Method for displaying a charge level of a battery

• US 5,508,600 A
• Filed: 04/15/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Heredia, Rafael, Myslinski, Theodore A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/228,975
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 320/48, 320/14, 320/13, 324/430, 324/429, 340/636
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

A method for displaying a charge level of a battery includes the steps of (1) displaying the charge level of the battery in a first manner during battery charging, and (2) displaying the charge level of the battery in a second manner which is different than the first manner during battery discharging. The first manner displaying step includes the step of operating a battery charge level indicator in a first mode, and the second manner displaying step includes the step of operating the battery charge level indicator in a second mode which is different than the first mode. In addition, a battery charge level indicator is disclosed and includes a display for indicating a charge level of a battery, and a mechanism for operating the display so as to indicate whether the battery is in a charge state of operation or a discharge state of operation.

Claims

1. A method for displaying charge levels of a battery adapted to power a portable computer, with the portable computer having a charge state of operation and a discharge state of operation, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first series of at least two different charge levels of the battery in a first manner during the charge state of operation of the portable computer; and

displaying a second series of a least two different charge levels of the battery in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, during the discharge state of operation of the portable computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first manner displaying step includes the step of operating a battery charge level indicator in a first mode, and

the second manner displaying step includes the step of operating the battery charge level indicator in a second mode which is different than the first mode.

3. A method for displaying charge levels of a battery adapted to power an electrical device, with the electrical device having a charge state of operation and a discharge state of operation, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first series of at least two different charge levels of the battery in a first manner during the charge state of operation of the electrical device; and

displaying a second series of at least two different charge levels of the battery in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, during the discharge state of operation of the electrical device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the first manner displaying step includes the step of operating a battery charge level indicator in a first mode, and

the second manner displaying step includes the step of operating the battery charge level indicator in a second mode which is different than the first mode.

5. A method for displaying charge levels of a battery adapted to power an electrical device, with the electrical device having a charge state of operation and a discharge state of operation, comprising the steps of:

polling the battery to determine charge level information regarding the battery;

if the charge level information determined in the polling step indicates that the electronic device is functioning in the charge state of operation, displaying a first series of at least two different charge levels of the battery in a first manner; and

if the charge level information determined in the polling step indicates that the electronic device is functioning in the discharge state of operation, displaying a second series of at least two different charge levels of the battery in a second manner, wherein the second manner is different from the first manner.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first manner displaying step includes the step of operating a battery charge level indicator in a first mode, and

the second manner displaying step includes the step of operating the battery charge level indicator in a second mode which is different than the first mode.