System to extend the service life of portable devices

• US 8,084,994 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalfoundries US Incorporated (GlobalFoundries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gonzales, Cesar A., Grabarnik, Genady, Kozakov, Lev, Shwartz, Larisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/023,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20110127836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 320/121, 320/116, 320/117
• US Class Current: 320/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• 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 method for extending the service life of a portable device includes monitoring a battery of a portable device; identifying a problem bank; reconfiguring a connection schema for the battery to replace the problem battery bank with at least one spare bank; conditioning or exercising the problem bank; connecting the portable device to a power supply to recharge the problem bank; and reconnecting the recharged or repaired bank according to the connection schema without the at least one spare bank. A method for extending the service life of a portable device includes monitoring power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software of a portable device; and reconfiguring the connection schema of the battery banks to redistribute power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a battery comprising at least two battery banks and at least one spare bank;

a sensor for monitoring the status of the at least two battery banks;

a connecting controller for reconfiguring a connection schema of the battery to replace a problem bank with an extra or spare bank; and

a discharge/exercise controller for controlling the rate of discharge and recharge of the problem bank,

wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon at least one of actual usage of the portable device, a required level of power consumption, or a chosen level of power consumption.

2. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a computer laptop.

3. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a cell phone, an MP3 player, a television, a personal digital assistant, or a tool.

4. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon actual usage of the portable device.

5. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon a required level of power consumption.

6. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon a chosen level of power consumption.

7. A portable device, comprising:

a battery comprising at least two battery banks and at least one spare bank;

a sensor for monitoring the status of the at least two battery banks;

a connecting controller for reconfiguring a connection schema of the battery to replace a problem bank with at least one spare bank; and

a discharge/exercise controller for controlling the rate of discharge and recharge of the problem bank,

wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based on one selected from the group consisting of actual usage of the portable device, a required level of power consumption, and a chosen level of power consumption.

8. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon actual usage of the portable device.

9. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon a required level of power consumption.

10. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting controller comprises a computing resource profile comprising a model based upon a chosen level of power consumption.

11. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the portable device comprises a cell phone or an MP3 player.

12. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the battery banks comprise at least one of nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries.

13. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the battery banks comprise lithium batteries.

14. A portable device according to claim 7, wherein the battery banks comprise lead-acid batteries.