Battery conditioning system having communication with battery parameter memory means in conjunction with battery conditioning
First Claim
1. In a battery conditioning system, a portable battery powered utilization device of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, and operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supply operating power thereto during portable operation,battery conditioning system means coupled with said utilization device during conditioning operation and operatively coupled with said battery means and comprising battery conditioning means for effecting conditioning of said battery means, andbattery parameter sensing means for sensing a battery parameter,said battery conditioning system means including computer operating means operatively coupled with said battery conditioning means and controlling condition of said battery means in conjunction with said battery parameter sensing means,said computer operating means having communications means for the transmission of data concerning said battery means to a remote station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes 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. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, 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. In the case of a non-portable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g. rated battery capacity) and/or battery usage (e.g. numbers of shallow discharge and recharge cycles), and after a conditioning operation, the conditioning system can transmit to the portable unit a measured value of battery capacity, for example.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a battery conditioning system, a portable battery powered utilization device of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, and operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,
battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supply operating power thereto during portable operation, battery conditioning system means coupled with said utilization device during conditioning operation and operatively coupled with said battery means and comprising battery conditioning means for effecting conditioning of said battery means, and battery parameter sensing means for sensing a battery parameter, said battery conditioning system means including computer operating means operatively coupled with said battery conditioning means and controlling condition of said battery means in conjunction with said battery parameter sensing means, said computer operating means having communications means for the transmission of data concerning said battery means to a remote station.
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2. In a battery conditioning system a portable battery powered utilization device of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, and operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,
battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, battery conditioning system means coupled with said utilization device during conditioning operation and operatively coupled with said battery means and comprising battery conditioning means for effecting conditioning of said battery means, and battery parameter sensing means for sensing a battery parameter, said battery conditioning system means including computer operating means operatively coupled with said battery conditioning means and controlling conditioning of said battery means in conjunction with said battery parameter sensing means, said battery conditioning system means being responsive to a computer generated control signal from the computer operating means, and controlling the supply of charging current to said battery means during a conditioning operation in accordance with said computer generated control signal, said battery conditioning system means comprising a charging current control circuit for receiving a control signal and for controlling the supply of charging current to said battery means according to said control signal, and control signal generating means for generating a default value of said control signal in the absence of a computer generated control signal from the computer operating means, and said computer operating means being coupled with said control signal generating means for altering the value of charging current away from said default value according to a computer generated control signal from said computer operating means.
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5. In a battery conditioning system,
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6. a portable battery powered utilization device of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, and operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,
battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, battery conditioning system means coupled with said utilization device during conditioning operation and operatively coupled with said battery means and comprising battery conditioning means for effecting conditioning of said battery means, and battery parameter sensing means for sensing a battery parameter, said battery conditioning system means including computer operating means operatively coupled with said battery conditioning means and controlling conditioning of said battery means in conjunction with said battery parameter sensing means, said computer operating means having communications means for the transmission of data concerning said battery means, said communications means comprising digital to analog converter means in said utilization device and controlled by said computer operating means for supplying an analog output signal to said battery conditioning means said battery conditioning means comprising an external battery charging circuit external to said utilization device, and having a control signal generating means for establishing a default value of battery charging current to be supplied by said circuit in the absence of an analog output signal from said digital to analog converter means.
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7. A portable battery powered system
comprising a portable battery powered utilization device operating from battery power during portable operation, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, and conditioning control means comprising computer operating means having computer output means for coupling with an external battery conditioning circuit during conditioning of the battery means, with said computer operating means of said portable utilization device supplying a computer generated control signal according to a measured battery parameter to a battery charging circuit to control charging current supplied to said battery means during a battery charging operation.
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14. A portable battery powered system
comprising a portable battery powered utilization device operating from battery power during portable operation, battery means operatively coupled with said utilizing device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, and conditioning control means comprising computer operating means having computer output means for coupling with an external battery conditioning circuit during conditioning of the battery means, with said computer output means comprising digital to analog converter means for receiving a computer generated control signal from the computer operating means and for supplying an analog output signal to an external battery current supply circuit so as to control the value of charging current supplied to said battery means.
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17. A portable battery powered system
comprising a portable battery powered utilization device operating from battery power during portable operation, battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, and conditioning control means comprising computer operating means having computer output means for coupling with an external battery conditioning circuit during conditioning of the battery means, with said computer output means comprising digital communication means for the transmission of data concerning said battery means to an external battery conditioning circuit.
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18. The method of conditioning a portable utilization device containing rechargeable battery means and data storage means, which comprises
storing data which is a function of said battery means in the data storage means, coupling said portable utilization device with an external conditioning circuit for supplying charging current to the rechargeable battery means during a conditioning operation, and controlling the rate of charging of the battery means during a conditioning operation in accordance with the data stored in said data storage means.
Specification