Portable battery powered system
First Claim
1. In a portable battery powered system,a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, andbattery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters,said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, andsaid battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle, andmeans comprising said memory means for indicating remaining battery capacity.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a battery monitoring system includes sensors for monitoring battery parameters and a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle, and by monitoring battery current thereafter during operation, a relatively accurate measure of remaining battery capacity becomes available. The battery monitoring system may include programmed processor circuitry and may be secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling; thus, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters.
116 Citations
43 Claims
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1. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle, and means comprising said memory means for indicating remaining battery capacity.
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6. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sending means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said utilization device having battery receiving means for removably receiving said battery means and said battery monitoring means.
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8. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said utilization device comprising data processing means operatively coupled with said battery means for operation from battery power, said battery monitoring means having data communication means operatively coupled with said data processing means of said utilization device, and providing for the transmission of data messages to said data processing means, said battery monitoring means being secured with said battery means for removal and replacement as a unit with respect to said utilization device.
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9. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said memory means being electrically powered by said battery means during removal of the battery means and said battery monitoring means including said memory means as a unit from said utilization device and during transport thereof separate from the utilization device.
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10. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, charging control means operatively coupled with said battery means for controlling the rate of charging of said battery means, said charging control means comprising digital to analog converter means for generating respective analog charge level command signals representing respective charging rates suited to the recharging of the battery means under respective varying conditions.
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14. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, a battery charging voltage input forming part of a battery charging current path for said battery means, battery charging voltage sensing means operatively coupled with said battery charging voltage input for sensing charging voltage during a battery charging cycle, battery temperature sensing means operatively coupled with said battery means for sensing the temperature of the battery means during a battery charging cycle, analog to digital converter means having first and second comparator means with a common reference input and respective first and second analog inputs, and first and second coupling means coupling said battery charging voltage sensing means and said battery temperature sensing means to the respective first and second analog inputs of the respective first and second comparator means and adapting the analog input levels at said first and second analog inputs to a common digitally generated reference level at said common reference input.
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17. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, battery discharge mode control means operatively coupled with said battery means for controlling discharge of the battery means prior to recharge thereof, for the purpose of conditioning of the battery means and prolonging its useful life.
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20. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said battery monitoring means further comprising programmed processor circuitry having a processor supply voltage input, and voltage regulator means operatively coupled with said battery means for receiving battery voltage therefrom and operatively coupled with said processor supply voltage input for supplying a selected operating voltage to said programmed processor circuitry.
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24. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said battery parameter sensing means comprising battery charge flow measurement means operatively coupled with said battery means for sensing charge flow from the battery means during portable operation of said utilization device, and programmed processor circuitry operatively coupled with said battery charge flow measurement means and having program means for generating a digital number matching the analog value of the charge flow as sent by said battery charge flow measurement means at respective sampling intervals and operatively coupled with said memory means for storing data representative of the quantity of charge supplied by said battery means during a portable operating cycle thereof.
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25. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameters and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters, said battery parameter sensing means comprising battery charge flow measurement means operatively coupled with said battery means for sensing charge flow from the battery means during portable operation of said utilization device, and analog to digital converter means operatively coupled with said battery charge flow measurement means for supplying readings of battery charge flow, said memory means being operatively coupled with said analog to digital converter means for storing data representative of the quantity of charge supplied by said battery means during a portable operating cycle thereof.
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28. In a portable battery powered system,
a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation, thereof, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto, and battery monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters, said utilization device together with said battery means and said battery monitoring means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and said battery monitoring means comprising battery parameter sensing means for sensing battery parameter and comprising memory means operatively coupled with said battery parameter sensing means and operative for storing data based on said battery parameters. battery charge flow measurement means operatively coupled with said battery means for sensing charge flow from the battery means during portable operation of said utilization device, said battery charge flow measurement means supplying an analog battery charge flow measurement signal which varies as a function of time in accordance with battery discharge current, said battery monitoring means comprising integration means operatively coupled with said battery charge flow measurement means for integrating the analog battery charge flow measurement signal with respect to time to provide an integrated analog battery charge flow measurement and having a measurement time interval within which the integrated analog battery charge flow measurement will substantially accurately reflect total battery discharge current, and analog to digital converter means operatively coupled with said integration means and being timed with respect to the measurement time interval of the integration means for sampling the integrated battery charge flow measurement within said measurement time interval.
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29. In a battery monitoring system for a portable battery powered device,
battery means for operative coupling with a portable battery powered device for the purpose of supplying battery current thereto during portable operation, said battery means comprising a rechargeable battery pack of a size and weight such as to be operatively coupled to and carried with a portable battery powered device by an individual person, battery condition monitoring circuitry comprising memory means for storing a battery condition measurement value based on discharge operation of the battery pack to a deep discharge level, and battery current monitoring means operatively coupled with said battery pack during portable operation thereof as part of a portable battery powered device and operable for monitoring battery current supplied by said battery pack and operatively coupled with said memory means for supplying battery condition information based on the battery condition measurement value and the battery current supplied by the battery pack after the last charging thereof, said battery condition monitoring circuitry being operative to provide a user of the portable battery powered device with an indication of the remaining operating time of the device before recharging of the battery pack is required.
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33. In a battery condition system for a portable battery powered device,
battery means for operative coupling with a portable battery powered device for the purpose of supplying battery current thereto during portable operation, said battery means comprising a rechargeable battery pack of a size and weight such as to be operatively coupled to and carried with a portable battery powered device by an individual person, and battery conditioning circuitry operatively coupled with said battery pack and carried therewith for manipulation as a unit in the removal and replacement of the battery pack from a portable battery powered device.
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37. In a battery conditioning system for a portable battery powered device requiring a minimum operating voltage for reliable operation,
battery means for operative coupling with a portable battery powered device for the purpose of supplying operating energy thereto, said battery means comprising a rechargeable electrochemical energy storage medium having an output voltage which is a function not only of the energy stored thereby but also of the number of shallow energy discharge cycles which have occurred after its last deep discharge cycle, said battery means being of a size and weight to be carried by an individual person along with a portable battery powered device requiring a minimum operating voltage for reliable portable operation, and battery conditioning circuitry operatively coupled with said battery means and operable for effecting a deep discharge cycle wherein the battery output voltage is reduced to a value below said minimum operating voltage.
Specification