METHOD AND DEVICE WITH ENHANCED BATTERY CAPACITY SAVINGS

• US 20140068288A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Robinson, James C., Hanley, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,419,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An enhanced battery saving capacity device (200) and method (300) is disclosed. In its simplest form, the method (300) includes the steps of: detecting (310) an off state by detecting a load current below a threshold; and entering (320) a battery saver mode including a duty cycle test period, by: providing a periodic test signal; disconnecting a battery for a first interval of time; and reconnecting the battery for a second interval in synchronization with the periodic test signal, to determine whether the load current exceeds the threshold. The method (300) can reduce power drain when an electronic device is off or stored for an extended period of time. It can also extend the shelf life and minimize the possibility of damage to the life cycle of a battery, by lowering the possibility of severe discharge of a battery.

Claims

1. An enhanced battery saving method, comprising:

detecting an off state by detecting a load current below a threshold; and

entering a battery saver mode including a duty cycle test period, by;

providing a periodic test signal;

disconnecting a battery for a first interval of time; and

reconnecting the battery for a second interval in synchronization with the periodic test signal, to determine whether the load current exceeds the threshold.

2. The battery saving method of claim 1, further comprising exiting the battery saver mode in the event the load current exceeds the threshold.

3. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the entering of the battery saving mode is initiated as a result of an electronic device being turned to the off state.

4. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the entering of the battery saving mode is initiated after a predetermined period of time.

5. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the first interval is free from having a signal and the second interval is generally a current waveform less than the threshold.

6. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the periodic test signal of the second interval is sampled after an inrush period.

7. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the first interval is longer than the test signal of the second interval.

8. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the periodic test signal includes a frequency range that is low enough to help minimize power drain and high enough to minimize latency when the energy saver mode is exited.

9. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the periodic test signal includes a signal below the threshold.

10. The battery saving method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is below an on state level current level and above an off state current level.

11. An enhanced battery saving device, comprising:

an electronic device including an actuator and a battery;

a controller coupled to the electronic device, the controller configured to control the operations of the electronic device; and

a power management module configured to detect an off state by detecting a load current below a threshold and enter a battery saver mode including a duty cycle test period, the battery save mode configured to;

provide a periodic test signal;

disconnect a battery for a first interval of time; and

reconnect the battery for a second interval in synchronization with the periodic test signal, to determine whether the load current exceeds the threshold.

12. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the power management module is configured to exit the battery saver mode in the event the load current exceeds the threshold.

13. The enhanced battery saving device e of claim 11, wherein the power management module is configured to enter the battery saving mode upon the actuator being actuated to the off state.

14. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the power management module is configured to enter the battery saving mode after a predetermined period of time after the actuator is placed in the off state.

15. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the first interval is free from having a signal and the second interval is generally a current waveform less than the threshold.

16. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the periodic test signal of the second interval is sampled after an inrush period.

17. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the first interval is longer than the test signal of the second interval.

18. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the periodic test signal includes a frequency range that is low enough to help minimize power drain and high enough to minimize latency when the energy saver mode is exited.

19. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the periodic test signal includes a signal below the threshold.

20. The enhanced battery saving device of claim 11, wherein the threshold is below an on state level current level and above an off state current level.