Remote sensing of remaining battery capacity using on-battery circuitry
First Claim
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1. A remote charge indicator system operatively connected to a battery, the remote charge indicator system comprising:
- a communications module comprising an antenna that receives an interrogation signal from a reader system; and
a voltage sensing module comprising a switch that closes when the communications module receives the interrogation signal, a first RC circuit portion having a first time constant comprising a first resistor and a first capacitor, and a second RC circuit portion having a second time constant comprising a second resistor and a second capacitor,wherein the first time constant is different than the second time constant,wherein the voltage sensing module provides a first output signal to the communications module when the first capacitor charges to a predetermined threshold voltage using the battery,wherein the voltage sensing module provides a second output signal to the communications module when the second capacitor charges to the predetermined threshold voltage using the battery, andwherein the time difference between the first output signal and the second output signal corresponds to the voltage of the battery and the remaining battery capacity of the battery.
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Abstract
A method of remote sensing a charge includes charging or discharging a capacitor of an RC circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage using a power source. A response signal is provided from a communications module to a handheld computing device comprising a reader system once the capacitor reaches the predetermined threshold voltage. An amount of time taken for the handheld computing device to receive the response signal is determined using a processor. The processor determines charge information using the amount of time.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A remote charge indicator system operatively connected to a battery, the remote charge indicator system comprising:
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a communications module comprising an antenna that receives an interrogation signal from a reader system; and a voltage sensing module comprising a switch that closes when the communications module receives the interrogation signal, a first RC circuit portion having a first time constant comprising a first resistor and a first capacitor, and a second RC circuit portion having a second time constant comprising a second resistor and a second capacitor, wherein the first time constant is different than the second time constant, wherein the voltage sensing module provides a first output signal to the communications module when the first capacitor charges to a predetermined threshold voltage using the battery, wherein the voltage sensing module provides a second output signal to the communications module when the second capacitor charges to the predetermined threshold voltage using the battery, and wherein the time difference between the first output signal and the second output signal corresponds to the voltage of the battery and the remaining battery capacity of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification