Device and Method for Instantaneous Load Reduction Configuration to Prevent Under Voltage Condition

• US 20100019731A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: CALVARESE, Russell, Connolly, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,129,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

A device may include a battery and a plurality of components receiving power from the battery. A voltage of the battery is maintained above a threshold voltage by decreasing a current drawn by one of the components when the battery voltage approaches the threshold voltage.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a battery; and

a plurality of components receiving power from the battery,

wherein a voltage of the battery is maintained above a threshold voltage by decreasing a current drawn by one of the components when the battery voltage approaches the threshold voltage.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one of the components is an RFID transceiver.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the components further include one of a processor and a WLAN transceiver

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold voltage is one of a shutdown voltage and a predetermined safety margin applied to a shutdown voltage.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the current is decreased by one of a control circuit and a software application.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises a comparator comparing the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the voltage of the battery is maintained above the threshold voltage by simultaneously decreasing a current drawn by a further component.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery voltage monitor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold voltage is set in another one of the components.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the other one of the components is a processor.

11. A method, comprising:

monitoring a voltage of a battery, the battery supplying power to at least two components; and

reducing a current usage of a predetermined one of the components when the battery voltage decreases below a predetermined threshold voltage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined one of the components is an RFID radio.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein another of the components is one of a WLAN radio and a processor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold voltage is a shutdown voltage threshold.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the current usage is decreased by one of a control circuit and a software application.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control circuit comprises a comparator comparing the battery voltage to the threshold voltage.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the voltage of the battery is maintained above the threshold voltage by simultaneously decreasing a current drawn by a further component.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold voltage is set in another one of the components.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the other one of the components is a processor.

20. A device, comprising:

means for receiving a battery voltage;

means for determining if the battery voltage is approaching a threshold voltage; and

means for reducing a current draw of a component of the device when the battery voltage is approaching the threshold voltage.