Intelligent multiple battery charging station

• US 7,253,586 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kangas, P. Daniel, Hiromitsu, Toshiro, Idei, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/798,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/118, 320/119, 320/120, 320/124, 320/125
• US Class Current: 320/124
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A method for charging at least one battery, includes: determining a status of at least one parameter for the battery, where the at least one parameter comprises a closeness to a desired charge level; determining that the battery is to be charged during a peak usage time period; and determining a priority rating for the battery based upon the at least one parameter, where a battery closer to the desired charge level has a higher priority rating. The battery is then charged according to it priority rating. When batteries are to be charged for an off-peak usage time period, the charge rates of the batteries are adjusted based upon the available time for the charge. In this manner, quick recharged battery availability is provided during peak usage time periods, while battery life is prolonged during off-peak usage time periods.

Claims

1. A method for charging a first battery of a plurality of batteries in a multiple battery charging station, the method comprising:

determining a status of a parameter for the first battery, wherein the parameter is one of,

an identification or serial number of the first battery;

a type of device to be powered by the first battery;

or

a type of user to use a device powered by the first battery;

determining whether the first battery is to be charged during a peak usage time period or an off-peak usage time period;

responsive to a determination that the first battery is to be charged during the peak usage time period, determining a priority rating for charging the first battery relative to a second battery of the plurality of batteries based upon the status of the parameter for the first battery; and

charging the first battery in accordance with the determined priority rating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the parameter for the first battery comprises:

determining a number of the plurality of batteries to be charged in the multiple battery charging station; and

determining a status of the parameter for each of the plurality of batteries.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a priority rating for the first battery comprises:

calculating a peak charge schedule for the plurality of batteries if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the peak usage time period; and

calculating an off-peak charge schedule for the plurality of batteries if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the off-peak usage time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the peak usage time period corresponds to a time of day during which the at least one battery is to be used to power a device; and

the off-peak usage time period corresponds to a remainder of the day.

4. A method for charging a plurality of batteries in a multiple battery charging station, the method comprising:

determining a status of a parameter for each of the plurality of batteries, wherein the parameter is one of,

an identification or serial number of a given battery;

a type of device to be powered by a given battery;

or

a type of user to use a device powered by a given battery;

determining if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during a peak usage time period or an off-peak usage time period;

calculating a peak charge schedule, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the peak usage time period including,

determining a priority rating for each of the plurality of batteries based upon the status of the parameter corresponding to the battery, and

setting a charge rate for charging each of the plurality of batteries based upon the determined priority rating for each of the plurality of batteries;

calculating an off-peak charge schedule, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the off-peak usage time period including,

setting the charge rate for charging each of the plurality of batteries based at least upon the status of the parameter corresponding to the battery and a time available for charging the battery; and

charging each of the plurality of batteries in accordance with the charge rate associated with the peak charge schedule or the charge rate associated with the off-peak charge schedule.

5. A computer readable medium with program instructions tangibly stored thereon for charging a first battery of a plurality of batteries in a multiple battery charging station, the program instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a status of a parameter for the first battery, wherein the parameter is one of,

an identification or serial number of the first battery;

a type of device to be powered by the first battery;

or

a type of user to use a device powered by the first battery;

determining whether the first battery is to be charged during a peak usage time period or an off-peak usage time period;

responsive to a determination that the first battery is to be charged during the peak usage time period, determining a priority rating for charging the first battery relative to a second battery of the plurality of batteries based upon the status of the parameter for the first battery; and

charging the first battery in accordance with the determined priority rating.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the instructions for determining a status of the parameter for the first battery comprises instructions for:

determining a number of the plurality of batteries to be charged in the multiple battery charging station; and

determining a status of the parameter for each of the plurality of batteries.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions for determining a priority rating for the first battery comprises instructions for:

calculating a peak charge schedule for the plurality of batteries, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the peak usage time period; and

calculating an off-peak charge schedule for the plurality of batteries, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the off-peak usage time period.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein:

the peak usage time period corresponds to a time of day during which the at least one battery is to be used to power a device; and

the off-peak usage time period corresponds to a remainder of the day.

8. A computer readable medium with program instructions tangibly stored thereon for charging a plurality of batteries in a multiple battery charging station, the program instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a status of a parameter for each of the plurality of batteries, wherein the parameter is one of,

an identification or serial number of a given battery;

a type of device to be powered by a given battery;

or

a type of user to use a device powered by a given battery;

determining if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during a peak usage time period or an off-peak usage time period;

calculating a peak charge schedule, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the peak usage time period including,

determining a priority rating for each of the plurality of batteries based upon the status of the parameter corresponding to the battery, and

setting a charge rate for charging each of the plurality of batteries based upon the determined priority rating for each of the plurality of batteries;

calculating an off-peak charge schedule, if the plurality of batteries are to be charged during the off-peak usage time period including,

setting the charge rate for charging each of the plurality of batteries based at least upon the status of the parameter corresponding to the battery and a time available for charging the battery; and

charging each of the plurality of batteries in accordance with the charge rate associated with the peak charge schedule or the charge rate associated with the off-peak charge schedule.