Systems and methods for predicting remaining battery capacity

• US 8,045,316 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Nerheim, Magne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US11/285,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232
• US Class Current: 361/232
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 3/00 Pistols, e.g. revolvers specially adapted for underwater use F41C9/06; for slaughtering or stunning animals A22B; for shooting bolts into concrete constructions, metal walls or the like B25C
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/04 providing pulse voltages mechanical self-interrupters H01H; electronic pulse-generators H03K

Abstract

A system according to various aspects of the present invention predicts remaining battery capacity for a battery used by a device. The system includes a memory that stores indicia of remaining battery capacity and a plurality of predefined increments of battery capacity consumption. The system further includes a circuit that determines a duration of operating corresponding to one or more of the increments and stores in the memory a predicted remaining battery capacity, adjusted in accordance with the duration and the one or more increments. Other systems, according to various aspects of the present invention, further include a display indicating remaining battery capacity, for example, as a percentage of initial battery capacity, and/or temperature compensation.

Claims

1. A system that predicts remaining battery capacity for a battery used by a device having a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:

a memory that stores indicia of remaining battery capacity, and for each mode of the plurality of modes respective indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption; and

a circuit that determines a duration of operating in a particular operating mode, recalls from memory a particular increment of battery capacity consumption in accordance with the particular operating mode, and stores in the memory indicia of battery capacity remaining in accordance with recalled indicia of remaining battery capacity adjusted for the particular increment of battery capacity consumption.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display that presents indicia of remaining battery capacity as determined by the circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the memory further stores indicia of initial battery capacity; and

the circuit further computes a ratio of remaining battery capacity to initial battery capacity.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the system further comprises a display that presents indicia of the ratio.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a mode for providing a current for disabling a target.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the battery and the memory are packaged as a module; and

the module is removable from the device for at least one of recharging the battery and recalling data from the memory.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the particular operating mode is associated with a load of the device, and recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption is in further accordance with indicia of the load.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuit further obtains a temperature associated with the battery and stores in the memory indicia of remaining battery capacity adjusted in further accordance with the temperature.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuit further obtains a temperature associated with the battery and recalls from the memory indicia of the particular increment of battery capacity consumption in further accordance with the temperature.

10. A module for coupling to a device, the module comprising:

a battery;

a memory; and

an interface that transfers power from the battery to the device to be consumed by the device and transfers data between the device and the memory;

wherein;

the data includes indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption recalled from the memory; and

the data further includes indicia of battery capacity remaining to be stored by the memory.

11. The module of claim 10 wherein the data further includes indicia of an operating mode of the device for recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption.

12. The module of claim 10 wherein the data further includes indicia of a load of the device for recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption.

13. The module of claim 10 wherein the data further includes indicia of a temperature for recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption.

14. The module of claim 10 wherein, for recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption, the data further includes indicia of a temperature and indicia of a load of the device.

15. An apparatus for impeding locomotion by a target, the apparatus for use with a provided electrode for conducting a current through the target, the apparatus comprising:

a battery that provides power consumed by the apparatus;

a memory;

a first load comprising a timer for keeping track of date and time;

a second load comprising a signal generator that provides the current;

a third load comprising a light source;

a circuit that determines a duration of operation in a mode of operation in accordance with which one or more of the first, second, and third loads is/are enabled to consume power, and that determines indicia of remaining battery capacity in accordance with the duration;

an interface that transfers data between the circuit and the memory;

wherein;

the data includes indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption recalled from the memory for determining the indicia of remaining battery capacity; and

the data further includes indicia, of remaining battery capacity, stored by the memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a display that presents indicia of remaining battery capacity as determined by the circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the memory stores indicia of initial battery capacity and the circuit further computes a ratio of remaining battery capacity to initial battery capacity.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the system further comprises a display that presents indicia of the ratio.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the battery and memory are packaged as a module; and

the module is removable from the apparatus for at least one of recharging the battery and recalling data from the memory.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the mode of operation is associated with a load of the device, and recall of the indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption is in further accordance with indicia of the load.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the circuit further obtains a temperature associated with the battery and stores in the memory indicia of remaining battery capacity adjusted in further accordance with the temperature.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the circuit further obtains a temperature associated with the battery and recalls from the memory indicia of the particular increment of battery capacity consumption in further accordance with the temperature.

23. A method performed by a device for predicting remaining battery capacity of a battery, the device operated by the battery, the method comprising:

determining a duration of operating in a particular operating mode of a plurality of operating modes of the device;

recalling a particular predefined increment of battery capacity consumption in accordance with the particular operating mode; and

storing indicia of remaining battery capacity in accordance with recalled indicia of remaining battery capacity adjusted for the particular predefined increment of battery capacity consumption.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising storing in a table, for each mode of operation of the device, respective indicia of a predefined increment of battery capacity consumption.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising presenting on a display indicia of remaining battery capacity.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

storing indicia of initial battery capacity; and

computing a ratio of remaining battery capacity to initial battery capacity.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising presenting on a display indicia of the ratio.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing, in a particular operating mode, a current for disabling a target.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

obtaining a temperature associated with the battery; and

determining adjusted indicia of remaining battery capacity in further accordance with the temperature.

30. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

obtaining a temperature associated with the battery; and

recalling indicia of the particular increment of battery capacity consumption in further accordance with the temperature.

31. A method performed by a device for predicting remaining battery capacity of a battery, the device operated by the battery, the method comprising:

operating a first load comprising a timer for keeping track of date and time;

conditionally operating a second load comprising a signal generator that provides the current;

conditionally operating a third load comprising a light source;

determining a duration of operation of one or more of the first, second, and third loads;

determining indicia of remaining battery capacity in accordance with the duration;

recalling a particular predefined increment of battery capacity consumption in accordance with indicia identifying at least one of the first, the second, and the third load; and

storing indicia of remaining battery capacity in accordance with recalled indicia of remaining battery capacity adjusted for the particular predefined increment of battery capacity consumption.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising storing in a table, for each of the first, the second, and the third load, respective indicia of a predefined increment of battery capacity consumption.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising presenting on a display indicia of remaining battery capacity.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

storing indicia of initial battery capacity; and

computing a ratio of remaining battery capacity to initial battery capacity.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising presenting on a display indicia of the ratio.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising providing, in a particular operating mode, a current for disabling a target.

37. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

obtaining a temperature associated with the battery; and

determining adjusted indicia of remaining battery capacity in further accordance with the temperature.

38. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

obtaining a temperature associated with the battery; and

recalling indicia of the particular increment of battery capacity consumption in further accordance with the temperature.

39. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

transferring data between a circuit of the device and a removable module of the device, the module comprising a memory and the battery;

wherein;

the data includes indicia of an increment of battery capacity consumption recalled from the memory for determining the indicia of remaining battery capacity; and

the data further includes indicia, of remaining battery capacity, stored by the memory.