BATTERY CHARGER AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING BATTERY PACK CHARGING STATUS INFORMATION

• US 20080297104A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Jaya B., Annamalai, Macwien Krishnamurthi, Low, Poh Huat, Che At, Mohd Hisham Muddin
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charger (180) and method (400) for communicating battery pack charging status information of a battery pack (140) coupled to both the battery charger (180) and an electronic device such as a radio (110). The method (400) performs reading an authenticity battery pack identifier and battery status information provided by the battery pack (140) to the battery charger (180). Next the method (400) performs transmitting in a status message over a wireless link (199) the authenticity battery pack identifier and charging status information from the battery charger (180) to the radio (110). Processing (555) the charging status information is then performed by the radio (110). This processing (555) is performed when the authenticity battery pack identifier matches a currently coupled battery pack identifier stored on the radio (110), the currently coupled battery pack identifier identifying the battery pack (140) that is coupled to the radio (110).

Claims

1. A method for communicating battery pack charging status information of a battery pack from a battery charger to an electronic device when the battery charger and the electronic device are both coupled to the battery pack, the method comprising:

Reading an authenticity battery pack identifier and battery status information provided by the battery pack to the battery charger;

Transmitting in a status message over a wireless link the authenticity battery pack identifier and charging status information from the battery charger to the electronic device; and

Processing, by the electronic device, the charging status information when the authenticity battery pack identifier matches a currently coupled battery pack identifier stored on the electronic device, the currently coupled battery pack identifier identifying the battery pack that is coupled to the electronic device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the currently coupled battery pack identifier is stored on the electronic device when the electronic device initially detects a coupling of the battery pack to the electronic device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing includes displaying the charging status information on the information on the electronic display of the electronic device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging status information includes data indicative of a charge stored in the battery pack.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, subsequently including:

transmitting in an acknowledge message over the wireless link the authenticity battery pack identifier and from the electronic device to the battery charger.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, subsequently including:

detecting by the charger the acknowledge message; and

resending the status message when the authenticity battery pack identifier does not match the acknowledge identifier.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the acknowledge identifier comprises the authenticity battery pack identifier.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the acknowledge identifier comprises the currently coupled battery pack identifier.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed by a radio transponder.

10. A method for communicating battery pack charging status information of a battery pack from a battery charger to an electronic device when the battery charger and the electronic device are both coupled to the battery pack, the method comprising:

Reading an authenticity battery pack identifier and battery status information provided by the battery pack to the battery charger; and

Transmitting in a status message over a wireless link the authenticity battery pack identifier and charging status information from the battery charger to the electronic device.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the charging status information includes data indicative of a charge stored in the battery pack.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, subsequently including:

Detecting by the charger an acknowledge message comprising an acknowledge identifier; and

Resending the status message when the authenticity battery pack identifier does not match the acknowledge identifier.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the acknowledge identifier comprises the authenticity battery pack identifier.

14. A method for communicating battery pack charging status information of a battery pack from a battery charger to an electronic device when the battery charger and the electronic device are both coupled to the battery pack, the method comprising:

Reading an authenticity battery pack identifier and battery status information provided by the battery pack to the battery charger;

Receiving in a status message transmitted over a wireless link an authenticity battery pack identifier and charging status information provided by the battery pack to the battery charger; and

Processing, by the electronic device, the charging status information when the authenticity battery pack identifier matches a currently coupled battery pack identifier stored on the electronic device, the currently coupled battery pack identifier identifying the battery pack that is coupled to the electronic device.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the currently coupled battery pack identifier is stored on the electronic device when the electronic device initially detects a coupling of the battery pack to the electronic device.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processing includes displaying the charging status information on the information on the electronic display of the electronic device.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the charging status information includes data indicative of a charge stored in the battery pack.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, subsequently including:

Transmitting in an acknowledge message over the wireless link an acknowledge identifier from the electronic device.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the acknowledge identifier comprises the authenticity battery pack identifier.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the acknowledge identifier comprises the currently coupled battery pack identifier.

21. A battery charger comprising:

a controller having a charge status input;

a wireless communications circuit coupled to the controller; and

a battery charging circuit having at least one control input coupled to the controller,

wherein when the battery charger is coupled to the battery pack the controller reads an authenticity battery pack identifier provided by the battery pack at the charge status input and the wireless communications circuit transmits the battery pack identifier over a wireless link.