STATE OF CHARGE INDICATORS FOR BATTERY PACKS
First Claim
1. A method of operating a state-of-charge (SOC) indicator for a battery pack, said method comprising:
- with said SOC indicator in a first mode, changing operation of said SOC indicator to a second mode if a mechanism is activated, wherein said SOC indicator consumes a first amount of power in said second mode; and
changing operation of said SOC indicator from said second mode to a third mode if said mechanism remains activated after a timer expires, wherein said SOC indicator consumes a second amount of power in said third mode, and wherein said second amount is less than said first amount.
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Abstract
A state-of-charge (SOC) indicator for a battery pack is provided. The operation of the indicator is changed from a first mode to a second mode if a mechanism is activated, and is changed to a third mode if the mechanism remains activated after a timer expires. The indicator consumes a first amount of power in the second mode, and consumes a second amount of power which is less than the first amount in the third mode. The indicator blinks with a regular frequency when the SOC is less than a threshold. A comparator compares a divided signal and a reference signal during a first time interval, and the indicator displays the SOC based upon the comparison result during a second time interval separated from the first time interval.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a state-of-charge (SOC) indicator for a battery pack, said method comprising:
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with said SOC indicator in a first mode, changing operation of said SOC indicator to a second mode if a mechanism is activated, wherein said SOC indicator consumes a first amount of power in said second mode; and changing operation of said SOC indicator from said second mode to a third mode if said mechanism remains activated after a timer expires, wherein said SOC indicator consumes a second amount of power in said third mode, and wherein said second amount is less than said first amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for indicating a state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery pack, said apparatus comprising:
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a first indicator, wherein said first indicator is turned on when said SOC is greater than a first threshold and is turned off when said SOC is less than said first threshold; and a second indicator coupled to said first indicator, wherein said second indicator is turned on when said SOC is greater than a second threshold and blinks with a frequency when said SOC is less than said second threshold, wherein said second threshold is less than said first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A circuit for monitoring state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery pack, said circuit comprising:
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a divider configured to receive a battery pack voltage and to generate a first divided signal and a second divided signal that correspond to said battery pack voltage; a first comparator configured to compare said first divided signal and a reference signal during a first time interval, and to generate a first comparing signal indicating said SOC of said battery pack based upon a result of said comparison; and data storage coupled to said first comparator and configured to store said first comparing signal, wherein a SOC indicator is configured to display an indication of said SOC of said battery pack during a second time interval based upon said first comparing signal stored in said data storage, wherein said second time interval is separated from said first time interval. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification