MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-VOLTAGE LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERIES IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20130049702A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dai, Hongli, Mank, Richard M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:

monitoring a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and

if the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, modifying a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device; and

if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, further modifying the charging technique for the battery.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein further modifying the charging technique for the battery involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the temperature exceeds the temperature threshold.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein modifying the charging technique for the battery involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, and

further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4,

wherein the charge voltage of the battery is initially between 4.25V and 5.0V, and

wherein the charge voltage is reduced by 10 mV to 50 mV if the cycle number exceeds the first or second cycle number thresholds.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a state-of-charge of the battery during charging of the battery; and

further modifying the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein further modifying the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge involves:

if the battery remains in a fully charged state for longer than a time threshold, disconnecting the battery from a charger.

8. A system for managing use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and

a management apparatus configured to modify a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device if the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds.

9. The system of claim 8,

wherein the monitoring apparatus is further configured to monitor a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, and

wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein modifying the charging technique if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the temperature exceeds the temperature threshold.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein modifying the charging technique for the battery involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold; and

further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.

12. The system of claim 11,

wherein the charge voltage of the battery is initially between 4.25V and 5.0V, and

wherein the charge voltage is reduced by 10 mV to 50 mV if the cycle number exceeds the first or second cycle number thresholds.

13. The system of claim 8,

wherein the monitoring apparatus is further configured to monitor a state-of-charge of the battery during charging of the battery, and

wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein modifying the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge involves:

if the battery remains in a fully charged state for longer than a time threshold, disconnecting the battery from a charger.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for managing use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

monitoring a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and

if the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, modifying a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device; and

if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, further modifying the charging technique for the battery.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein modifying the charging technique for the battery involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, and

further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15,

wherein the charge voltage of the battery is initially between 4.25V and 5.0V, and

wherein the charge voltage is reduced by 10 mV to 50 mV if the cycle number exceeds the first or second cycle number thresholds.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising:

monitoring a state-of-charge of the battery during charging of the battery; and

further modifying the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein further modifying the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge involves:

if the battery remains in a fully charged state for longer than a time threshold, disconnecting the battery from a charger.

21. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a set of components powered by a battery, wherein the battery corresponds to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery;

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and

a management apparatus configured to modify a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery if the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 21,

wherein the monitoring apparatus is further configured to monitor a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, and

wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 21, wherein modifying the charging technique for the battery involves:

reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, and

further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 23,

wherein the charge voltage of the battery is initially between 4.25V and 5.0V, and

wherein the charge voltage is reduced by 10 mV to 50 mV if the cycle number exceeds the first or second cycle number thresholds.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 21,

wherein the monitoring apparatus is further configured to monitor a state-of-charge of the battery during charging of the battery, and

wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique based on the monitored state-of-charge.