Method of utilizing a battery powered system having two processors

• US 5,986,435 A
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Koenck, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US09/205,518
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 320/136, 324/426, 324/427
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 : for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a nonportable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g. rated battery capacity) and/or battery usage (e.g. numbers of shallow discharge and recharge cycles), and after a conditioning operation, the conditioning system can transmit to the portable unit a measured value of battery capacity, for example.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a battery powered system, the system comprising a portable utilization device having a screen and a battery pack, the method comprising:

generating, using a first processor, battery data;

communicating, by the first processor via a two-way communication link, the battery data to a second processor; and

causing, by the second processor, the display on the screen of information relating to the battery data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is a visual indication of available battery capacity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is a fuel gauge.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, using the second processor, a command to the first processor requesting the battery data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the portable utilization device has a user interface, and further comprising accepting, via the user interface, an input initiating the step of transmitting.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, using the second processor, a command to the first processor requesting that a battery parameter be set at a specified value.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the portable utilization device has a user interface, and further comprising accepting, via the user interface, an input initiating the step of transmitting.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting by the first processor, an interrupt message to the second processor for requesting service.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the first processor, an interrupt message to the second processor to advise of a selected battery related condition.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the second processor, a command to the first processor causing the first processor to effect a selected action.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the portable utilization device has a user interface, and further comprising accepting, via the user interface, an input initiating the step of transmitting.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting, by the second processor, a command to the first processor requesting that an alert point be set with respect to a battery related condition; and

transmitting, by the first processor, a message to the second processor signaling that the alert point has been reached.

13. A method of utilizing a portable battery powered system, the system comprising a portable utilization device and a battery pack, the method comprising:

measuring battery parameter data;

retrieving stored battery information from an electronic memory device;

generating, by a first processor, battery capacity data using the measured battery parameter data and the retrieved battery information;

communicating, by the first processor and via a two-way communication link, the battery capacity data to a second processor; and

causing, by the second processor, the display on a screen of information relating to the battery capacity data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the information is a visual indication of available battery capacity.

15. The method of claims 13 wherein the information is a fuel gauge.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting, by the second processor, a command to the first processor requesting the battery capacity data.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising accepting, via a user interface, an input initiating the step of transmitting.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting, by the first processor, an interrupt message to the second processor to advise of a selected battery related condition.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting, by the second processor, a command to the first processor to effect a selected action.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising accepting, via a user interface, an input initiating the step of transmitting.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting, by the first processor, an interrupt message to the second processor for requesting service.

22. The method of claim 13 comprising;

transmitting, by the second processor, a command to the first processor requesting that an alert point be set with respect to a battery related condition;

transmitting, by the first processor, a message to the second processor signaling that the alert point has been reached.

23. A method of utilizing a battery powered system, the system comprising a first processor, a second processor, and a two-way communication link coupling the first and second processors, the method comprising;

determining, using the first processor, the existence of a preselected battery condition;

communicating, by the first processor, a message via the two-way communication link to the second processor signaling the existence of the preselected battery condition; and

causing, by the second processor, the display of information indicating to a user the existence of the preselected battery condition.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the portable utilization device comprises a screen, and wherein the display of the information occurs on the screen.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the preselected battery condition is a low battery voltage condition.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the preselected battery condition is a low battery capacity condition.