Device and method to prolong the life of an energy source

• US 7,978,088 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark J, Black, Greg R, Boos, John P
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/129,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 340/636.2, 340/636.11, 340/636.13, 340/636.15, 340/636.19, 320/132, 320/106, 320/150, 320/135, 320/127, 370/252, 370/328, 370/465, 455/433, 455/522
• US Class Current: 340/636.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communication device (200) and method (300) adapted to prolong the useful life of an energy storage device is disclosed. In its simplest form, it can include: determining (310) a limit temperature discharge energy rate of an energy storage device; sensing (320) a temperature range threshold in proximity to the energy storage device; and adjusting (330) a discharge energy rate in response to the determined limit temperature discharge energy rate (310) and sensed temperature range threshold (320). The device (200) and method (300) can automatically and dynamically manage current drain of an energy storage device when a certain temperature range threshold is reached, to maintain the energy storage device within desired specifications and tolerances. This can prolong the useful life of the energy storage device and help to maintain a maximum recharging capacity.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device configured with an energy storage device, comprising:

a housing;

a controller coupled to the housing, the controller configured to control the operations of the wireless communication device;

a transceiver coupled to the controller; and

an energy discharge limiting module configured to determine a limit temperature discharge energy rate specified for an energy storage device, to sense a temperature range threshold in proximity to the energy storage device and to adjust a discharge energy rate to below the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate, in response to the sensed temperature range threshold.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the energy discharge limiting module is configured to adjust and lower the discharge energy rate, below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate, when outside of the temperature range threshold.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the limit temperature discharge rate is determined by identifying the energy storage device and looking up a specified limit temperature discharge energy rate in at least one of an internal memory and an external data base, the energy discharge limiting module being configured to adjust the discharge energy rate to below the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device has a specified energy capacity C Ampere-hours, and the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate is C/10 Amperes.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the energy discharge limiting module is configured to, at least one of:

limit an application to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

reconfigure the wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

change a network registration to a different power class wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

change a network registration to a different data rate class wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate; and

temporarily disable lower priority applications to provide a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the energy discharge limiting module is configured to identify and authenticate the energy storage device as being acceptable for use in the wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes at least one of:

a battery, a fuel cell, a fuel container and an electrochemical capacitor.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a signal indicator for alerting a user that the energy discharge limiting module has been triggered.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further including a data bus configured for conveying at least one of energy storage device identification data and a limit temperature discharge energy rate data from the energy storage device to the energy discharge limiting module.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the data bus is further configured to conveying temperature threshold detection data from the energy storage device to the energy discharge limiting module.

11. A wireless communication method, comprising:

determining a limit temperature discharge energy rate specified for an energy storage device by an energy discharge limiting module;

sensing a temperature range threshold in proximity to the energy storage device; and

adjusting a discharge energy rate to below the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate, in response to the sensed temperature range threshold.

12. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the determining step includes identifying an energy storage device;

looking up a specified limit temperature discharge energy rate in at least one of an internal memory and an external data base, and

lowering the discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate when outside of the temperature range threshold.

13. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting step includes lowering the discharge energy rate below the determined limit temperature energy discharge rate of the energy storage device.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13, wherein the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate is C/10 Amperes, and the energy storage device has a specified energy capacity of C Ampere-Hours.

15. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting step includes at least one of:

limiting an application to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

reconfiguring the wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

changing a network registration to a different power class wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate;

changing a network registration to a different data rate class wireless communication device to a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate; and

temporarily disabling lower priority applications to provide a lower discharge energy rate below a pre-adjusted discharge energy rate.

16. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the determining step includes providing a specification detailing a temperature dependent energy discharge rate limit for the energy storage device.

17. The wireless communication method of claim 12, wherein the identifying step includes authenticating the energy storage device as being acceptable for use in the wireless communication device.

18. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein energy storage device includes at least one of:

a battery, a fuel cell, a fuel container and an electrochemical capacitor.

19. The wireless communication method of claim 11, further comprising providing an adjustment indicator including at least one of a visual signal, audible signal and tactile activity.

20. A method including a device configured with an energy storage device, comprising:

providing a wireless communication device, configured to send and receive wireless signals, the wireless communication device including an energy storage device and controller configured to control the operations of the wireless communication device;

identifying a limit temperature discharge energy rate specified for the energy storage device;

sensing a threshold temperature in proximity to the energy storage device; and

adjusting a discharge energy rate to below the specified limit temperature discharge energy rate, in response to the sensed threshold temperature.