Digital histogram generator systems and methods

• US 5,552,999 A
• Filed: 12/04/1995
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zanders, Gary V., Polgreen, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEMPER, MELANIE A
• Application Number:
  US08/566,652
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 364/481, 364/482, 364/550, 364/554, 364/555, 364/551.01, 364/557, 364/577, 364/579, 377/13, 377/16, 377/20, 377/25, 382/54, 429/86, 341/120
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/028 arrangements for numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/10 in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/245 in an oscillator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/066 Means for reducing external access-lines for a semiconductor memory clip, e.g. by multiplexing at least address and data signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/20 Address safety or protection circuits, i.e. arrangements for preventing unauthorized or accidental access
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/58 Structural electrical arrangements for semiconductor devices not otherwise provided for , e.g. in combination with batteries H01L23/49593, H01L23/49596 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A histogram generator system uses a sensor to periodically sample a value of a physical variable to produce at least one sample of the physical variable and a selector allocate each sample of the value of the physical variable into a corresponding counter of a counter array. The counter accumulates a number of occurrences of the value of the sample(s) of the physical variables.

Claims

1. A system to monitor power consumption of a battery in a battery pack, wherein said battery has a charge, comprising:

(a) said battery, having a temperature value at a first time;

(b) temperature sensor circuitry packaged together with said battery in said battery pack, said temperature sensor circuitry sampling said temperature value at said first time to produce a sample of said temperature value, said sample of said temperature value being within a range of temperature values, said sample being in a digital format;

(c) selector circuitry and accumulating circuitry electrically coupled to said temperature sensor circuitry to receive said sample of said temperature value in said digital format, said selector circuitry and said accumulating circuitry electrically coupled together, said selector circuitry and said accumulating circuitry packaged together with said battery, in said battery pack, said selector circuitry allocating said sample of said temperature value into a corresponding counter of a counter array of said accumulating circuitry, said corresponding counter accumulating a number of occurrences of said temperature value of said sample of said temperature value, said selector circuitry dividing said range of temperature values into a plurality of bins such that said sample of said temperature value corresponds to at least one bin of said plurality of bins, said selector circuitry also allocating said sample to said corresponding counter of said counter array of said accumulating circuitry depending upon said at least one bin that said sample of said temperature value corresponds to, each corresponding counter having a counter output, said counter output of said corresponding counter combined to form a histogram recording said number of occurrences of said sample having said temperature value in said digital format; and

(d) a computer electrically coupled to said accumulating circuitry to read said counter outputs combined to form said histogram, said computer calculating a current state of said charge of said battery in said battery pack by calculating an elapsed time of said battery by substituting information conveyed by said histogram into the following equation;

##EQU11## wherein f, T, j, and M are variables in which f_j denotes said number of occurrences for bin j of said at least one bin and T_j denotes total time for said bin having a number j, further wherein said number j is a number identifier identifying a specific bin j of said plurality of bins, and M is a number identifying a maximum number of j'"'"'s.

2. The system to monitor power consumption of a battery in a battery pack of claim 1 wherein said computer is portable.

3. A system to monitor power consumption of a battery in a battery pack, comprising:

(a) said battery having a temperature value at a first time;

(b) temperature sensor circuitry packaged together with said battery in said battery pack, said temperature sensor circuitry sampling said temperature value at said first time to produce a sample of said temperature value, said sample of said temperature value being within a range of temperature values, said sample being in a digital format;

(c) selector circuitry and accumulating circuitry electrically coupled to said temperature sensor circuitry to receive said sample of said temperature value in said digital format, said selector circuitry and said accumulating circuitry electrically coupled together, said selector circuitry and said accumulating circuitry packaged together with said battery in said battery pack, said selector circuitry allocating said sample of said temperature value into a corresponding counter of a counter array of said accumulating circuitry, said corresponding counter accumulating a number of occurrences of said temperature value of said sample of said temperature value, said selector circuitry dividing said range of temperature values into a plurality of bins such that said sample of said temperature value corresponds to at least one bin of said plurality of bins, said selector circuitry, also allocating said sample to said corresponding counter of said counter array of said accumulating circuitry, depending upon said at least one bin that said sample of said temperature value corresponds to, each corresponding counter having a counter output, said counter output of said corresponding counter combined to form a histogram recording said number of occurrences of said sample having said temperature value in said digital format; and

(d) a computer electrically coupled to said accumulating circuitry to read said counter outputs combined to form said histogram, said computer calculating current state of charge of said battery in said battery pack using Arrhenius'"'"' Law, wherein said computer is portable.

4. A histogram generator system, comprising:

(a) a sensor that periodically samples a value of a physical variable to produce at least one sample of said physical variable; and

(b) a selector that allocates each sample of said value of said physical variable into a corresponding counter of a counter array, said counter accumulating a number of occurrences of said value of said sample(s) of said physical variables,

wherein said physical variable is temperature and said sensor is a temperature detector, and

wherein said temperature detector comprises

(i) a temperature-to-time first converter, said first converter outputting a time interval with length depending upon an input temperature;

(ii) a time-to-number second converter, said second converter with input coupled to a time interval output of said first converter, whereby said second converter outputs a number version of said input temperature, and

wherein said first converter comprises a first oscillator with a temperature dependent period coupled to a counter, said time interval being the time for said counter to count a predetermined number of oscillations of said first oscillator; and

wherein said second converter comprises a second oscillator coupled to a second counter, with said second counter counting oscillations of said second oscillator for said time interval.

5. The histogram generator system of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said second converter comprises a prescaler between said second oscillator and said second counter, said prescaler blocking a fraction of said oscillations from said second oscillator from driving said second counter.

6. The histogram generator system of claim 4, further comprising:

(a) an output temperature register; and

(b) a repetition controller coupled to said first and second converters and said output temperature register;

(c) wherein during said time interval said controller first (i) loads a base count into said second counter and a base temperature into said output temperature register, next (ii) when said second counter has counted down said base count, said controller loads a slope count into said second counter, then (iii) when said second counter has counted down said slope count, said controller increments said base temperature in said output temperature register and loads a second slope count into said second counter, and (iv) said controller repeats incrementing the contents of said output temperature register and slope loading until said time interval expires.

7. The histogram generator system of claim 6, wherein said second converter includes a slope incrementer coupled to said second counter and to said controller.