OPTIMIZED LITHIUM-ION BATTERY CHARGING

• US 20100123436A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Woloschin, Steven Eric, Herrod, Allan
• Application Number:
  US12/270,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A device optimized battery-charging system for extending the useful life of a rechargeable battery. The optimized battery-charging system predicts periods of use and non-use of the device containing the battery and generates a schedule of when to charge the battery so the battery is ready for the next use cycle. During non-use cycles, the optimized battery-charging system reduces the battery charge level to an optimum level for storage based on the battery chemistry. When charging or discharging the battery, the optimized battery-charging system calculates a rate of charge or discharge that assures that the battery temperature does not exceed a preconfigured maximum value.

Claims

1. A battery charging system for extending the useful life of a battery, the system comprising:

a battery usage prediction component for predicting future use of a device containing the battery;

a battery charge level schedule component for determining when to begin and end a charge or discharge cycle; and

a battery charging component for charging the battery to the configured charge level in preparation for a usage cycle.

2. The system of claim 1, the battery charging system is embedded in a mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a battery charging configuration component for entering configuration data for optimizing battery charge and discharge levels;

a battery discharging component for discharging the battery to the configured charge level in preparation for a storage cycle; and

a battery data storage component for persisting battery charge optimization and configuration data.

4. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information identifying a user'"'"'s calendar application on the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information specifying the optimum charge level for storing the battery.

6. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information specifying the maximum rate for charging the battery.

7. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information specifying the maximum rate for discharging the battery.

8. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information specifying the maximum battery temperature allowable while charging the battery.

9. The system of claim 3, the battery charging configuration component facilitates entering information specifying the maximum battery temperature allowable while discharging the battery.

10. The system of claim 4, the battery usage prediction component facilitates predicting future usage based on the user'"'"'s future calendar schedule.

11. The system of claim 2, the battery usage prediction component facilitates predicting future usage based on the user'"'"'s historical mobile device use data.

12. The system of claim 2, the battery usage prediction component facilitates predicting future usage based on data downloaded from an enterprise device management system.

13. The system of claim 1, the battery is a Lithium-Ion battery.

14. A method, stored in a memory and executing on a processor in a device, for extending the useful life of a rechargeable battery installed in the device, the method comprising:

configuring the battery maximum allowable temperature, ramp-up time and ramp-down time;

determining a schedule for charging and discharging the battery based on historical and predicted future use of the battery;

determining when a ramp-up or ramp-down period has been entered;

calculating charge and discharge rates based on the ramp-up and ramp-down periods respectively;

enabling a charge or discharge circuit, at the calculated charge or discharge rate;

determining when the battery charge level meets the configured charge or discharge level; and

disabling the charge or discharge circuit.

15. The method of claim 14, the battery is a Lithium-Ion battery.

16. The method of claim 14, the schedule for charging and discharging the battery is communicated by the device to an enterprise device management system for distribution to other devices.

17. The method of claim 14, the charge schedule disables the charge circuit before the battery receives a full charge because predicted usage requires less than a full charge before the next charge cycle.

18. The method of claim 14, a trickle charge maintains the battery at an optimum storage charge level until the ramp-up period begins.

19. The method of claim 14, the discharge circuit directs discharge power to a battery cooling apparatus.

20. The method of claim 14, the discharge circuit directs discharge power to a plurality of batteries in the ramp-up period.

21. A battery charging system for extending the useful life of a battery, the system comprising:

means for predicting future use of a device containing the battery;

means for determining when to begin and end a charge or discharge cycle; and

means for charging the battery to the configured charge level in preparation for a usage cycle.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for entering configuration data for optimizing battery charge and discharge levels;

means for discharging the battery to the configured charge level in preparation for a storage cycle; and

means for persisting battery charge optimization and configuration data.