Pre-set discharging of batteries

• US 20070090806A1
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Yin, Memphis-Zhihong, Hoffer, Cary, Head, Cynthia
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a method of pre-set discharging of a battery in a portable device which is connected to external power. The battery is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, and the time at the fully-charged level is tracked. The charging of the battery is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed. The charging is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of pre-set discharging of a battery in a portable device which is connected to external power, the method comprising:

charging the battery until a fully-charged level is reached;

tracking a time at the fully-charged level;

halting the charging of the battery after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed; and

restarting the charging of the battery after a pre-set charge level is reached.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time is tracked by:

starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached; and

using the timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user when the charging of the battery is halted.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

notifying the user when the charging of the battery is restarted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum full-charge time period is configurable by way of a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-set charge level is configurable by way of a user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-set discharging the battery is enabled/disabled by way of a user interface.

8. A portable battery-powered electronic apparatus comprising:

a power connector configured to be coupled to a power adaptor and to receive power therefrom;

a charging regulator coupled to the power connector;

a battery coupled to the charging regulator;

a processor configured to execute program instructions;

memory configured to store program instructions and data; and

processor-executable instructions in the memory which are configured to control the charging regulator such that (a) the battery is charged until a fully-charged level is reached, (b) a time at the fully-charged level is tracked, (c) the charging of the battery is halted after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed, and (d) the charging of the battery is restarted after a pre-set charge level is reached.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to track the time by starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached and using the timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to notify a user when the charging of the battery is halted.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor-executable instructions are further configured to notify the user when the charging of the battery is restarted.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the maximum full-charge time period is selectable by way of a user interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pre-set charge level is selectable by way of a user interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the discharging of the battery is enabled or disabled by way of a user interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the discharging is temporarily disabled at option of a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a portable personal computer device.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a device from a group of devices consisting of personal digital assistants, digital cameras, MP3 players, and cell phones.

18. A portable electronic system including a re-chargeable battery, the system comprising:

means for charging the battery until a fully-charged level is reached;

means for tracking a time at the fully-charged level;

means for stopping the charging of the battery after a maximum full-charge time period is elapsed; and

means for resuming the charging of the battery after a maximum discharge level is reached.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for tracking comprises:

means for starting a timer when the fully-charged level is reached; and

means for using the timer in determining whether the maximum full-charge time period is elapsed.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for notifying a user when the charging of the battery is stopped; and

means for notifying the user when the charging of the battery is resumed.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the maximum full-charge time period and the maximum discharge level are configurable by way of a user interface.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the discharging is temporarily disabled at option of a user.