Devices and methods for power transmission level indication

• US 9,568,554 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Jian, Li, Zhi, Savoor, Raghvendra
• Primary Examiner(s): KHIRODHAR, MAHARISHI V
• Application Number:
  US14/753,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20150301114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to a wireless communications device comprising a wireless power transmission detector and a wireless power transmission indicator for displaying to a user the current level of wireless power transmission. A voltmeter and ammeter take readings from the wireless transceiver circuit while the wireless communications device is on. A power logic stored on a memory within the wireless communications device converts the readings into a wireless power transmission level. The wireless power transmission level is output to an indicator on the wireless communications device where a user can view it. Exemplary embodiments include a true battery life indicator on the wireless communications device. The true battery life indicator gives an amount of time a battery powering the wireless communications device will last at the current wireless power transmission level.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a voltmeter;

an ammeter;

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

calculating, based upon a voltage reading obtained using the voltmeter and a current reading obtained using the ammeter, a power transmission level of the device,

determining an amount of energy remaining in a battery associated with the device,

calculating, based upon the power transmission level and the amount of energy remaining in the battery, an amount of time the battery will last, and

displaying the amount of time at a display associated with the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power transmission level until the battery reaches a critical battery level.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the current reading and the voltage reading are measured for a circuit comprising a wireless transceiver associated with the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power transmission level until the wireless transceiver of the device is deactivated.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

providing an audible alert via a speaker in response to the power transmission level reaching a maximum power transmission level.

6. A method comprising:

obtaining, at a wireless communications device comprising a processor, a voltmeter, and an ammeter, a voltage reading using the voltmeter and a current reading using the ammeter;

calculating, by the processor, a power transmission level of the wireless communications device based upon the voltage reading and the current reading;

determining, by the processor, an amount of energy remaining in a battery associated with the wireless communications device;

calculating, by the processor and based upon the power transmission level and the amount of energy remaining in the battery, an amount of time the battery will last; and

displaying, by the processor, the amount of time at a display associated with the wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing, using a speaker of the wireless communications device, an audible alert in response to the power transmission level reaching a maximum power transmission level.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the current reading and the voltage reading are measured for a circuit comprising a wireless transceiver associated with the wireless communications device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power transmission level until the wireless transceiver of the wireless communications device is deactivated.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the current reading comprises a first current reading associated with a first wireless transceiver and a second current reading associated with a second wireless transceiver, and wherein the voltage reading comprises a first voltage reading associated with the first wireless transceiver and a second voltage reading associated with the second wireless transceiver.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first wireless transceiver comprises a cellular radiofrequency transceiver, and wherein the second wireless transceiver comprises a short range wireless transceiver.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power transmission level until the battery reaches a critical battery level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the critical battery level comprises a level at which the wireless communications device will save data and power down.

14. A device comprising:

a voltmeter;

an ammeter;

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

obtaining, using the voltmeter and the ammeter, a voltage reading and a current reading, wherein the voltage reading and the current reading are associated with a module of the device,

calculating, based upon the voltage reading and the current reading, a power level associated with the device,

determining an amount of energy remaining in a battery associated with the device,

calculating, based upon the power level and the amount of energy remaining in the battery, an amount of time the battery will last, and

displaying the amount of time at a display associated with the device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power level until the battery reaches a critical battery level.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the module comprises a wireless transceiver module.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the amount of time the battery will last comprises an amount of time at the power level until the wireless transceiver module will be deactivated.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

providing an audible alert via a speaker in response to the power level reaching a maximum power level.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein displaying the amount of time comprises displaying an icon that represents the amount of time.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

displaying, on the display, an icon that represents the power level.