SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT AND DEFECTIVE BATTERIES USING BATTERY CHARACTERISTIC PROFILES

• US 20120143541A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wu, Chee-Ming Jimmy, Winger, Lyall Kenneth, Book, Christopher Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,146,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting whether a battery in an electronic device is counterfeit or defective. An actual battery characteristic profile is generated by recording the performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device. This profile is then compared to its corresponding expected characteristic profile. If the profiles are not substantially similar (i.e. if the error between the two curves exceeds a given error threshold), the battery is determined to be counterfeit or defective and responsive action is taken.

Claims

1. A method of detecting whether a battery in an electronic device is counterfeit or defective, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining an actual battery characteristic profile generated by recording performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device;

(b) retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile;

(c) comparing said expected battery characteristic profile with said actual battery characteristic profile to determine a value representing an error between said expected battery characteristic profile and said actual battery characteristic profile;

(d) comparing said value to an error threshold; and

(e) taking a responsive action when said value exceeds said error threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile comprises:

(i) checking if said expected battery characteristic profile is stored on a database on said electronic device; and

if not then

(ii) requesting from a remote server the expected battery characteristic profile.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein operations (a) to (e) are performed by a counterfeit/defective battery detector located on a remote server, and said counterfeit/defective battery detector communicates with said electronic device over a wireless link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said battery actual characteristic profile is generated by the electronic device by applying high-load pulses to the battery during an initial period when an AC portion of the Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) is pronounced, and recording an output voltage of the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said actual battery characteristic profile is a battery characteristic curve.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein operations of the method are performed upon powering up of said electronic device, and wherein taking said responsive action comprises transmitting a message to a user interface of the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a mobile device.

8. An electronic device comprising a counterfeit/defective battery detector for detecting whether a battery in the electronic device is counterfeit or defective, said counterfeit/defective battery detector configured for:

(a) obtaining an actual battery characteristic profile generated by recording performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device;

(b) retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile;

(c) comparing said expected battery characteristic profile with said actual battery characteristic profile to determine a value representing an error between said expected battery characteristic profile and said actual battery characteristic profile;

(d) comparing said value to an error threshold; and

(e) taking a responsive action when said value exceeds said error threshold.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said electronic device further comprises a database, and wherein said retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile comprises:

(i) checking if said expected battery characteristic profile is stored in said database; and

if not then

(ii) requesting from a remote server the expected battery characteristic profile.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the counterfeit/defective battery detector is configured for generating said actual battery characteristic profile by applying high-load pulses to the battery during an initial period when an AC portion of the Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) is pronounced, and recording an output voltage of the battery.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said actual battery characteristic profile is a battery characteristic curve.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said counterfeit/defective battery detector is configured for performing operations (a) to (e) upon powering up of said device, and wherein taking said responsive action comprises transmitting a message to a user interface of the electronic device.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said device is a mobile device.

14. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for detecting whether a battery in an electronic device is counterfeit or defective, said computer readable instructions comprising instructions for:

(a) obtaining an actual battery characteristic profile generated by recording performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device;

(b) retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile;

(c) comparing said expected battery characteristic profile with said actual battery characteristic profile to determine a value representing an error between said expected battery characteristic profile and said actual battery characteristic profile;

(d) comparing said value to an error threshold; and

(e) taking a responsive action when said value exceeds said error threshold.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said retrieving an expected battery characteristic profile corresponding to said actual battery characteristic profile comprises instructions for:

(i) checking if said expected battery characteristic profile is stored on a database on said electronic device; and

if not then

(ii) requesting from a remote server the expected battery characteristic profile.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein operations (a) to (e) are performed on a remote server, and said remote server communicates with said electronic device over a wireless link.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions comprise instructions for generating said actual battery characteristic profile by applying high-load pulses to the battery during an initial period when an AC portion of the Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) is pronounced, and recording an output voltage of the battery.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said battery characteristic profile is a battery characteristic curve.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions for performing operations (a) to (e) upon powering up of said electronic device, and wherein taking said responsive action comprises transmitting a message to a user interface of the electronic device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said electronic device is a mobile device.