BATTERY CHARGING TOP-OFF

• US 20130193931A1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bornhoft, Reid K., Torgerson, Nathan A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,682,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for a method of charging a battery. In an example, the method includes charging the battery during a first charging session until a first charging termination parameter value is reached. The method also includes determining, for a second charging session, a second charging termination parameter value based on a duration of the first charging session, wherein the second charging termination parameter value is different than the first charging termination parameter value. The method also includes charging the battery during the second charging session until the second charging termination parameter value is reached.

Claims

1. A method of charging a battery, the method comprising:

charging the battery during a first charging session until a first charging termination parameter value is reached;

determining, for a second charging session, a second charging termination parameter value based on a duration of the first charging session, wherein the second charging termination parameter value is different than the first charging termination parameter value; and

charging the battery during the second charging session until the second charging termination parameter value is reached.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first charging termination parameter value and the second charging termination parameter value comprise a first minimum charging current cut off value and a second minimum charging current cut off value, respectively.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first charging termination parameter value and the second charging termination parameter value comprise a first power level cut off value associated with a charging device and a second power level cut off value associated with the charging device, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value based on the duration of the first charging session comprises comparing the duration of the first charging to a predetermined target duration.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is less than the predetermined duration, further comprising adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to increase the duration of the second charging session.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises decreasing a minimum charging current cut off value.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is greater than the predetermined duration, further comprising adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to decrease the duration of the second charging session.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises increasing a minimum charging current cut off value.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined duration is approximately one hour.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the second charging termination parameter value based on the duration of the first charging session and an amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session comprises determining a number of coulombs administered to the battery during the first charging session.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session provides an indication of the impedance of the battery.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value comprises decreasing the second charging termination parameter value with respect to the first charging termination parameter value to account for an increase in the impedance of the battery.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value comprises increasing the second charging termination parameter value with respect to the first charging termination parameter value to account for a decrease in the impedance of the battery.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein charging the battery comprises a transcutaneous inductive transfer of charge to the battery.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery resides in a medical device and charging the battery comprises charging the battery with a medical device charger.

17. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

a battery configured to power the IMD;

a memory storing instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions, wherein upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors cause;

charging the battery during a first charging session until a first charging termination parameter value is reached;

determining, for a second charging session, a second charging termination parameter value based on a duration of the first charging session, wherein the second charging termination parameter value is different than the first charging termination parameter value; and

charging the battery during the second charging session until the second charging termination parameter value is reached.

18. The IMD of claim 17, wherein the first charging termination parameter value and the second charging termination parameter value comprise a first minimum charging current cut off value and a second minimum charging current cut off value, respectively.

19. The IMD of claim 17, wherein the first charging termination parameter value and the second charging termination parameter value comprise a first power level cut off associated with a charging device and a second power level cut off associated with the charging device, respectively.

20. The IMD of claim 17, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value based on the duration of the first charging session comprises comparing the duration of the first charging session to a predetermined target duration.

21. The IMD of claim 20, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is less than the predetermined duration, upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors further cause:

adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to increase the duration of the second charging session.

22. The IMD of claim 21, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises decreasing a minimum charging current cut off value.

23. The IMD of claim 20, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is greater than the predetermined duration, upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors further cause:

adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to decrease the duration of the second charging session.

24. The IMD of claim 23, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises increasing a minimum charging current cut off value.

25. The IMD of claim 20, wherein the predetermined duration is approximately one hour.

26. The IMD of claim 17, wherein upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors further cause:

determining the second charging termination parameter value based on the duration of the first charging session and an amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session.

27. The IMD of claim 26, wherein upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors further cause:

determining the amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session by determining a number of coulombs administered to the battery during the first charging session.

28. The IMD of claim 26, wherein the amount of charge administered to the battery during the first charging session provides an indication of the impedance of the battery.

29. The IMD of claim 28, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value comprises decreasing the second charging termination parameter value with respect to the first charging termination parameter value to account for an increase in the impedance of the battery.

30. The IMD of claim 28, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value comprises increasing the second charging termination parameter value with respect to the first charging termination parameter value to account for a decrease in the impedance of the battery.

31. The IMD of claim 17, further comprising a charging module configured to inductively transfer charge to the battery transcutaneously.

32. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

means for charging the battery during a first charging session until a first charging termination parameter value is reached;

means for determining, for a second charging session, a second charging termination parameter value based on a duration of the first charging session, wherein the second charging termination parameter value is different than the first charging termination parameter value; and

means for charging the battery during the second charging session until the second charging termination parameter value is reached.

33. The IMD of claim 32, wherein determining the second charging termination parameter value based on the duration of the first charging session comprises comparing the duration of the first charging to a predetermined target duration.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is less than the predetermined duration, further comprising means for adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to increase the duration of the second charging session.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises decreasing a minimum charging current cut off value.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein, when the duration of the first charging session is greater than the predetermined duration, further comprising means for adjusting the second charging termination parameter value to decrease the duration of the second charging session.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein adjusting the second charging termination parameter value comprises increasing a minimum charging current cut off value.