Self heating of batteries at low temperatures
First Claim
1. A rechargeable battery pack comprising:
- a rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
a heater circuit, the heater circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and operable to receive current from the rechargeable battery;
a controller coupled to the heater circuit; and
a temperature monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, the temperature monitoring circuit being capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication to the controller, the controller causing the heater circuit to heat the controller based upon the indication.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rechargeable battery pack that includes a controller, a temperature monitoring circuit, a rechargeable battery, and a heating circuit, can sense when the battery pack is exposed to a harmful low temperature and cause the heating circuit to heat the battery pack, particularly the battery pack'"'"'s controller, so that it remains in a temperature regime compatible with normal operation. The rechargeable battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The heater circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery and the controller is coupled to the heater circuit. The temperature monitoring circuit is coupled to the controller. The temperature monitoring circuit is capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication. Based upon the indication, the controller causes the heater circuit to heat the controller.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A rechargeable battery pack comprising:
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a rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a heater circuit, the heater circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and operable to receive current from the rechargeable battery; a controller coupled to the heater circuit; and a temperature monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, the temperature monitoring circuit being capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication to the controller, the controller causing the heater circuit to heat the controller based upon the indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery powered computer system comprising:
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a host device; and a rechargeable battery pack coupled to the host device, the battery pack capable of providing power to the host device, the battery pack including; a rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a heater circuit, the heater circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and operable to receive current from the rechargeable battery; a controller coupled to the heater circuit; and a temperature monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, the temperature monitoring circuit being capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication to the controller, the controller causing the heater circuit to heat the controller based upon the indication. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of protecting a rechargeable battery pack comprising:
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providing a rechargeable battery pack including a rechargeable battery, a temperature monitoring circuit, a heater circuit operable to receive current from the rechargeable battery, and a controller; measuring a temperature of the rechargeable battery with the temperature monitoring circuit; comparing the measured temperature with a threshold temperature to obtain a comparison result; and activating the heater circuit based upon the comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for protecting a rechargeable battery pack comprising:
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a heater circuit operable to receive current from the rechargeable battery pack; a controller coupled to the heater circuit; and a temperature monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, the temperature monitoring circuit being capable of measuring a temperature of the battery pack and providing a temperature indication, the controller causing the heater circuit to heat the controller based upon the indication. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification