Devices and methods for optimizing rechargeable battery life

• US 8,598,850 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Perumala Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Perumala Corporation
• Inventors: Pisharodi, Madhavan
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/590,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 320/148
• US Class Current: 320/148
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally comprise devices and methods for optimizing rechargeable battery life. One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a device for interrupting the charging status of a rechargeable battery, comprising: a plug, an outlet, a switch, and a controller for controlling the switch state dependent on at least one of: amount of time the switch is in the open state, and amount of time the switch is in the closed state.

Claims

1. A device for interrupting the charging status of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a plug for connecting to a power source;

an outlet for receiving a plug capable of transferring power to the rechargeable battery;

a switch configured to selectively be in either a closed state or an open state, wherein, the closed state corresponds to a charging state, the open state corresponds to a discharging state, and wherein-while the switch is in the closed state, electricity flows from the power source to downstream of the switch; and

while the switch is in the open state, electricity does not flow from the power source to downstream of the switch; and

a controller for controlling the charging state of the switch or the discharging state of the switch for reaching a predetermined modified charge level in the rechargeable battery,

wherein an approximate amount of time the rechargeable battery must be either in the charging state or in the discharging state to reach to the predetermined modified charge level is determined by;

gauging the charge level of the rechargeable battery;

reading stored charge behavior data of the rechargeable battery; and

extrapolating based on the charge level and the charge behavior data.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure, the plug connected to the enclosure.

3. The device of claim 1, the plug selectively retractable towards the enclosure.

4. The device of claim 2, the outlet comprising one or more female contacts configured to receive a plug comprising one or more male contacts.

5. The device of claim 1, the controller controls the charging state of the switch or the discharging state of the switch based on the predetermined modified charge level in the rechargeable battery, wherein the predetermined modified charge level comprises one of a lower charge than the gauged charge level and higher charge level than the gauged charge level.

6. The device of claim 1, the controller further comprising a timer for determining the switch state, the timer configured to receive instructions corresponding to the duration of time between receiving the instructions and producing a signal to the controller, the signal triggering a change of the switch state instantly or after a previously specified time delay.

7. The device of claim 6, the timer comprising an analog display.

8. The device of claim 6, the timer comprising a digital display.

9. The device of claim 6, the controller further comprising an input terminal, the input terminal facilitating provision of the instructions to the timer.

10. The device of claim 9, the input terminal comprising a keypad.

11. The device of claim 9, the input terminal comprising a rotary dial.

12. The device of claim 11, the rotary dial comprising time duration indicia.

13. The device of claim 1, the device outlet configured to receive a plug type comprising at least one of:

2-prong plug, 3-prong plug, USB connector, micro USB connector, 30-pin connector or similar plug type.

14. The device of claim 1, the device plug comprising at least one of:

2-prong plug, 3-prong plug, USB connector, micro USB connector, and 30-pin connector.

15. The device of claim 1, the device outlet configured to receive a USB connector, and the device plug comprising at least one of a 2-prong plug and a 3-prong plug.

16. The device of claim 1, the device outlet configured to receive a USB connector, and the device plug comprising a USB connector or similar connector.

17. The device of claim 1, the device outlet configured to receive at least one of a 2-prong plug and a 3-prong plug, the device plug comprising a USB connector or similar connector.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a single unit.

19. The device of claim 1, the device comprising a modular unit, the modular unit comprising a base module and one or more additional modules.

20. The device of claim 19, the one or more additional modules comprising at least one of:

a voltage converter for stepping up the device for use with a 220 volt power source,

a voltage converter for stepping down the device for use with a 110 volt power source,

an adapter providing a USB output, and

an adapter receiving a USB input or other input and output.

21. A method for interrupting the charging status of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

disposing a power controlling device in electrical communication with a power source, the power controlling device comprising;

a switch configured to selectively be in either a closed state or an open state, wherein;

while the switch is in the closed state, electricity flows from the power source to downstream of the switch; and

while the switch is in the open state, electricity does not flow from the power source to downstream of the switch; and

a controller for controlling the charging state of the switch or the discharging state of the switch switch is in the open state, and amount of time the switch is in the closed state for reaching a predetermined modified charge level in the rechargeable battery,

wherein an approximate amount of time the rechargeable battery must be either in the charging state or in the discharging state to reach to the predetermined modified charge level is determined by;

gauging the charge level of the rechargeable battery;

reading stored charge behavior data of the rechargeable battery; and

extrapolating based on the charge level and the charge behavior data,

the controller comprising a timer capable of transmitting a signal, the signal triggering a change of the switch state instantly or after a previously specified time delay; and

disposing the rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the power controlling device until the rechargeable battery reaches the predetermined modified charge level.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing instructions to the timer, the instructions corresponding to the duration of time between the timer receiving the instructions and the timer transmitting a signal to the controller, the signal triggering a change of the switch state instantly or after a previously specified time delay.

23. The method of claim 22, the controller further comprising an input terminal, the providing the instructions to the timer comprising:

determining a time value for the rechargeable battery to be in either a charging state or a discharging state, the charging state corresponding to the closed switch state, and the discharging state corresponding to the open switch state;

interfacing with the input terminal, the input terminal facilitating the provision of the instructions to the timer.

24. The method of claim 21, the instructions comprising a plurality of instruction sets, the timer transmitting a plurality of signals in response to the plurality of instruction sets, the plurality of signals triggering a corresponding series of switch state changes.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the power controlling device is configured to be selectively used with either a 110 volt power source or a 220 volt power source.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising stepping up the power controlling device for use with a 220 volt power source.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising stepping down the power controlling device for use with a 110 volt power source.

28. The method of claim 21, the gauging the charge level comprising calculating a ratio of the amount of charge remaining in the rechargeable battery to the total charge capacity of the rechargeable battery.