System for displaying a status condition of a battery
First Claim
1. A system for displaying a status condition of a smart battery, comprising:
- a stand-alone charging unit which receives and charges the smart battery;
a processor located in and configured to control the charging unit in response to data received from the smart battery;
a first data bus, located within the charging unit and coupled to a processor located within the smart battery;
a bus interface which couples the first data bus to a second data bus;
a computer having the second data bus therein, the computer further including a central processing unit, coupled to the second data bus, which receives data representative of a status of the smart battery; and
a display screen, coupled to the central processing unit, which displays the status condition of the smart battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for displaying a status condition of a smart battery. The system includes: a charging unit for receiving and charging the smart battery; a first data bus, located within the charging unit and coupled to a microprocessor located within the smart battery; a bus interface for coupling the first data bus to a second data bus; a computer having the second data bus therein, the computer further including a central processing unit, coupled to the second data bus, for receiving data from the smart battery, and a display screen, coupled to the central processing unit, for displaying the status condition of the smart battery, wherein the charging unit is external to the computer.
59 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for displaying a status condition of a smart battery, comprising:
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a stand-alone charging unit which receives and charges the smart battery; a processor located in and configured to control the charging unit in response to data received from the smart battery; a first data bus, located within the charging unit and coupled to a processor located within the smart battery; a bus interface which couples the first data bus to a second data bus; a computer having the second data bus therein, the computer further including a central processing unit, coupled to the second data bus, which receives data representative of a status of the smart battery; and a display screen, coupled to the central processing unit, which displays the status condition of the smart battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23)
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9. A stand-alone smart battery charger comprising:
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a stand-alone housing having a charging bay therein which receives and holds a smart battery; a charging circuit, located within the housing, which charges the smart battery; a processor located in and configured to control the charging circuit in response to data received from the smart battery a first data bus, located within the housing, which provides data communications to and from the processor when the smart battery is being charged by the charging unit; and an interface port, coupled to the housing, which provides connectivity between the first data bus and a second data bus, located within a computer configured to determine a status of the smart battery and to provide the status data to a display unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing information, related to a smart battery being charged in a smart battery charger, to a user, comprising:
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means for electrically coupling a microprocessor within the smart battery to a central processing unit of a computer, wherein the smart battery charger is a stand alone unit and is external to the computer; means for executing a software program which interrogates the smart battery in order to obtain information related to the smart battery; and means for providing said information to the user in a specified format. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for displaying a status condition of a smart battery being charged by a smart battery charger, comprising:
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means for transmitting data from the smart battery to a computer, wherein the smart battery charger is a stand alone unit and is external to the computer; means for processing said data in accordance with a software program being executed by a central processing unit within the computer; and means for displaying information obtained as a result of processing said data on a display screen coupled to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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24. A system for displaying a status condition of a smart battery being charged by a smart battery charger, which is external to a computer, on a display screen of the computer, comprising:
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means for providing a system management bus interface which couples a first system management bus within the smart battery charger, which charger is a stand alone unit to a second system management bus within the computer, wherein the first system management bus is coupled to a first microprocessor within the smart battery and the second system management bus is coupled to a central processing unit within the computer; means for transmitting data from the microprocessor of the smart battery to the central processing unit of the computer; means for processing said data in accordance with a software program being executed by the central processing unit; and means for displaying information obtained as a result of processing said data on the display screen of the computer, wherein said information is selected from a group comprising; a percentage charge on the smart battery relative to a fully-charged state; a time required to fully charge the smart battery; a time value corresponding to the useful life of the smart battery in its currently charged state for a specified operation; a current amplitude value for charging the smart battery; and a voltage amplitude value for charging the smart battery.
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Specification