INTERFACE AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A MOBILE DEVICE WITH A SMART BATTERY

• US 20100197367A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Brubacher, Jonathan, Little, Herbert, Guthrie, Martin, Book, Christopher, Pattenden, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that utilizes a smart battery. The mobile device includes a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device. The smart battery is coupled to the main processor and provides supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor, and a battery module having one or more batteries for providing the supply power. A battery interface is provided for coupling between the main processor and the battery processor for providing communication therebetween. The battery interface comprises a data communication line and protection circuitry for protecting the main processor from electrostatic discharge. A communication protocol is also provided for communication between the main processor and the battery processor.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a main processor of a mobile communication device and a battery used by the mobile communication device, wherein the method comprises:

providing a communication interface between the main processor and the battery to provide communication therebetween;

sending a protocol version request packet from the main processor to the battery;

initiating authentication of the battery by the main processor if the battery provides a protocol version response packet to the main processor in response to the protocol version request packet; and

reading a battery ID resistor of the battery if the battery does not provide a protocol version response packet to the main processor in response to the protocol version request packet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication comprises:

sending a pre-computed battery authentication challenge packet from the main processor to the battery;

generating a battery authentication response at the battery;

sending a battery authentication response packet comprising the battery authentication response from the battery to the main processor; and

comparing the battery authentication response with a pre-computed battery authentication response at the main processor to determine if the authentication is successful.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the authentication is successful, the method further comprises:

sending a battery information request packet from the main processor to the battery;

generating a battery information response packet at the battery comprising battery information on operation of the battery; and

sending the battery information response packet from the battery to the main processor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the battery information comprises information for a charge curve of the battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol version request packet comprises a battery ID of the battery.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the battery comprises a smart battery and a packet with an unknown code is received at the smart battery, the method further comprises sending the protocol version response packet from the smart battery to the main processor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if the battery comprises a smart battery and a packet with a failed error check value is received at the smart battery, the method further comprises sending the protocol version response packet from the smart battery to the main processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol version response packet comprises a protocol version that indicates a version of the battery communication protocol being used.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the protocol version comprises a minor version number and the method further comprises increasing the minor version number for each backwards-compatible change.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the protocol version comprises a major version number and the method further comprises increasing the major version number for each change that is not backwards-compatible.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising resetting the minor version number to zero when the major version number is increased.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the communication interface with protection circuitry for protecting the main processor from electrostatic discharge.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises configuring the protection circuitry to limit the data rate of the communication interface to approximately 300 bits per second.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for a method of communicating between a main processor of a mobile communication device and a battery used by the mobile communication device, wherein the program instructions are executable by the main processor, and wherein the program instructions are for:

sending a protocol version request packet from the main processor to the battery;

initiating authentication of the battery by the main processor if the battery provides a protocol version response packet to the main processor in response to the protocol version request packet; and

reading a battery ID resistor of the battery if the battery does not provide a protocol version response packet to the main processor in response to the protocol version request packet.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the authentication comprises:

sending a pre-computed battery authentication challenge packet from the main processor to the battery;

receiving a battery authentication response packet at the main processor sent from the battery, the battery authentication response packet comprising a battery authentication response generated at the battery; and

comparing the battery authentication response with a pre-computed battery authentication response at the main processor to determine if the authentication is successful.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein if the authentication is successful, the program instructions are further for:

sending a battery information request packet from the main processor to the battery; and

receiving a battery information response packet at the main processor sent from the battery, the battery information response packet comprising battery information on operation of the battery.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the battery information comprises information for a charge curve of the battery.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the protocol version request packet comprises a battery ID of the battery.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein if the battery comprises a smart battery and a packet with an unknown code is received at the smart battery, the program instructions are further for receiving the protocol version response packet at the main processor sent from the smart battery.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein if the battery comprises a smart battery and a packet with a failed error check value is received at the smart battery, the program instructions are further for receiving the protocol version response packet at the main processor sent from the smart battery.