Smart battery and method for recognizing battery type using the same

• US 7,492,121 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Sam, Okada, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/216,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/112, 320/114, 320/DIG.19, 320/DIG.21, 307/113, 307/116, 340/635, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A smart battery pack and a method for recognizing the battery type using the same. The smart battery pack includes at least one battery cell coupled to an external set via positive and negative electrode terminals. A timer circuit is coupled to the external set via a data terminal and is adapted to apply a predetermined timer circuit signal for a period of time when a predetermined signal is applied from the external set. A first switch is controlled by the timer circuit and applies electric power from the battery cell, and a register outputs a predetermined register signal causing a smart battery controller to output battery type information to the external set. The smart battery pack has only one data line between the smart battery pack and the external set (and one data terminal on each) facilitating communication between the devices while maintaining a reduced manufacturing cost.

Claims

1. A smart battery pack comprising:

at least one battery cell coupled to an external electronic device via a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal;

a timer circuit coupled to the external electronic device via a data terminal and adapted to apply a predetermined timer circuit signal for a period of time when a signal from the external electronic devices is applied to the timer circuit;

a register adapted to output a register signal upon receiving electric power from the at least one battery cell;

a first switch controlled by the timer circuit and adapted to apply electric power from the at least one battery cell to the register for powering the register; and

a battery controller coupled to the data terminal and adapted to output battery type information in response to the register signal to the data terminal.

2. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein all data between the smart battery pack and the external electronic device is transmitted over the data terminal consisting of a single line terminal.

3. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart battery controller is adapted to transmit the battery type information to the external electronic device via the data terminal in response to the register signal.

4. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timer circuit comprises:

between the data terminal and the first switch,

a diode coupled in the forward direction;

a capacitor coupled to a cathode end of the diode;

a resistor coupled in parallel to the capacitor; and

a field effect transistor having a gate coupled in parallel to the resistor.

5. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first switch is a field effect transistor adapted to be turned on when the field effect transistor of the timer circuit is turned on.

6. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second switch connected between the positive electrode terminal and the at least one battery cell and controlled by the smart battery controller.

7. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart battery controller is adapted to toggle the second switch on when an authentication signal confirming that the battery type information is suitable is transmitted from the external electronic device to the smart battery controller so that electric power is applied from the at least one battery cell to the external electronic device.

8. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second switch is a field effect transistor having a gate voltage controlled by the smart battery controller.

9. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second switch is a field effect transistor and a discharging state of the at least one battery cell is controlled by the smart battery controller.

10. A method for recognizing the battery type comprising:

outputting a predetermined signal from an external electronic device to a smart battery pack via a data terminal;

in response to receiving the predetermined signal from the external electronic device, operating a timer circuit and toggling a first switch on;

applying electronic power from a battery cell through the first switch to a register for powering the register;

outputting a register signal from the register;

in response to the register signal, outputting battery type information from the smart battery pack to the external electronic device via the data terminal; and

in response to outputting battery type information, reading the battery type information and deciding whether the type of the smart battery pack is suitable for itself or not.

11. The method for recognizing the battery type as claimed in claim 10, further comprising outputting information corresponding to whether the type of the smart battery pack is suitable for itself or not back to the smart battery pack via the data terminal.

12. The method for recognizing the battery type as claimed in claim 11, further comprising in response to deciding that the type of the smart battery pack is suitable for the external electronic device, outputting authentication information causing the smart battery pack to toggle on a second switch coupled between the external electronic device and the smart battery pack so that electric power is supplied from the smart battery pack to the external electronic device.

13. The method for recognizing the battery type as claimed in claim 11, further comprising, in response to deciding that the type of the smart battery pack is not suitable for the external eletronic device, outputting non-authentication information causing the smart battery pack to toggle off the second switch coupled between the external electronic device and the smart battery pack so that electric power is prevented from being supplied from the smart battery pack to the external electronic device.

14. A smart battery pack comprising:

at least one battery cell coupleable to an external electronic device via a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal;

a timer circuit coupleable to the external electronic device via a data terminal and adapted to apply a timer circuit signal for a period of time when a signal from the external electronic device;

a register adapted to output a register signal upon receiving electric power from the at least one battery cell;

a second transistor controlled by the timer circuit and adapted to apply the electric power from the at least one battery cell to the register for powering the register; and

a battery controller coupled to the data terminal and adapted to output information in response to the register signal to the data terminal,

wherein the timer circuit is coupled between the data terminal and a gate of the second transistor and comprises a diode coupled in the forward direction with the data terminal, a capacitor coupled to a cathode end of the diode, a resistor coupled in parellel with the capacitor, and a first transistor having a gate directly connected in parellel with the resistor.

15. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 14, wherein all data between the smart battery pack and the external electronic device is transmitted over the data terminal consisting of a single line terminal.

16. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the smart battery controller is adapted to transmit one or more of battery type information, an identity of the manufacturer, a manufacturing date, a total battery capacity, and remaining battery capacity to the external electronic device via the data terminal in response to the register signal.

17. A method for recognizing battery type of a smart battery pack comprising:

coupling at least one battery cell to an external electronic device;

coupling a timer circuit to the external electronic device via a data terminal, the timer circuit being adapted to control a first switch and application of electric power from the at least one battery cell through the first switch to a register for powering the register; and

in response to the application of electric power, outputting battery type information to the external electronic device.

18. A method for supplying electric power from a smart battery pack to an external electronic device if the battery type is suitable comprising:

receiving a signal from an external electronic device via a data terminal;

in response to receiving the signal from the external electronic device, operating a timer circuit and toggling a first switch on;

applying electronic power from a battery cell through the first switch to a register for powering the register;

outputting a register signal from the register;

in response to the register signal, outputting battery type information via the data terminal;

in response to an external electronic device deciding that type of the smart battery pack is suitable, receiving authentication information from an external electronic device;

in response to receiving authentication information from the external electronic device, supplying electric power from the smart battery pack to the external electronic device;

in response to the external electronic device deciding that type of the smart battery pack is not suitable, receiving non-authentication information from the external electronic device; and

in response to receiving non-authentication information from the external electronic device, preventing electric power from being supplied from the smart battery pack to the external electronic device.

19. A smart battery pack comprising:

at least one battery cell coupleable to an external electronic device;

a timer circuit coupleable to the external electronic device via a data terminal and adapted to control a first switch and application of electric power from the at least one battery cell through the first switch to a register for powering the register; and

a controlling means coupled to the at least one battery cell, the controlling means providing battery type information to the external electronic device in response to electric power from the at least one battery cell.

20. The smart battery pack as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controlling means comprises:

a first switch adapted to apply electric power from the at least one battery cell;

a register adapted to output a predetermined register signal in response to electric power from the at least one battery cell; and

a smart battery controller adapted to output battery type information to the external electronic device in response to electric power from the at least one battery cell.