Smart battery charging system, method, and computer program product

• US 7,191,077 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mese, John Carl, Weksler, Arnold S., Peterson, Nathan J., Waltermann, Rod David
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US10/744,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 702/108, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 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 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An intelligent battery charger is disclosed which tracks usage of the computer by the user and the charging and usage habits of the user. This tracking includes dates, times, and elapsed usage time, as well as dates, times, and elapsed charging time. Parameters regarding the specific battery being charged are also known by the intelligent battery charger. This information is utilized to develop a usage and charging profile for a particular battery in the device for which it is used. To execute a deep cycle, rather than require that the user wait to plug in a charger until the battery level has reached a certain low level, the charger itself controls the on and off operation of the charging system, based on the profiles.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

obtaining current charge data for said battery;

developing a charging plan for said battery based on said historical device usage data and said current charge data; and

executing said charging plan to charge said battery, wherein said charging plan prohibits charging of said battery until a discharge state of said battery has reached a pre-determined level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said charging plan defers charging of said battery until an optimal charging time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said historical device usage data includes times of operation of said device.

4. A method comprising:

obtaining historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

obtaining current charge data and historical charging cycle data for said battery;

combining said current charge data and historical charging data with said historical device usage data;

using said combined current charge data, said historical charging data, and said historical device usage data to develop a charging plan; and

executing said charging plan to charge said battery.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said device comprises a portable computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said obtaining of said historical device usage data includes:

tracking times of operation of said device based on the system clock of the portable computer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said obtaining of said historical usage data further includes:

tracking dates of operation of said device based on the system calendar of the portable computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said development of said charging plan is further based on identifying periods available for charging said battery based on entries in a calendar program installed on said computer.

9. A system comprising:

means for obtaining historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

means for obtaining current charge data for said battery;

means for developing a charging plan for said battery based on said historical device usage data and said current charge data; and

means for executing said charging plan to charge said battery, wherein said charging plan prohibits charging of said battery until a discharge state of said battery has reached a pre-determined level.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said charging plan defers charging of said battery until an optimal charging time.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said historical device usage data includes times of operation of said device.

12. A system comprising:

means for obtaining historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

means for obtaining current charge data and historical charging cycle data for said battery;

means for combining said current charge data and historical charging data with said historical device usage data;

means for using said combined current charge data, said historical charging data, and said historical device usage data to develop a charging plan; and

means for executing said charging plan to charge said battery.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said device comprises a portable computer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for obtaining said historical device usage data includes:

means for tracking times of operation of said device based on the system clock of the portable computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said means for obtaining said historical device usage data further includes:

means for tracking dates of operation of said device based on the system calendar of the portable computer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said development of said charging plan is further based on identifying periods available for charging said battery based on entries in a calendar program installed on said computer.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising instructions effective when executing to:

obtain historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

obtain current charge data for said battery;

develop a charging plan for said battery based on said historical device usage data and said current charge data; and

execute said charging plan to charge said battery, wherein said charging plan prohibits charging of said battery until a discharge state of said battery has reached a pre-determined level.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said charging plan defers charging of said battery until an optimal charging time.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said historical device usage data includes times of operation of said device.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, wherein said computer readable program code comprises instructions effective when executing to:

obtain historical device usage data of a device in which a battery to be charged resides;

obtain current charge data and historical charging cycle data for said battery;

combine said current charge data and historical charging data with said historical device usage data;

use said combined current charge data, said historical charging data, and said historical device usage data to develop a charging plan; and

execute said charging plan to charge said battery.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said device comprises a portable computer.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code for obtaining said historical device usage data includes instructions effective when executing to:

track times of operation of said device based on the system clock of the portable computer.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said computer readable program code for obtaining said historical device usage data further includes instructions effective when executing to:

track dates of operation of said device based on the system calendar of the portable computer.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said development of said charging plan is further based on identifying periods available for charging said battery based on entries in a calendar program installed on said computer.