Battery charge management using a scheduling application

• US 7,852,045 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Don J., Matsumura, Naoki, Otani, Nobuhiro, Hamaji, Kiyohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US11/765,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first parameter from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack, the first parameter comprising is a length of time the mobile computing device will be operating on battery power;

calculating a required charge percentage for the battery pack based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data;

determining a remaining capacity of the battery pack; and

if the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, determining a charge termination voltage and charging the battery pack to the charge termination voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second parameter from the scheduling application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second parameter is a length of time the mobile computing device will be connected to an AC power source before operating on battery power.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising if the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, estimating a time to charge completion.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising notifying a user of the mobile computing device if the time to charge completion is greater than the length of time the mobile computing device will be connected to the AC power source before operating on battery power.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein notifying the user comprises notifying the user via the scheduling application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery pack data includes temperature, cycle count, and current.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising if the remaining capacity of the battery pack is greater than the required charge percentage, disconnecting AC power and using battery power to discharge the battery pack to the charge termination voltage.

9. A system comprising:

a processor to run a schedule application;

an AC/DC adapter to provide power from an AC power source;

a battery pack;

a charge management module coupled to the processor, the AC/DC adapter, and the battery pack, the charge management module to monitor battery pack data and to monitor a user'"'"'s schedule via the schedule application;

wherein the charge management module is to determine a length of time a user will be connected to the AC power source via the AC/DC adapter before the battery pack is used, to determine a length of time the battery pack will be used based upon the schedule application, and to determine a charge termination voltage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the charge management module is further to determine a time to charge completion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the charge management module is to permit the AC/DC adapter to charge the battery pack if the time to charge completion is less than the length of time the user will be connected to the AC power source via the AC/DC adapter before the battery pack is used.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the charge management module is further to switch from the AC power source to battery pack power when the battery pack reaches the charge termination voltage.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the charge management module is to switch from the AC power source to battery pack power to discharge the battery pack to the charge termination voltage if a remaining battery capacity is greater than the charge termination voltage.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the battery pack data includes temperature, cycle count, and current.