Method and apparatus for indicating a battery status
First Claim
1. A battery-discharge-indicating system for use with electronic circuitry that is controllably put into operation by a removable battery pack, said battery-discharge-indicating system being for displaying a remaining battery capacity status for said battery pack, said system comprising:
- in said removable battery pack;
memory means for storing battery identification information, battery capacity information and a time stamp signal;
in said electronic circuitry;
timing means, for generating the time stamp signal for delivery to said battery pack on a periodic basis and further for maintaining a current time measurement;
memory means, coupled to the electronic circuitry, for storing battery discharge rate signals, wherein said discharge rate signals are indexed based upon the battery identification information;
processing means, coupled to the electronic circuit memory means and the timing means and further responsive to signals received from the battery pack, for determining a battery discharge amount, for a time interval when the battery pack is removed from service, as a product of a time-duration signal indicative of the time interval during which the battery pack is removed from service and a selected battery discharge signal;
means, coupled to the processing means, for updating the battery capacity information; and
means, coupled to the updating means, for displaying the updated battery capacity information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery-status-indicating apparatus and arrangement for use-with electronic equipment (100) provides an operator with a displayed indication of remaining battery capacity. A removable battery pack (35) contains memory (37) for storing battery identification information, battery capacity information and a time stamp signal. Electronic circuitry (100), powered by the battery pack (35), maintains current time information and generates the time stamp signal for delivery to said removable battery (35). In addition, the electronic circuitry (100) comprises memory (30) for storing circuit module current draw signals (I1 -I4) and battery discharge rate signals (I5) representative of a discharge rate for different type battery chemistries. A microprocessor (27) containing a real time clock (31) is programmed to determine a battery discharge amount during a time interval (T5) when the battery is removed from service as well as a battery consumption amount during circuit operation (T1 -T4). The microprocessor (27) is also programmed to determine a scaling factor for use in determining a battery consumption amount as multi configuration battery packs (35) are utilized.
147 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A battery-discharge-indicating system for use with electronic circuitry that is controllably put into operation by a removable battery pack, said battery-discharge-indicating system being for displaying a remaining battery capacity status for said battery pack, said system comprising:
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in said removable battery pack; memory means for storing battery identification information, battery capacity information and a time stamp signal; in said electronic circuitry; timing means, for generating the time stamp signal for delivery to said battery pack on a periodic basis and further for maintaining a current time measurement; memory means, coupled to the electronic circuitry, for storing battery discharge rate signals, wherein said discharge rate signals are indexed based upon the battery identification information; processing means, coupled to the electronic circuit memory means and the timing means and further responsive to signals received from the battery pack, for determining a battery discharge amount, for a time interval when the battery pack is removed from service, as a product of a time-duration signal indicative of the time interval during which the battery pack is removed from service and a selected battery discharge signal; means, coupled to the processing means, for updating the battery capacity information; and means, coupled to the updating means, for displaying the updated battery capacity information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A battery-consumption-indicating system for use with electronic circuitry that is controllably put into operation by one of a plurality of different removable battery packs, said battery-consumption-indicating system for displaying a remaining battery capacity status for said one of said plurality of different removable battery packs, said system comprising:
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in said one of said plurality of removable battery packs; memory means for storing battery identification signals, battery capacity signals and time stamp signals; in said electronic circuitry; memory means, coupled to the electronic circuitry, for storing current draw signals representative of a current draw at which individual electronic circuit modules are controllably put into operation; means, coupled to the memory means, and responsive to signals received from said one of said plurality of removable battery packs, for scaling the stored current draw signals as a function of said stored battery identification signals; processing means, coupled to the memory means and further responsive to said signals received from the battery pack, for determining a battery consumption amount during the operation of the electronic circuitry; and means, coupled to the processing means, for updating the battery'"'"'s battery capacity information as a function of the consumption amount and displaying the updated battery capacity information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22)
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17. For use with electronic circuitry that is controllably put into operation by a removable battery pack, a battery-discharge-indicating system for displaying a battery capacity status after a period of battery pack non-use comprising the steps of:
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storing battery chemistry information, battery capacity information, and a time stamp signal in memory of said removable battery pack; storing battery discharge rate signals in memory in the electronic circuitry, each signal representative of a discharge rate exhibited by a different battery chemistry type; upon returning the removable battery pack to service; reading the battery chemistry information, the battery capacity information, and the time stamp signal stored in memory of said removable battery pack; determining a battery discharge amount for a time interval during which the removable battery pack is removed from service; updating the battery capacity information and the time stamp signal stored in the memory of said removable battery pack; and displaying the updated battery capacity information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification