Method and apparatus for use with a portable power source
First Claim
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1. A method for use with a device having a portable power source, comprising:
- providing a first charge depleted threshold value;
providing a second charge depleted threshold value that represents a level of charge depletion for the portable power source that is less than a level of charge depletion as corresponds to the first charge depleted threshold value;
selecting one of the first charge depleted threshold value and the second charge depleted threshold value to provide a selected charge depleted threshold value;
using the selected charge depleted threshold value to present information to a user of the device to indicate that the portable power source should be recharged, wherein a first indicator is used to present the information to the user when the selected charge depleted threshold value is the first charge depleted threshold value and a second indicator is used to present the information to the user when the selected charge depleted threshold value is the second charge depleted threshold value.
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Abstract
An apparatus (10) having a portable power source (11) can make use of a plurality of differing charge depleted threshold values (and, in a preferred embodiment, corresponding visual charge-remaining indicators) to determine what level of charge remains in the portable power source (11). This in turn permits the recharging advice as suggested by the visual indicator to better track and reinforce the ordinary recharging behaviors of a given user. So configured, the total lifetime of the portable power source may be extended while also ensuring that the portable power source will be fully charged upon completion of each charging cycle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for use with a device having a portable power source, comprising:
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providing a first charge depleted threshold value; providing a second charge depleted threshold value that represents a level of charge depletion for the portable power source that is less than a level of charge depletion as corresponds to the first charge depleted threshold value; selecting one of the first charge depleted threshold value and the second charge depleted threshold value to provide a selected charge depleted threshold value; using the selected charge depleted threshold value to present information to a user of the device to indicate that the portable power source should be recharged, wherein a first indicator is used to present the information to the user when the selected charge depleted threshold value is the first charge depleted threshold value and a second indicator is used to present the information to the user when the selected charge depleted threshold value is the second charge depleted threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a portable power source; a power capacity detector operably coupled to the portable power source; a first charge depleted threshold value; a second charge depleted threshold value that corresponds to a reduced amount of charge depletion as compared to the first charge depleted threshold value; a first user-perceivable indicator that corresponds to a level of charge depletion of the portable power source as compares to the first charge depleted threshold value; and a second user-perceivable indicator that corresponds to a level of charge depletion of the portable power source as compares to the second charge depleted threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification