Automatically determining a number of functioning batteries
First Claim
1. A method for automatically determining a number of functioning rechargeable batteries within a device that includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries, comprising:
- disabling charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by a power source;
determining a first voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries at a first predetermined time after disabling the charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source;
subsequent to the determining the first voltage level, enabling charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source;
determining a second voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries at a second predetermined time after enabling the charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source;
determining a difference between the second voltage level and the first voltage level; and
determining the number of functioning rechargeable batteries within the device based at least on the difference.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and computer program products are described herein that can automatically determine the number of functional rechargeable batteries within an electronic device that includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries without having to open up the electronic device to inspect the batteries. In an embodiment, an external computing device or the electronic device itself determines a measure of impedance associated with the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on a first voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries obtained during a discharging state thereof and a second voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries obtained during a charging state thereof and then determines the number of operational rechargeable batteries within the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on the measure of impedance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically determining a number of functioning rechargeable batteries within a device that includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries, comprising:
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disabling charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by a power source; determining a first voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries at a first predetermined time after disabling the charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source; subsequent to the determining the first voltage level, enabling charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source; determining a second voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries at a second predetermined time after enabling the charging of the plurality of rechargeable batteries by the power source; determining a difference between the second voltage level and the first voltage level; and determining the number of functioning rechargeable batteries within the device based at least on the difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of rechargeable batteries; a voltage level detector operable to detect a voltage level associated with the plurality of rechargeable batteries; one or more memory devices that store computer program logic; and one or more processors connected to the voltage level detector and the one or more memory devices, the one or more processors being operable to perform operations by executing the computer program logic, the operations including; obtaining from the voltage level detector a first voltage level detected while the plurality of rechargeable batteries are in a discharging state; subsequent to the obtaining the first voltage level, obtaining from the voltage level detector a second voltage level detected while the plurality of rechargeable batteries are in a charging state; determining a difference between the second voltage level and the first voltage level; and determining a number of operational rechargeable batteries within the plurality of rechargeable batteries based at least on the difference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable memory device having computer program logic recorded thereon that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:
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placing a plurality of rechargeable batteries within an electronic device in a discharging state to obtain a first voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; subsequent to the obtaining the first voltage level, placing the plurality of rechargeable batteries in a charging state to obtain a second voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; determining a measure of impedance associated with the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on the first voltage level and the second voltage level; and determining a number of operational rechargeable batteries within the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on the measure of impedance.
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Specification