METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A BATTERY IN A PARTIALLY CHARGED STATE

• US 20090289603A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mahowald, Peter H.
• Application Number:
  US12/124,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/151
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a battery charge. The embodiment may measure the charge level of a battery and determine if the charge level equals or exceeds a threshold. When the battery charge level does not equal or exceed the threshold, the battery may be charged.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a battery charge, comprising:

measuring a battery charge level;

determining if the battery charge level of the battery equals or exceeds a threshold; and

in the event the battery charge level does not equal or exceed the threshold, charging the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is seventy percent of the full charge condition of the battery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the battery; and

adjusting the threshold based at least in part on the temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the battery is discharged; and

in the event that the battery is discharged, fully charging the battery.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a threshold override is enabled; and

in the event the threshold override is enabled, fully charging the battery.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

checking a predetermined user schedule; and

determining if a threshold override is enabled on the predetermined user schedule.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation of determining if the threshold override is enabled comprises:

determining if a specific time and date is set specifying when a fully charged battery is required; and

in the event a specific time and date is set, charging the battery to a full charge condition.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in the event the battery charge level equals or exceeds the threshold, trickle charging the battery.

9. A portable electronic device that implements the method of claim 1.

10. An apparatus for controlling a battery charge to extend battery life, comprising:

a charging circuit configured to provide a charge to a battery;

a monitoring circuit configured to determine a battery charge level; and

a control circuit coupled to the charging circuit and the monitoring circuit, the control circuit configured to read the battery charge level, determine if the battery charge level is below a threshold, and, in the event the battery charge level is below the threshold, enable the charging circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control circuit is further configured to place the charging circuit in a trickle charge mode in the event the battery charge level is not below the threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the control circuit and configured to measure a temperature of the battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the threshold is based, at least in part, on the temperature.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for overriding the threshold; and

wherein the battery is charged to a fully charged state when the threshold is overridden.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for overriding the threshold comprises:

an interface including a display indicating the threshold; and

an input device for setting the threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for overriding the threshold comprises a predetermined user schedule that includes a time and date specifying when the threshold is to be overridden.

17. A battery pack comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a charging circuit configured to provide a charge to the rechargeable battery;

a monitoring circuit configured to determine a battery charge level; and

a control circuit coupled to the charging circuit and the monitoring circuit, the control circuit configured to read the battery charge level, determine if the battery charge level is below a partial charge threshold, and, in the event the battery charge level is below the partial charge threshold, enable the charging circuit.

18. The battery pack of claim 17, further comprising a settable partial charge threshold coupled to the control circuit.

19. The battery pack of claim 17, further comprising:

means for overriding the settable partial threshold; and

wherein the battery is charged to a fully charged state when the settable partial threshold is overridden.

20. The battery pack of claim 17, further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to the rechargeable battery and the control circuit, the temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the rechargeable battery; and

wherein the partial charge threshold is based, at least in part, on the temperature.