Intelligent battery and method for providing an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device such as a defibrillator
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for providing an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring the amount of electrical charge input into a battery;
measuring the amount of electrical charge output from the battery; and
generating an advance low battery warning that indicates when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a threshold amount, wherein the charge remaining in the battery is calculated by subtracting the amount of electrical charge output from the battery from the amount of electrical charge input into the battery;
wherein the advance low battery warning is generated independently of an output voltage from the battery such that the method can provide an advance low battery warning for a battery that maintains a substantially constant output voltage until just prior to complete discharge.
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Abstract
An intelligent battery having an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device is provided. The intelligent battery comprises a battery suitable for powering a battery powered device and a charge monitor circuit. The charge monitor circuit continuously measures the amount of electrical charge input and output from the battery. When the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a threshold amount, an advance low battery warning is generated, wherein the charge remaining in the battery is calculated by subtracting the amount of electrical charge output from the battery from the amount of electrical charge input into the battery. The low battery warning occurs independently of the output voltage of the battery such that an advance low battery warning may be provided for a battery that maintains a substantially constant output voltage until just prior to complete discharge. The circuit also includes an imminent shutdown warning circuit that measures the output voltage of the battery, and provides a battery shutdown warning when the output voltage drops below a shutdown threshold voltage. In a preferred embodiment, the battery powered device is a defibrillator/monitor, and the threshold amount is equal to a selected percent of the battery'"'"'s capacity plus sufficient charge to provide a selected number of charges to a defibrillator.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the amount of electrical charge input into a battery; measuring the amount of electrical charge output from the battery; and generating an advance low battery warning that indicates when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a threshold amount, wherein the charge remaining in the battery is calculated by subtracting the amount of electrical charge output from the battery from the amount of electrical charge input into the battery; wherein the advance low battery warning is generated independently of an output voltage from the battery such that the method can provide an advance low battery warning for a battery that maintains a substantially constant output voltage until just prior to complete discharge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device, comprising:
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means for measuring the amount of electrical charge input into a battery; means for measuring the amount of electrical charge output from the battery; and means for generating an advance low battery warning that indicates when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a threshold amount, wherein the charge remaining in the battery is calculated by subtracting the amount of electrical charge output from the battery from the amount of electrical charge input into the battery; wherein the advance low battery warning is generated independently of an output voltage from the battery such that the system can provide an advance low battery warning for a battery that maintains a substantially constant output voltage until just prior to complete discharge. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An intelligent battery having an advance low battery warning for a battery powered device, comprising:
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a battery suitable for powering a battery powered device; and a charge monitor circuit that measures the amount of electrical charge input into the battery and measures the amount of electrical charge output from the battery, and further generates an advance low battery warning that indicates when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a threshold amount, wherein the charge remaining in the battery is calculated by subtracting the amount of electrical charge output from the battery from the amount of electrical charge input into the battery; wherein the advance low battery warning is generated independently of an output voltage from the battery such that an advance low battery warning may be provided for a battery that maintains a substantially constant output voltage until just prior to complete discharge. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification