Battery pack having memory

• US 6,075,340 A
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1985
• 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): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/270,302
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/106, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/112
• 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 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• 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 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• 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 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• 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. A battery pack having memory stores battery history and identifying data to be retrieved by a portable battery powered device. Battery status information may be utilized in conjunction with characteristic battery history data in order to optimize charging and discharging functions and to maximize the useful life of a battery pack.

Claims

1. A method of providing operational power to a battery powered utilization device, said method comprising:

a) monitoring operational battery pack characteristics;

b) storing said characteristics in an electronic memory device contained within said battery pack as battery pack data;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving said battery pack data;

e) communicating said present battery pack conditions and said battery pack data to said battery powered utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising powering down circuitry when it is not needed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is located in the portable utilization device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one ROM.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises battery charge circuitry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises battery deep discharge circuitry.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a processor is powered down.

6. A method of providing operational power to a battery powered utilization device, said method comprising:

a) monitoring operational battery pack characteristics;

b) storing said characteristics in an electronic memory device contained within said battery pack as battery pack data;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving said battery pack data;

e) communicating said present battery pack conditions and said battery pack data to said battery powered utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising entering a low power mode.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the portable utilization device operates using a standby voltage lower than a normal operating voltage.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein run speed is reduced.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one function is turned off when not needed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a processor clock is stopped.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein a screen backlight is shut off.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein power is removed from at least one peripheral device.

14. A method of providing operational power to a battery powered utilization device, said method comprising:

a) monitoring operational battery pack characteristics;

b) storing said characteristics in an electronic memory device contained within said battery pack as battery pack data;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving said battery pack data;

e) communicating said present battery park conditions and said battery pack data to said battery powered utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising deselecting at least one battery of the battery pack.

15. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) storing in an electronic memory device contained within a battery pack, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics;

b) coupling the battery pack with the portable utilization device;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising powering down circuitry when it is not needed.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the circuitry is located in the portable utilization device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one ROM.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the circuitry comprises battery charge circuitry.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the circuitry comprises battery deep discharge circuitry.

20. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) storing in an electronic memory device contained within a battery pack, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics;

b) coupling the battery pack with the portable utilization device;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising entering a low power mode.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of the portable utilization device operates using a standby voltage lower than a normal operating voltage.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein run speed is reduced.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one function is turned off when not needed.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a processor clock is stopped.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein a processor is powered down.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein a screen backlight is shut off.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein power is removed from at least one peripheral device.

28. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) storing in an electronic memory device contained within a battery pack, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics;

b) coupling the battery pack with the portable utilization device;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising deselecting at least one battery of the battery pack.

29. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) coupling a battery pack with an electronic memory system and with processing circuitry of the portable utilization device;

b) incorporating in the electronic memory system, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics of the battery pack;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising powering down circuitry when it is not needed.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the circuitry is located in the portable utilization device.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one ROM.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the circuitry comprises battery charge circuitry.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the circuitry comprises battery deep discharge circuitry.

34. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) coupling a battery pack with an electronic memory system and with processing circuitry of the portable utilization device;

b) incorporating in the electronic memory system, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics of the battery pack;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising entering a low power mode.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein at least a portion of the portable utilization device operates using a standby voltage lower than a normal operating voltage.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein run speed is reduced.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein at least one function is turned off when not needed.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein a processor clock is stopped.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein a processor is powered down.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein a screen backlight is shut off.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein power is removed from at least one peripheral device.

42. A method of providing operational power to a portable utilization device, said method comprising:

a) coupling a battery pack with an electronic memory system and with processing circuitry of the portable utilization device;

b) incorporating in the electronic memory system, battery pack data related to battery pack characteristics of the battery pack;

c) monitoring present battery pack conditions;

d) retrieving the battery pack data;

e) communicating information based on the present battery pack conditions and based on the battery pack data to processing circuitry of the portable utilization device; and

f) controlling by said portable utilization device, operational discharge of the battery pack, said controlling procedure comprising deselecting at least one battery of the battery pack.