SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING BATTERY SLUMP

• US 20080014997A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: GUTHRIE, Martin, Veselic, Dusan, Book, Christopher, Madter, Richard, Nickerson, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569

Abstract

A system and method for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communications device including: an input configured for receiving battery voltage level information; an output configured for sending a signal for terminating a transmission; and a controller connected to the input and the output and configured to receive the battery voltage level information from the input; monitor the battery voltage level information; and send a signal via the output to terminate a transmission if the battery voltage level information crosses a predetermined threshold during the transmission. In particular, the system and method may further include an input connected to the controller and configured for receiving a signal indicating when a transmission is beginning or occurring and the controller is further configured to receive and monitor the battery voltage level information only when the transmission is occurring.

Claims

1. A system for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communications device comprising:

an input configured for receiving battery voltage level information;

an output configured for sending a signal for terminating a transmission;

and

a controller connected to the input and the output and configured to receive the battery voltage level information from the input;

monitor the battery voltage level information; and

send a signal via the output to terminate a transmission if the battery voltage level information crosses a predetermined threshold during the transmission.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an input connected to the controller and configured for receiving a signal indicating when a transmission is beginning, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the battery voltage level information only when the transmission is occurring.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the signal indicating when a transmission is beginning is an amplifier enable signal.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to delay the monitoring of the battery voltage level information for a predetermined time after receiving the signal indicating when a transmission is beginning.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to send the signal to terminate the transmission without powering down the communication device.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive battery voltage level information by receiving periodic voltage readings and is configured to monitor the battery voltage level information by averaging the voltage readings.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to notify a user of the communication device of the termination of transmission and reason for the termination.

8. A method for managing battery slump in a battery-powered communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring battery voltage level;

comparing the battery voltage level with a predetermined threshold; and

terminating a transmission if the battery voltage level crosses the predetermined threshold during the transmission.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring is performed only during the transmission.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the comparing is performed only during the transmission.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the terminating the transmission occurs without powering down the communication device.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring comprises:

receiving a signal indicating a start of the transmission;

receiving periodic voltage readings; and

averaging the voltage readings to produce a battery voltage level.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the signal indicating a start of the transmission is an amplifier enable signal.

14. A method according to claim 12, the monitoring further comprising delaying the receiving of periodic voltage readings for a predetermined time after receiving the signal indicating a start of transmission.

15. A method according to claim 8, further comprising notifying a user of the communication device of the termination and reason for the termination.