Method of extending battery life

• US 7,327,119 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Stephenson, Stanley W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward H
• Application Number:
  US11/006,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/166, 320/167
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A method and system for conserving power and extending battery life in a device are provided wherein the method and system include the use of a save circuit to transfer unused energy from a capacitor back into a battery in the device.

Claims

1. A method of saving power in a battery-powered system comprising a battery, a capacitor charged by the battery, a powered unit drawing power periodically from the battery through the capacitor, and a save circuit, wherein the method comprises providing excess energy from the capacitor through the save circuit back to the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a display device, a camera display, phone display, camera flash unit, or flash lamp.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the system comprises a display device having a bistable liquid crystal display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy provided from the capacitor to the battery through the save circuit is at least 30% of an amount energy otherwise lost from the capacitor.

5. A method of prolonging battery life in a battery-powered system comprising a battery, a capacitor charged by the battery, a powered unit drawing power periodically from the battery through the capacitor, and a save circuit, wherein the method comprises providing excess energy from the capacitor through the save circuit back to the battery.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the system comprises a display device, a camera display, phone display, camera flash unit, or flash lamp.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the system comprises a display device having a bistable liquid crystal display.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the battery life is increased by at least 10 percent.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the battery life is increased by at least 30 percent.

10. A battery-powered device comprising a battery, a capacitor charged by the battery, a powered unit drawing power periodically from the battery through the capacitor, and a save circuit between the capacitor and the battery, wherein excess energy is provided from the capacitor back to the battery through the save circuit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is a bistable display.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is a liquid crystal display device.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is a camera display, phone display, camera flash unit, or flash lamp.