METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL ESTIMATION

• US 20130132010A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: WINGER, Lyall Kenneth, RICH, David Gerard, MARCHAND, Rene Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for battery life estimation comprising an energy harvester; an energy storage apparatus, connected to the energy harvester, the energy storage apparatus representative of a unit of measure; a battery for receiving energy from the storage apparatus; and a processor for monitoring the energy provided by the storage apparatus, monitoring energy provided to the battery by other charging apparatus and monitoring the energy being delivered by the battery; wherein the processor calculates the remaining life of the battery based on the number of energy storage apparatus units that are provided to and delivered from the battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for battery charge level estimation comprising:

an energy harvester configured to convert non-electrical energy into electrical energy;

an energy storage apparatus, electrically connected to the energy harvester and configured to receive energy from the energy harvester;

a battery electrically connected to the energy storage apparatus; and

a processor configured to monitor the energy transferred from the energy storage apparatus to the battery and to monitor the energy delivered by the battery to a power-consuming component;

wherein the processor is configured to calculate a remaining life of the battery as a function of the energy transferred from the energy storage apparatus to the battery and the energy delivered by the battery to the power-consuming component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a unit of measurement is defined as a function of the energy storage capacity of the energy storage apparatus, and wherein the calculation of remaining life of the battery are a function of the unit of measurement.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy harvester is at least one piezoelectric element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage apparatus comprises a capacitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a DC/DC converter electrically connected to the energy harvester and the energy storage apparatus, the converter configured to regulate the power from the energy harvester.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a switch electrically connected to the energy harvester and the DC/DC converter, the switch configured to selectively divert energy from the energy harvester to a ground node.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a switch electrically connected to the DC/DC converter and the energy storage apparatus, the switch configured to selectively divert energy from the DC/DC converter to a ground node.

9. A method of determining a charge level of a battery comprising:

estimating current power level;

determining energy transferred from an energy storage apparatus to the battery;

determining energy delivered by the battery to a power-consuming component; and

calculating the charge level as a function of the energy transferred and the energy delivered.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining energy transferred from an energy storage apparatus comprises:

monitoring sensors at an input of the battery.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining energy transferred further comprises:

calculating power being supplied to the battery.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein determining energy delivered by the battery comprises:

monitoring sensors at an output of the battery.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining energy delivered further comprises:

calculating power being delivered by the battery.