METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE STATE OF CHARGE OF A BATTERY

• US 20100191490A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Martens, Hubert Cecile Francois, Notten, Petrus Henricus Laurentius
• Application Number:
  US12/667,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

For medical implants it is not only important to have a battery powering the implant with a long run-time, but to know exactly at any point in time how long the remaining run-time is. On the other hand the implant together with its battery shall be as user-friendly as possible requiring no or hardly any interaction with the device except for recharging of the battery. To better address these concerns, a method for determining the state of charge of a battery is suggested comprising the steps: charging the battery, discharging of the battery, predicting the state of charge of the battery using a recharge prediction unit, wherein the recharge prediction unit is disconnected from the battery during the discharging of the battery. The prediction of the state of charge of the battery during the discharge of the battery, i.e. during powering of a device connected to the battery, without carrying out any measurements during the discharging of the battery, enables a local separation of the battery or the implant powered by the battery and the recharge prediction unit during the discharge cycle of the battery.

Claims

1. Method for determining the state of charge of a battery comprising the steps:

charging the battery,

discharging of the battery,

predicting the state of charge of the battery using a recharge prediction unit,

wherein the recharge prediction unit is disconnected from the battery during the discharging of the battery.

2. Method according to claim 1 comprising the additional steps:

connecting the recharge prediction unit to the battery before charging,

charging the battery,

measuring battery parameters during the charging of the battery,

disconnecting the recharge prediction unit from the battery before discharging the battery,

predicting the state of charge of the battery using the battery parameters measured during charging of the battery.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of predicting the state of charge of the battery is carried out using a parameter indicating a period of time having elapsed since recharging of the battery was finished.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of predicting the state of charge of the battery is carried out using a parameter indicating a characteristic of the battery.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of predicting the state of charge of the battery is carried out using a parameter indicating an environmental parameter of the battery.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of predicting the state of charge of the battery is carried out modeling the ageing of the battery.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein a further step of predicting the remaining run-time is carried out taking into account an overpotential after recharging of the battery.

11. Recharge prediction unit (1) comprising

a processor, and

a connecting device,

wherein the processor is arranged for predicting of the state of charge of a battery during the discharging of the battery while the recharge prediction unit being disconnected from the battery, and

wherein the connecting device is arranged to establish a connection between the recharge prediction unit and the battery, enabling a prediction of the state of charge of a battery according to claim 1.

8. Recharge prediction unit (1) comprising

a processor, and

a connecting device,

wherein the processor is arranged for predicting of the state of charge of a battery during the discharging of the battery while the recharge prediction unit being disconnected from the battery, and

wherein the connecting device is arranged to establish a connection between the recharge prediction unit and the battery.

9. Recharge prediction unit according to claim 8, comprising a memory for storing at least one parameter for the prediction of the state of charge of the battery.

10. Recharge prediction unit according to claim 9, comprising an up-dating device for up-dating the at least one parameter.

12. Battery charger comprising a recharge prediction unit according to claim 8.

13. Implantable device comprising a recharge prediction unit according to claim 8.

14. Battery comprising a recharge prediction unit according to claim 8.

15. System having a recharge prediction unit (1) comprising a processor being arranged such that it enables the prediction of the state of charge of a battery during the discharging of the battery and a connecting device for establishing a connection between the recharge prediction unit and the battery, and a battery arranged to power an electrical load, wherein the recharge prediction unit is disconnected from the battery during discharging of the battery.

16. System according to claim 15, wherein the electrical load is a medical device (100).