OPERATING TIME REMAINING COMPUTER

• US 3,778,702 A
• Filed: 07/13/1971
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene P. Finger
• Original Assignee: Eugene P. Finger
• Inventors: Finger, Eugene P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krawczewicz, Stanley T.
• Application Number:
  US05/162,148
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 324/29.5,94 320/48
• US Class Current: 324/428
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/387 with semiconductor devices only

Abstract

A computer for determining the time remaining at the present rate of energy dissipation before a finite energy source is completely drained of energy. The rate of energy consumption is sensed and then modified by a function generator in accordance with the effect that the rate of energy consumption has on the quantity of energy available from the source. The modified rate of dissipation, i.e., effective rate of energy dissipation, is fed to a coulometer having an output capacitance which is varied in accordance with the integral of the modified signal. The change in the output capacitance is measured by feeding a high frequency interrogation signal to the coulometer. This signal is developed across the output capacitance thereof and accordingly has an envelope which is proportional to the integral of the modified rate of energy dissipation. The developed signal is amplified by an AC amplifier and demodulated by an envelope detector. The demodulated signal is then subtracted from a predetermined value representative of the total rated energy in the system. This resulting value represents the energy remaining in the system. This energy remaining value is then divided by the modified rate of energy dissipation to provide the time remaining at the present rate of energy dissipation.

Claims

1. A circuit for computing the energy remaining in a finite source of energy comprising:

a means for sensing the rate of energy dissipation from said source, means for modifying said sensed rate of energy dissipation to give the effective rate of energy dissipation, said effective rate accounting for the effect said rate of energy dissipation has on the energy available from said source, means for integrating said effective rate of energy dissipation, and means for comparing said integrated effective rate of energy dissipation with a value representing the initial energy capacity of said source to indicate the energy remaining in said source.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing includes means for subtracting said integrated effective rate of energy dissipation from a value representing the initial energy capacity of said source to give the value of energy remaining in said source.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein said means for integrating said modified rate of energy dissipation includes a coulometer integrator.

4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein said means for modifying said sensed rate of energy dissipation to give the effective rate of energy dissipation includes an amplifier having a gain dependent upon said sensed rate of energy dissipation, said gain being directly proportional to the rated capacity of said source divided by the capacity of said source at said sensed rate of energy dissipation.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein said coulometer integrator comprises an output capacitance, means for varying said output capacitance in accordance with the integral of the effective rate of energy dissipation, means for generating a high frequency signal, means for supplying said signal to said coulometer integrator, and means for detecting the output of said output capacitance.

6. The circuit of claim 2 further comprising means for dividing said value of energy remaining in said source by said effective rate of energy dissipation, the quotient being the time remaining, at said effective rate of energy dissipation, before said energy in said source is dissipated.

7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said means for integrating said transformed rate of energy dissipation includes a coulometer integrator.

8. The circuit of claim 7 wherein said means for transforming said sensed rate of energy dissipation to give the effective rate of energy dissipation includes and amplifier having a gain dependent upon said sensed rate of energy dissipation, said gain being directly proportional to the rated capacity of said source divided by the capacity of said source at said sensed rate of dissipation.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein said coulometer integrator comprises an output capacitance, means for varying said output capacitance in accordance with the integral of the effective rate of energy dissipation, means for generating a high frequency signal, means for supplying said signal to said coulometer integrator, and means for detecting the output of said coulometer.

10. A method of computing the energy remaining in a finite source of energy comprising:

sensing the rate of energy dissipated from said source, modifying said sensed rate of energy dissipation to give the effective rate of energy dissipation, integrating said effective rate of energy dissipated, and comparing said integrated effective rate of energy dissipation with a signal representing the initial energy capacity of said source to indicate the energy remaining in said source.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said comparing step comprises the step of subtracting said integrated effective rate of energy dissipation from a value representing the initial cApacity of said source.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of dividing said energy remaining signal by said effective rate of energy dissipation, the quotient being the time remaining before said energy in said source is dissipated.