Smart battery charging to improve the lifespan of batteries

• US 9,991,727 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Childress, Rhonda L., Eckert, Kim A., Kuang, Jente B., McNair, Ryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/640,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 320106, 429 50, 429 61
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for managing a rechargeable battery. The method includes a computer processor identifying a rechargeable battery within a first device. The method further includes a computer processor identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery. The method further includes a computer processor determining a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device. The method further includes a computer processor installing the first set of models in the first device. The method further includes a computer processor performing an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the first set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device.

Claims

1. A method for managing a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

identifying, by one or more computer processors, a rechargeable battery within a first device;

identifying, by one or more computer processors, a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery;

determining, by one or more computer processors, a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device;

installing, by one or more computer processors, the first set of models in the first device;

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, the first device to identify information, wherein the identified information comprises at least one of;

usage information associated with the first device, power consumption associate the usage of the first device, one or more environmental factors affecting the identified rechargeable battery, one or more environmental factors affecting the first device, one or more operational factors affecting the first device, and one or more monitored behaviors of a user;

generating, by one or more computer processors, a set of information that includes the identified information;

determining, by one or more computer processors, a second set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based at least in part on the determined first set of models and at least one generated set of information; and

replacing, by one or more computer processors, the first set of models on the first device with the second set of models; and

performing, by one or more processors, an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the second set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an intervention action includes at least one of:

restricting a recharging rate of the identified rechargeable battery based on an environmental factor of the identified rechargeable battery, delaying a shutdown of the first device, limiting a charge level of the rechargeable battery based on a period of time, modifying one or more power management settings of the first device, modifying an operational mode of the first device, calibrating a battery management system included in the first device, and discharging the identified rechargeable battery to another level of charge.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first set of models further comprises:

generating, by one or more computer processors, at least one model of the first set of models based, at least in part, on usage data received from a plurality of devices; and

wherein the usage data comprises information collected from learning employing one or more training datasets, user feedback information from a plurality of users, and observed user behavior from a plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more computer processors, a level of compliance demonstrated by the first device, wherein the level of compliance is based, at least in part, on the first device performing intervention actions dictated in the identified battery maintenance policy;

determining, by one or more computer processors, a current state of the identified rechargeable battery; and

estimating, by one or more computer processors, a remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery based, at least in part, on a level of compliance demonstrated by of the first device, the determined current state of the identified rechargeable battery, and lifespan data from a plurality of the rechargeable batteries, wherein estimating the remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery includes at least one of a probability of battery failure and a time duration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more computer processors, that a second device contains another rechargeable battery, wherein determining includes identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery;

determining, by one or more computer processors, a third set of models based, at least in part, on information associated with the second device and the identified battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery; and

performing, by one or more processors, an intervention action applied to the second device based, at least in part, on a current state of the third set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the second device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the intervention action applied to the second device, comprises:

determining, by one or more computer processors, that the other rechargeable battery contains a microcontroller and a battery management system;

installing, by one or more computer processors, the third set of models on the microcontroller; and

performing, by one or more processors, an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the third set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the second device.

7. A computer program product for managing a rechargeable battery, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify a rechargeable battery within a first device;

program instructions to identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery;

program instructions to determine a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device;

program instructions to install the first set of models in the first device;

program instructions to monitor the first device to identify information, wherein the identified information comprises at least one of;

usage information associated with the first device, power consumption associate the usage of the first device, one or more environmental factors affecting the identified rechargeable battery, one or more environmental factors affecting the first device, one or more operational factors affecting the first device, and one or more monitored behaviors of a user;

program instructions to generate a set of information that includes the identified information;

program instructions to determine a second set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based at least in part on the determined first set of models and at least one generated set of information; and

program instructions to replace the first set of models on the first device with the second set of models; and

program instructions to perform an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the second set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device.

