Annunciator and battery supply measurement system for cellular telephones

• US 5,570,025 A
• Filed: 11/16/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meridian Wireless Technologies
• Original Assignee: Meridian Wireless Technologies
• Inventors: Seitz, Galen, Lauritsen, Dan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Regan, Maura K.
• Application Number:
  US08/340,832
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 324/429, 324/435, 324/433, 340/636, 320/48, 455/343, 455/383
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

A cellular phone both annunciates and retrieves stored mail messages using a single keypad button. A cellular basestation transmits voice mail messages to the cellular phone indicating that voice mail is ready for retrieval. A light emitting diode (LED) is located underneath a translucent button on the phone keypad and is activated when the voice mail message is received by the cellular phone. The illuminated button is then activated initiating a dialing operation that retrieves the voice mail. Battery charge is measured in a dual mode analog and digital cellular phone according to the various digital and analog modes presently performed. The different measurement values are averaged to provide a more accurate calculation of the amount of charge remaining in the battery supply.

Claims

1. A method for measuring battery voltage in a cellular phone having an analog mode, a distal mode, and a standby mode, comprising:

periodically measuring the battery voltage at a first rate when the phone is operating in the analog mode;

periodically measuring the battery voltage at a second rate slower than the first rate when the phone is operating in the standby mode;

transmitting and receiving digitally encoded messages during selected time slots when the phone is operating in the digital mode;

periodically measuring the battery voltage only during the selected time slots when the phone is operating in the digital mode;

calculating an average voltage for each measured battery voltage;

repeatedly measuring a new battery voltage according to the operating mode of the phone; and

adjusting the average voltage according to the new phone battery voltage.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of repeatedly measuring the new phone battery voltage is periodic and asychronous with phone transmission and receiving operations.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting the average voltage comprises the following steps:

subtracting the average voltage from each new battery voltage;

weighting the difference between each new battery voltage and the average voltage;

adding the weighted difference to the average voltage thereby creating a new average; and

setting the new average voltage to the average voltage.

4. A method according to claim 3 including gradating the new average voltage into various battery power levels, each battery power level directing a different alarm annunciation operation.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the new voltage is gradated into at least three stored battery power levels, a new average voltage between the first and second battery power levels generating a phone audio annunciation operation, a new average voltage between the second and third battery power levels generating a phone illumination annunciation operation, and a new average voltage below the third level causing the phone to shut off.

6. A method according to claim 1 including adjusting the new battery voltage to correct for variations in tolerances in a given set of phone components.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein adjusting the new battery voltage comprises the following steps:

measuring first and second known phone test voltages;

determining the slope between the first and second test voltages;

storing the first and second test voltages and the slope;

measuring the phone battery voltage;

subtracting the measured phone battery voltage from the stored first measured test voltage generating a delta value;

applying the stored slope to the delta value generating a correction value; and

applying the correction value to each measured battery voltage.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein

measuring the battery voltage at the first rate comprises measuring the battery voltage about every 40 milliseconds;

and

measuring the battery voltage at the second rate comprises measuring the battery voltage about every 5 seconds.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the battery voltage is measured during a latter portion of each one of the selected time slots while the phone operates in the digital mode.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first one of the test voltages is about 5.5 Volts and the second one of the test voltages is about 6.0 Volts.

11. A method for measuring a battery in a cellular phone, comprising:

measuring a predetermined first test voltage;

measuring a predetermined second test voltage;

determining a slope between the first test voltage and the second test voltage;

storing the first and second test voltage and the slope;

periodically measuring the battery voltage;

subtracting the stored first measured test voltage from each periodically measured battery voltage thereby generating delta values;

applying the slope to each of the delta values generating correction values associated with each measured battery voltage; and

applying the associated correction value to each measured battery voltage.

12. A method according to claim 11 including the following steps:

calculating an average voltage for the periodically measured battery voltage;

measuring a new battery voltage;

subtracting the average voltage from the new battery voltage;

weighting the subtracted difference between the new battery voltage and the average voltage;

adding the weighted difference to the average voltage creating a new average voltage; and

setting the new average voltage to the average voltage.

13. A method for measuring battery voltage in a digital cellular phone, comprising:

transmitting and receiving digitally encoded messages during selected time slots;

measuring battery voltages only during a latter portion of each of said time slots;

calculating an average voltage for the measured battery voltages;

measuring a new battery voltage; and

adjusting the new phone battery voltage according to the average voltage.