Power management of device with modular components

• US 8,154,244 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Martin, Geoffrey S., Gorham, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/340,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/107, 320/114, 320/115, 320/132, 713/300
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for managing power in an electronic device to enhance battery performance. One aspect includes automatically accelerating discharge of a battery below a threshold prior to recharging the battery. Another aspect includes measuring power requirements of modular components to create an order for use in power distribution. For example, a modular component with a highest power requirement might be charged first. In another example, power might be transferred first from a modular component with a lowest power requirement.

Claims

1. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of managing power of an electronic device that includes a primary battery and that is adapted to be coupled to one or more modular components, the method comprising:

monitoring a first power requirement of a first modular component that carries out a first function, the first modular component comprising a first battery that powers the first modular component, wherein the first power requirement is determined based on a usage frequency of the first modular component;

monitoring a second power requirement of a second modular component that carries out a second function, the second modular component comprising a second battery that powers the second modular component, wherein the second power requirement is determined based on a usage frequency of the second modular component;

comparing the first power requirement to the second power requirement to determine that the first power requirement is greater than the second power requirement; and

when at least the first battery is less than full capacity, transferring power to the first battery before transferring power to the second battery based on the first power requirement being greater than the second power requirement.

2. The media of claim 1 wherein the first modular component comprises one or more of a wireless input device and a wireless output device and wherein the second modular component comprises one or more of a wireless input device and a wireless output device.

3. The media of claim 2 wherein the wireless input device comprises one or more of a mouse, keyboard, remote control, microphone, headset, and stylus.

4. The media of claim 2 wherein the wireless output device comprises a wireless speaker.

5. The media of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a charging order wherein the first modular component is associated with a higher charging priority than the second modular component; and

referencing the charging order before transferring power to one or more of the first battery and the second battery.

6. The media of claim 5 wherein the charging order is modifiable by input from a user of the electronic device.

7. A method of managing power of an electronic device that includes a primary battery and that is adapted to be coupled to one or more modular components, the method comprising:

monitoring by a power control component of the electronic device a first power requirement of a first modular component that carries out a first function, the first modular component comprising a first battery that powers the first modular component, wherein the first power requirement is determined based on a usage frequency of the first modular component;

monitoring by the power control component a second power requirement of a second modular component that carries out a second function, the second modular component comprising a second battery that powers the second modular component, wherein the second power requirement is determined based on a usage frequency of the second modular component;

comparing by the power control component of the electronic device the first power requirement to the second power requirement to determine that the first power requirement is greater than the second power requirement; and

when at least the first battery is less than full capacity, routing by the power control component power to the first battery before transferring power to the second battery based on the first power requirement being greater than the second power requirement.