Smart power system

• US 6,005,367 A
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Centurion Industries Incorporated (Laird Limited)
• Inventors: Rohde, Monty D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/114,826
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/109, 320/110, 320/125, 320/126
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A smart power system of the present invention is adapted to provide battery power to portable systems in an improved and effective manner. The power system includes a battery pack having one or more battery cells and a memory storage IC. The memory storage IC supplies the microprocessors inside the portable system or charger with stored parameters that provide the system with required battery information. The system may also include various other tools for communicating with the battery pack for diagnostic, evaluation, programming, or tracking purposes.

Claims

1. A smart battery power system comprising:

a battery pack having at least one battery cell and a memory storage device;

a battery charger having a power supply and a microprocessor; and

a communication link between the microprocessor and the memory storage device for transmitting information between the memory storage device and the battery charger.

2. The smart battery power system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger further comprises a Coulomb counter.

3. The smart battery power system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger further comprises a communications module electrically connected to the microprocessor for uploading or downloading data relating to the battery pack in exchange with a remote system.

4. The smart battery power system of claim 1, further comprising a portable device having a second microprocessor, wherein the battery pack supplies power to the portable device and the second microprocessor is linked to the memory storage device.

5. The smart battery power system of claim 1, further comprising a programming device selectively connectable to the battery pack for programming the memory storage device with information relating to the battery cell.

6. The smart battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger further comprises a communications module electrically connected to the microprocessor for communicating with a remote system, said remote system comprising a tracking system having a second communication module for communicating with the battery charger.

7. The smart battery power system of claim 6, wherein the tracking system uploads software updates to the battery charger.

8. The smart battery power system of claim 7, wherein the tracking system receives information relating to battery usage information from the battery charger to in order to track battery usage information.

9. A method of supplying power to a portable device comprising the steps of:

providing a battery pack having at least one battery cell and a memory storage device;

providing a battery charger for charging the battery pack, the battery charger including a communication link with the memory storage device of the battery pack;

placing the battery pack in electrical contact with the battery charger;

transmitting information relating to the battery from the memory storage device to the battery charger;

charging the battery pack in a manner dependent upon the transmitted information; and

placing the battery pack in electrical contact with the portable device to provide power to the portable device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitted information includes data related to at least one of:

the environment the battery is used in, the battery cell type, and the battery cell manufacturer.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable device has a coulomb counter.

11. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a processor with the portable device;

linking the processor with the memory storage device when the battery pack is placed in electrical contact with the portable device; and

transmitting information relating to the battery pack from the memory storage device to the processor.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing the battery charger with a communications module for communicating with a remote system; and

downloading information from the remote system to the battery charger.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of downloading software upgrades from the remote system.