8. A computer program product of claim 7, wherein an intervention action includes at least one of:

restricting a recharging rate of the identified rechargeable battery based on an environmental factor of the identified rechargeable battery, delaying a shutdown of the first device, limiting a charge level of the identified rechargeable battery based on a period of time, modifying one or more power management settings of the first device, modifying an operational mode of the first device, calibrating a battery management system included in the first device, and discharging the identified rechargeable battery to another level of charge.

9. A computer program product of claim 7, wherein determining a first set of models further comprises:

program instructions to generate at least one model of the first set of models based, at least in part, on usage data received from a plurality of devices; and

wherein the usage data comprises information collected from learning employing one or more training datasets, user feedback information from a plurality of users, and observed user behavior from a plurality of users.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to determine a level of compliance demonstrated by the first device, wherein the level of compliance is based, at least in part, on the first device performing intervention actions dictated in the identified battery maintenance policy;

program instructions to determine a current state of the identified rechargeable battery; and

program instructions to estimate a remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery based, at least in part, on a level of compliance demonstrated by of the first device, the determined current state of the identified rechargeable battery, and lifespan data from a plurality of the rechargeable batteries, wherein estimating the remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery includes at least one of a probability of battery failure and a time duration.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to determine that a second device contains another rechargeable battery, wherein determining includes identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery;

program instructions to determine a third set of models based, at least in part, on information associated with the second device and the identified battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery; and

program instructions to perform an intervention action applied to the second device based, at least in part, on a current state of the third set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the second device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein performing the intervention action applied to the second device, comprises:

program instructions to determine that the other rechargeable battery contains a microcontroller and a battery management system;

program instructions to install the third set of models on the microcontroller; and

program instructions to perform an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the third set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the second device.

13. A computer system for managing a rechargeable battery, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify a rechargeable battery within a first device;

program instructions to identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery;

program instructions to determine a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device;

program instructions to install the first set of models in the first device;

program instructions to monitor the first device to identify information, wherein the identified information comprises at least one of;

usage information associated with the first device, power consumption associate the usage of the first device, one or more environmental factors affecting the identified rechargeable battery, one or more environmental factors affecting the first device, one or more operational factors affecting the first device, and one or more monitored behaviors of a user;

program instructions to generate a set of information that includes the identified information;

program instructions to determine a second set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based at least in part on the determined first set of models and at least one generated set of information; and

program instructions to replace the first set of models on the first device with the second set of models; and

program instructions to perform an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the second set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein an intervention action includes at least one of:

restricting a recharging rate of the identified rechargeable battery based on an environmental factor of the identified rechargeable battery, delaying a shutdown of the first device, limiting a charge level of the identified rechargeable battery based on a period of time, modifying one or more power management settings of the first device, modifying an operational mode of the first device, calibrating a battery management system included in the first device, and discharging the identified rechargeable battery to another level of charge.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein determining a first set of models further comprises:

program instructions to generate at least one model of the first set of models based, at least in part, on usage data received from a plurality of devices; and

wherein the usage data comprises information collected from learning employing one or more training datasets, user feedback information from a plurality of users, and observed user behavior from a plurality of users.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

program instructions to determine a level of compliance demonstrated by the first device, wherein the level of compliance is based, at least in part, on the first device performing intervention actions dictated in the identified battery maintenance policy;

program instructions to determine a current state of the identified rechargeable battery; and

program instructions to estimate a remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery based, at least in part, on a level of compliance demonstrated by of the first device, the determined current state of the identified rechargeable battery, and lifespan data from a plurality of the rechargeable batteries, wherein estimating the remaining lifespan of the identified rechargeable battery includes at least one of a probability of battery failure and a time duration.

17. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

program instructions to determine that a second device contains another rechargeable battery, wherein determining includes identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery;

program instructions to determine a third set of models based, at least in part, on information associated with the second device and the identified battery maintenance policy associated with the other rechargeable battery; and

program instructions to perform an intervention action applied to the second device based, at least in part, on a current state of the third set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the second device.