Dynamic battery level indicator

• US 9,841,466 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Inventors: Ding, Jia-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US14/994,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An improved battery level indicator is provided. A first portion of the battery level indicator can be filled with a first color to indicate a charge level or remaining power level of a battery. A second portion of the battery level indicator can be filled with a second color to indicate a discharge level or consumed power level of the battery. As the battery power continues to be consumed, the battery level indicator re-colors both portions of the battery level indicators periodically with the first and second colors. In some implementations, a small gap portion can be displayed between the two portions described above, and the small gap portion can be filled with a third color, with a color intensity level in between the first and second colors.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a battery level indicator, wherein the battery level indicator comprises a first portion of display area indicating a battery charge level, a second portion of display area indicating a battery discharge level, and a gap portion indicating a margin of error of the battery charge level, the method comprising:

periodically receiving battery information indicating the charge level the discharge level of the battery, and a margin error of the charge level;

determining a ratio between the discharge level and charge level of the battery;

determining a size of the first portion and a size of the second portion based on the ratio;

determining a size of the gap portion based on the size of the first portion, a size of the second portion and the margin of error, wherein the gap portion is between the first and second portions;

determining a first color to be filled in the first portion;

determining a second color to be filled in the second portion;

determining a third color to be filled in the gap portion;

periodically painting the first portion with the first color and the second portion with the second color to create a visual effect that shows a progress of a consumption of the battery such that the second portion appears to push the first portion gradually over the consumption of the battery, wherein the first color and second color are separate and distinct, and are not white, wherein the first portion and second portion of the battery level indicator occupy an entire display area of the battery level indicator and are adjacent to each other; and

periodically painting the gap portion with the third color.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first color and/or the second color is not black or white.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the first color to be filled in the first portion is based on the ratio such that if the ratio indicates the charge level of the battery is below a predetermined threshold, the first color is determined to be red.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the size of the first portion and the size of the second portion reflect the ratio between the discharge level and charge level of the battery.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising effectuating a display of the battery level indicator within a driving apparatus.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the battery information is received from battery management system of a smart battery.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are painted once every second.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual effect that shows a progress of continuing consumption of the battery is created such that the first portion appears to push the second portion.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein in the battery level indicator is painted as a rectangular shape.

8. A system for displaying a battery level indicator, wherein the battery level indicator comprises a first portion of display area indicating a battery charge level, a second portion of display area indicating a battery discharge level, and a gap portion indicating a margin of error of the battery charge level, the system comprising one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to perform:

periodically receiving battery information indicating the charge level and/or the discharge level of the battery, and a margin error of the charge level;

determining a ratio between the discharge level and charge level of the battery;

determining a size of the first portion and a size of the second portion based on the ratio;

determining a size of the gap portion based on the size of the first portion, a size of the second portion and the margin of error, wherein the gap portion is between the first and second portions;

determining a first color to be filled in the first portion;

determining a second color to be filled in the second portion;

determining a third color to be filled in the gap portion;

periodically painting the first portion with the first color and the second portion with the second color to create a visual effect that shows a progress of a consumption of the battery such that the second portion appears to push the first portion gradually over the consumption of the battery, wherein the first color and second color are separate and distinct, and are not white, wherein the first portion and second portion of the battery level indicator occupy an entire display area of the battery level indicator and are adjacent to each other; and

periodically painting the gap portion with the third color.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first color and/or the second color is not black or white.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the determination of the first color to be filled in the first portion is based on the ratio such that if the ratio indicates the charge level of the battery is blow a predetermined threshold, the first color is determined to be red.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the size of the first portion and the size of the second portion reflect the ratio between the discharge level and charge level of the battery.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform effectuating a display of the battery level indicator within a driving apparatus.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the battery information is received from battery management system of a smart battery.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second portions are painted once every second.