Optimizing battery usage

• US 9,306,243 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Basson, Sara H., Hamilton, Rick, Kanevsky, Dimitri, Sainath, Tara N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIGNAN, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US13/012,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20120189878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 429/50, 429/61, 429/90, 320/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Techniques for optimizing battery usage are provided. The techniques include sensing energy level of a battery, comparing the sensed energy level of the battery to a predetermined energy threshold for the battery, and controlling energy flow to and from the battery based on the comparison of the sensed energy level and the energy threshold.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing battery usage, wherein the method comprises:

automatically sensing an energy level of each battery among a set of multiple variable batteries that are housed in a device, wherein the device comprises multiple compartments of a size that can be dynamically adjusted in real-time from a first size to a second size to fit a respective one of the multiple variable batteries that does not fit within the first size;

automatically comparing the sensed energy level of each battery among the set of batteries to at least one predetermined energy threshold exclusively pertaining to the energy level of each battery among the set of batteries;

automatically marking each battery among the set of batteries as permitted for recharging if the sensed energy level of the given battery is sufficient to recharge the given battery based on said comparing;

automatically marking each battery among the set of batteries as permitted for energy extraction if the sensed energy level in the given battery is sufficient to extract energy from the given battery based on said comparing;

monitoring the temperature of each battery among the set of batteries via one or more temperature sensors;

automatically determining a battery type for each battery among the set of batteries, wherein battery type comprises one of rechargeable and not rechargeable, and wherein automatically determining the battery type for each battery among the set of batteries comprises pattern matching a battery casing for each battery among the set of batteries against a battery casing for one or more known battery types; and

automatically controlling energy flow to and from each battery among the set of batteries based on (i) the temperature of each battery among the set of batteries, (ii) the determined battery type for each battery among the set of batteries, and (iii) the comparison of the sensed energy level and the at least one energy threshold exclusively pertaining to the energy level of each battery among the set of batteries, wherein said controlling comprises;

extracting any remaining charge from each battery among the set of batteries marked for energy extraction and storing the remaining charge in the device if (i) the given battery is not rechargeable and (ii) the sensed energy level has a given predetermined relationship to the at least one energy threshold calling for energy to be extracted from the given battery; and

extracting an amount of charge from each battery among the set of batteries marked for energy extraction to render the given battery as containing a given amount of charge for recharging if (i) the given battery is rechargeable and (ii) the sensed energy level has a given predetermined relationship to the at least one energy threshold calling for energy to be extracted from the given battery; and

recharging, using charge stored in the device, each battery among the set of batteries marked for recharging that (i) is rechargeable and (ii) has had charge extracted to render the given battery as containing the given amount of charge for recharging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a manual setting facilitates user specification that a particular function be accomplished.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an automatic setting facilitates that a particular function is accomplished upon detection of one or more conditions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if each battery among the set of batteries has residues of energy if the given battery is not rechargeable.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising ejecting each battery among the set of batteries for resumption of use.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the energy level of each battery among the set of batteries is sufficient to recharge the given battery if the given battery is rechargeable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising inputting information pertaining to a battery charge process into a personal history database.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a system, wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules, each of the one or more distinct software modules being embodied on a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, and wherein the one or more distinct software modules comprise a sensor module, a detachable energy redistribution module and a battery manager module executing on a hardware processor.