Method and system for extending battery life by monitoring temperature during charging

• US 6,437,543 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kelly, Ken, Mai, David, Oler, Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/717,198
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/150, 320/DIG.18, 320/DIG.21
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system for controlling battery charging. The system comprises a battery charging device, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The battery may be a Lithium polymer battery, or the like. The temperature sensor senses the battery temperature and outputs a temperature data signal. The controller inputs the temperature data signal and determines if the temperature data is outside of a range with an upper limit and lower limit. If so, the controller disables the battery charging circuit, wherein the battery is prevented from being charged. In this fashion, the battery'"'"'s lifetime (e.g., number of charge/discharge cycles) is extended. In another embodiment, the system further comprises a display. The controller outputs a signal to the display, directing it to display a message indicating that the battery is not being charged because the temperature is out of the pre-determined range.

Claims

1. A system for controlling battery charging comprising:

a battery charging device operable to charge said battery;

a device operable to sense the temperature of said battery and operable to output a temperature data signal; and

a controller operable to input said temperature data signal, to determine if said temperature data is outside of a range with an upper limit and lower limit, and to disable said battery charging device while said temperature is out of said range, wherein said battery is prevented from being charged while said temperature is out of said range, wherein said battery remains electrically connected to a portable electronic device while said battery charging circuit is disabled from charging, and wherein said battery is operable to power said portable electronic device while said battery charging circuit is disabled from charging.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display device;

and wherein

said controller is further operable to direct said display device to display a message indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is out of said range.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said battery is a Lithium polymer battery.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller resides within a portable electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said temperature data signal is a digital signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said lower limit is zero degrees Celsius and said upper limit is 45 degrees Celsius.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said battery charger is further operable to supply a current to said battery which is substantially independent of the sensed battery temperature.

9. A system for controlling battery charging comprising:

a battery charging device operable to charge said battery;

a device operable to sense the temperature of said battery and operable to output a temperature data signal; and

a controller operable to input said temperature data signal, to determine if said temperature data is outside of a range with an upper limit and lower limit, and to disable said battery charging device while said temperature is out of said range, wherein said battery is prevented from being charged while said temperature is out of said range, wherein said battery charger is further operable to supply a current to said battery which is substantially independent of the sensed battery temperature.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a display device;

and wherein

said controller is further operable to direct said display device to display a message indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is out of said range.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said battery is a Lithium polymer battery.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said controller resides within a portable electronic device.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said temperature data signal is a digital signal.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said lower limit is zero degrees Celsius and said upper limit is 45 degrees Celsius.

15. A method of controlling battery charging comprising:

a) monitoring the temperature of a battery;

b) determining whether said temperature is outside of a range with an upper limit and a lower limit;

c) if said temperature is outside of said range, disabling a battery charging device, wherein said battery is prevented from being charged; and

d) powering a portable electronic device with said battery while said battery charging device is disabled.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

e) displaying a message on a display screen of a portable electronic device indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is outside of said range.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein e) comprises:

e1) displaying a message on a display screen of a portable electronic device indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is above said upper limit.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein e) comprises:

e1) displaying a message on a display screen of a portable electronic device indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is below said lower limit.

20. A computer system comprising:

a display screen;

a battery charging circuit operable to charge a battery;

a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of said battery and to output a temperature data signal; and

an intelligent controller coupled to said display screen and coupled to said battery charging circuit, said intelligent controller comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory unit containing instructions that when executed implement a method of controlling battery charging comprising;

a) receiving said temperature data signal;

b) determining if said battery temperature is outside of a range with an upper limit and lower limit; and

c) disabling said battery charging circuit while said temperature is out of said range, wherein said battery is directly connected to an electrical power input of said computer system, and wherein said battery is operable to power said computer system while said battery charging circuit is disabled.

21. The computer system of claim 20 in which said computer system is a personal digital assistant.

22. The computer system of claim 20:

wherein said method further comprises;

d) directing said display to display a message indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is out of said range.

23. The computer system of claim 20 wherein:

said battery charging circuit is further operable to supply a current to said battery which is substantially independent of the sensed battery temperature.

24. A computer system comprising:

a display screen;

a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of a battery and to output a temperature data signal;

a battery charging circuit operable to charge said battery and to supply a current to said battery which is substantially independent of the sensed battery temperature; and

an intelligent controller coupled to said display screen and coupled to said battery charging circuit, said intelligent controller comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory unit containing instructions that when executed implement a method of controlling battery charging comprising;

a) receiving said temperature data signal;

b) determining if said battery temperature is outside of a range with an upper limit and lower limit; and

c) disabling said battery charging circuit while said temperature is out of said range.

25. The computer system of claim 24 in which said computer system is a personal digital assistant.

26. The computer system of claim 24:

wherein said method further comprises;

d) directing said display to display a message indicating that said battery is not being charged because said temperature is out of said range.