode, and a control block connected to the variable gain amplifier to set the number of active stages of the variable gain amplifier; an energy storage system connected to the load circuit and configured to supply a varying electric current to the load circuit; and an energy storage management system connected to a first of the functional blocks of the load circuit and configured to determine the remaining run-time of the apparatus from a first parameter received from the first functional block, the first parameter being an indirect measure for the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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means for performing the main function of the apparatus, the function performing means comprising a number of functional blocks; means for storing electric energy, the energy storing means being connected to the function performing means for supplying a varying electric current thereto; and means for estimating a remaining run-time of the apparatus, the run-time estimating means determining the remaining run-time based at least in part on a first parameter indicative of the varying electric current supplied from the energy storing means to the function performing means, wherein the first parameter is an indirect measure for the varying electric current and is supplied by a first of the functional blocks. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for estimating a remaining run-time of an apparatus, the apparatus having a load circuit comprising a number of functional blocks and an energy storage system being connected to the load circuit and configured to supply a varying electric current thereto, the method comprising:
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receiving a first parameter which is an indirect measure for the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit from a first of the functional blocks; and determining the remaining run-time from the first parameter.
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Specification