Battery life time management
First Claim
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1. A method for managing the lifetime of a battery, the method comprising:
- measuring an ambient temperature near a battery;
detecting that the ambient temperature rises above a first threshold;
in response to detecting that the ambient temperature rises above the first threshold, starting discharging of the battery; and
providing power to a load using a second battery during the discharging of the battery, wherein the battery provides power to the load prior to being discharged, and wherein the second battery is configured to convert thermal power into electrical power.
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Abstract
A method for managing the lifetime of a battery is disclosed herein. An ambient temperature is measured near a battery. The ambient temperature rises above a first threshold and, in response to detecting that the ambient temperature has risen above the first threshold, the battery is discharged. A battery system and a device operable with a battery are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing the lifetime of a battery, the method comprising:
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measuring an ambient temperature near a battery; detecting that the ambient temperature rises above a first threshold; in response to detecting that the ambient temperature rises above the first threshold, starting discharging of the battery; and providing power to a load using a second battery during the discharging of the battery, wherein the battery provides power to the load prior to being discharged, and wherein the second battery is configured to convert thermal power into electrical power.
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2. A method for managing the lifetime of a battery, the method comprising:
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measuring an ambient temperature near a battery; detecting that the ambient temperature rises above a first threshold; and in response to detecting that the ambient temperature rises above the first threshold, starting discharging of the battery, wherein the discharging comprises; measuring a charge level of the battery while the battery is being discharged; comparing the measured charge level with a threshold of charge level; and detecting that the charge level drops below the threshold of charge level. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A method for managing the lifetime of a battery, the method comprising:
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measuring an ambient temperature near a battery; detecting that the ambient temperature rises above a first threshold; in response to detecting that the ambient temperature rises above the first threshold, discharging the battery; and after discharging the battery, charging the battery upon detecting that the ambient temperature drops below a second threshold that is higher than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery system comprising:
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a main battery configured to provide power to a load; a discharge circuit coupled to the main battery and configured to discharge the main battery; a temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of the main battery; a microcontroller coupled to the temperature sensor and the discharge circuit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the discharge circuit to start discharging the main battery when the ambient temperature rises above a first temperature threshold; and a secondary battery configured to provide power to the load while the main battery is being discharged, wherein the secondary battery is configured to convert thermal energy into electrical energy.
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15. A battery system comprising:
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a main battery configured to provide power to a load; a discharge circuit coupled to the main battery and configured to discharge the main battery; a temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of the main battery; a microcontroller coupled to the temperature sensor and the discharge circuit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the discharge circuit to start discharging the main battery when the ambient temperature rises above a first temperature threshold; and a bias circuit configured to apply a voltage across the main battery, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the bias circuit to apply a bias voltage across the main battery after the main battery is discharged, wherein the bias voltage is smaller than a minimum voltage for charging the main battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A device operable with a battery, the device comprising:
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a temperature measurement element configured to measure an ambient temperature near the battery; a discharge circuit configured to cause the battery to discharge; a bias circuit configured to apply voltages across the battery; a microcontroller coupled to the temperature measurement element and configured to control the discharge circuit and the bias circuit; program memory coupled to the microcontroller; parameter memory coupled to the microcontroller; and a clock mechanism coupled to the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification