Method and apparatus for estimating the service life of a battery

• US 6,271,647 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Norgaard, Steven Paul, Galbraith, Robert Edward, Ziebarth, Donald James, Reetz, Dennis David, Gisi, Jessica Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/753,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/150, 324/431, 324/433, 702/63, 702/132
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health

Abstract

A computer program is provided. The computer program product includes a medium readable by a computer, the medium (1) having means for inputting a signal representative of a temperature range in which a temperature of an operating environment of a battery resides; and (2) means for estimating a service life of the battery based on the signal. Other means are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising:

a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having;

means for inputting a signal representative of a temperature range in which a temperature of an operating environment of a battery resides; and

means for estimating a service life of the battery based on the signal.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the means for estimating the service life of the battery comprises:

means for determining a time the battery is operated within each of a plurality of temperature ranges; and

means for estimating the service life of the battery based on the time the battery is operated within each of the plurality of temperature ranges.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the means for estimating the service life of the battery comprises means for estimating the service life of the battery based on the time the battery is operated within each of the plurality of temperature ranges and based on a pro-rate factor for each temperature range.

4. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the means for estimating the service live of the battery comprises:

a plurality of counter means, each counter means having a count and a temperature range associated therewith, each counter means for counting a time the battery is operated within the temperature range associated with the counter means; and

estimation means for estimating the service life of the battery based on the count of each counter means.

5. The computer program product of claim 4 wherein the estimation means comprises means for estimating the service life of the battery based on the count of each counter means and a pro-rate factor for each counter means that depends on the temperature range associated with the counter means.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the plurality of counter means comprise:

a first counter means having a temperature range of less than about 28°

C. associated therewith;

a second counter means having a temperature range of between about 28°

C. and about 32°

C. associated therewith;

a third counter means having a temperature range of between about 32°

C. and about 36°

C. associated therewith; and

a fourth counter means having a temperature range of greater than about 36°

C. associated therewith.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein:

the pro-rate factor for the first counter means is about 1.0;

the pro-rate factor for the second counter means is about 1.22;

the pro-rate factor for the third counter means is about 1.5; and

the pro-rate factor for the fourth counter means is about 1.83.

8. The computer program product of claim 1 further comprising means for periodically estimating the service life of the battery.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising means for estimating the service life of the battery about every 5 minutes.

10. The computer program product of claim 1 further comprising means for generating an alarm if a maximum service life of the battery is exceeded.

11. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the means for inputting a signal comprises means for inputting at least one bit representative of the temperature range in which the operating environment temperature of the battery resides.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the means for inputting a signal comprises means for inputting a plurality of bits indicative of the temperature range in which the operating environment temperature resides.