DETECTING BATTERIES WITH NON-UNIFORM DRAIN RATES
First Claim
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1. A device comprising:
- a battery indicator;
a control circuit configured to control the battery indicator; and
a battery port configured to receive a first battery and a second battery in series to power the control circuit and the battery indicator, the battery port including;
a first power supply terminal configured to supply a high supply voltage to the control circuit;
a second power supply terminal configured to supply a low supply voltage to the control circuit; and
an intermediate node configured to electrically connect the first and second batteries in series and to supply to the control circuit an intermediate voltage, the control circuit configured to measure the intermediate voltage.
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Abstract
A remote control is powered by multiple batteries connected in series. The remote control includes a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a midpoint voltage from a node connecting two of the batteries to a reference voltage. The remote control is able to determine if there is a non-uniform drain rate in the batteries based on the comparison.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a battery indicator; a control circuit configured to control the battery indicator; and a battery port configured to receive a first battery and a second battery in series to power the control circuit and the battery indicator, the battery port including; a first power supply terminal configured to supply a high supply voltage to the control circuit; a second power supply terminal configured to supply a low supply voltage to the control circuit; and an intermediate node configured to electrically connect the first and second batteries in series and to supply to the control circuit an intermediate voltage, the control circuit configured to measure the intermediate voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a processing unit; a remote control comprising; a transmitter configured to transmit control signals to control the processing unit; a control circuit coupled to the transmitter; a battery port configured to receive a first and a second battery; an intermediate node coupled to the battery port and configured to electrically connect the first and the second batteries in series when the first and second batteries are placed in the battery port; and an intermediate voltage comparison circuit configured to detect an intermediate voltage at the intermediate node and to detect a non-uniform drain rate in the first and the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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connecting a first and second battery in series at an intermediate node; providing a total series voltage from the first and second batteries to power an electronic device; measuring an intermediate voltage from the intermediate node; and issuing a battery fault signal if the intermediate voltage is outside a selected voltage range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification