Device and method for temperature monitoring and warning

• US 8,477,041 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hu, Ya-Hai, Hui, Tian-Shu, Zhao, Dai-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/610,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/586, 340/581, 340/584, 340/588, 340/589, 340/539.11, 340/539.27, 340/636.1, 340/636.18, 340/870.17, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/150, 455/404.1, 455/572
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

A wireless communication device and method adapted for temperature monitoring and warning is disclosed. In its simplest form, it can include: providing (510) a multi-mode communication device including an unrestricted mode having an unrestricted operation temperature range, a restricted mode having a restricted operation temperature range and a warning mode having a warning operation temperature range; determining (520) if a temperature in proximity to the energy storage device is in at least one of the restricted operation temperature range, the unrestricted operation temperature range and a warning operation temperature range; and entering (540) the warning mode when in the warning operation temperature range. The warning mode can include a notification, banner or the like, to a user, to suggest that at least one active application be shut down.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method, comprising:

providing a multi-mode communication device including an unrestricted mode having an unrestricted operation temperature range, a restricted mode having a restricted operation temperature range and a warning mode having a warning operation temperature range;

determining if a temperature in proximity to an energy storage device is in at least one of the restricted operation temperature range, the unrestricted operation temperature range and a warning operation temperature range;

entering the warning mode when in the warning operation temperature range, wherein the warning mode includes a high temperature alert controlled by a controller;

providing a list of temperature reduction measures including at least one of shutting down an application, reducing communication with an application server, shutting down a data communication session, entering a restricted communication state, shutting down a user interface device, reducing a user interface device capability, and reducing a device illumination level; and

providing a power target for reducing the temperature in proximity to the energy storage device.

2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the high temperature alert comprises providing at least one of a visual signal, audible signal and tactile activity.

3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the high temperature alert comprises providing notification to a user to suggest that at least one temperature reduction measure be taken.

4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the high temperature alert comprises providing notification to a user to suggest that at least one active application be shut down.

5. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing a list of active applications.

6. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing a power metric for each temperature reduction measure.

7. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing a power metric for the entire device.

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

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

9. 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, the wireless communication device including a multi-mode communication device including an unrestricted mode having an unrestricted operation temperature range, a restricted mode having a restricted operation temperature range and a warning mode having a warning operation temperature range;

a transceiver coupled to the controller; and

an energy discharge limiting module configured to determine if a temperature in proximity to the energy storage device is in at least one of the restricted operation temperature range, the unrestricted operation temperature range and a warning operation temperature range;

and enter the warning mode when in the warning operation temperature range, wherein the warning mode includes a notification to a user to suggest that at least one active application be shut down.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising an alert comprising at least one of a visual signal, audible signal and tactile activity.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising an alert configured to notify and suggest that at least one temperature reduction measure be taken.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising a display configured with a list of temperature reduction measures including at least one of shutting down an application, reducing communication with an application server, shutting down a data communication session, entering a restricted communication state, shutting down a user interface device, reducing a user interface device capability, and reducing a device illumination level.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising a display including a list of active applications.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising a display configured to provide a power metric for each temperature reduction measure.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the energy storage device includes at least one of:

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

16. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising a signal indicator for alerting a user that a change in modes is about to occur or has occurred.