Battery conditioning system having communication with battery parameter memory means in conjunction with battery conditioning
DCFirst Claim
1. 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 rated battery capacity of said battery means, to an external battery charging circuit to control charging current supplied to said battery means during battery charging operation.
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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
20 Claims
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1. 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 rated battery capacity of said battery means, to an external battery charging circuit to control charging current supplied to said battery means during battery charging operation.
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2. 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 operation, 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 memory means operative for storing data based on said battery operation and representative of available battery capacity, and means comprising said memory means for indicating remaining battery capacity.
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16. In a portable battery-powered system a portable battery-powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof;
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battery means operationally coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto; and
battery monitoring means operationally coupled with said battery means for monitoring battery parameters which include inherent battery capacity, rate of discharge, and elapsed time relative to said rate of discharge;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, memory means operationally coupled with said battery parameter sensing means operative for storing data based on said battery parameters which include battery parameters which are representative of said battery state of charge, and means comprising said memory means for indicating said battery means'"'"' state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification