CONTROLLING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY POWER TO CONSUMING DEVICES DURING BATTERY DISCHARGE

• US 20130278054A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kritt, Barry Alan, Rakshit, Sarbajit Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 9,190,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits

Abstract

A user of an automobile interactive onboard computer display monitors and controls battery power distribution during discharge. The user is enabled to interactively enter into a computer controlled display, proportions of the total battery power to be distributed to each of a set of devices. The distribution of the battery power to each of the devices is then monitored. The distribution of power to a specific device is halted when the power distributed to the specific device reaches the maximum of the proportion of the entered battery power to be distributed to the specific device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power distribution of a rechargeable battery to a set of devices comprising:

enabling a user to interactively enter into a computer controlled display, proportions of the total battery power to be distributed to each of said set of devices;

monitoring the distribution of said battery power to each of said devices; and

halting the distribution of power to a specific device when the power distributed to the specific device reaches the maximum of the proportion of the entered battery power to be distributed to said specific device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said entered proportions are based upon the functions of said devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further including enabling a user to enter a set of alternate proportions of battery power to be distributed to said set of devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said alternate set of proportions is based upon the location of the automobile.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said alternate set of proportions is based upon the time period of usage.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

further enabling said user to prioritize proportions of total battery power based upon said device functions.

7. The method of claim 2 further enabling the user to set a minimum level of battery power to be maintained in at least one of said proportions based upon the function of the device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said minimum level that must be maintained is in the proportion of the total battery power to be distributed to the automobile starting device.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said battery is in a hybrid type automobile that runs on either battery power or combustion fuel; and

said alternate set proportions are based upon the proximity to battery recharge and fuel sources.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said performed method further includes enabling a user to enter a set of alternate proportions of battery power to be distributed to said set of devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said set of alternate proportions is based upon the location of the automobile.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said set of proportions is based upon the time period of usage.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein:

said battery is in a hybrid type automobile that runs on either battery power or combustion fuel; and

said set of alternate proportions is based upon the proximity to battery recharge and fuel sources.

10. A computer controlled system for controlling power distribution of a rechargeable battery to a set of devices, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer memory holding computer program instructions that when executed by the processor perform the method comprising;

enabling a user to interactively enter, into a computer controlled display, proportions of the total battery power to be distributed to each of said set of devices;

monitoring the distribution of said battery power to each of said devices; and

halting the distribution of power to a specific device when the power distributed to the specific device reaches the maximum of the proportion of the entered battery power to be distributed to said specific device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said entered proportions are based upon the functions of said devices.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said performed method further enables said user to prioritize proportions of total battery power based upon said device functions.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said performed method further enables the user to set a minimum level of battery power to be maintained in at least one of said proportions of the total battery power to be distributed based upon the function of the device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said minimum level that must be maintained is in the proportion of the total battery power to be distributed to the automobile starting device.

19. A computer usable storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for controlling power distribution of a rechargeable battery to a set of devices, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to:

enable a user to interactively enter into a computer controlled display, proportions of the total battery power to be distributed to each of said set of devices;

monitor the distribution of said battery power to each of said devices; and

halt the distribution of power to a specific device when the power distributed to the specific device reaches the maximum of the proportion of the entered battery power to be distributed to said specific device.

20. The computer usable storage medium of claim 19, wherein said entered proportions are based upon the functions of said devices.

21. The computer usable storage medium of claim 19, wherein said computer program, when executed, further enables a user to enter a set of alternate proportions of battery power to be distributed to said set of devices.

22. The computer usable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said alternate set of proportions is based upon the location of the automobile.

23. The computer usable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said alternate set of proportions is based upon the time period of usage.

24. The computer usable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said computer program, when executed, further enables said user to prioritize proportions of total battery power based upon said device functions.

25. The computer usable medium of claim 21, wherein said computer program, when executed, further enables the user to set a minimum level of battery power to be maintained in at least one of said proportions based upon the function of the device.

26. The computer usable medium of claim 25, wherein:

said battery is an automobile battery; and

said minimum level that must be maintained is in the proportion of the total battery power to be distributed to the automobile starting device.

27. The computer usable medium of claim 22, wherein:

said battery is in a hybrid type automobile that runs on either battery power or combustion fuel; and

said alternate set of proportions is based upon the proximity to battery recharge and fuel sources.