Method and apparatus for detecting battery life

• US 20110128006A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Helix Micro
• Original Assignee: Helix Micro
• Inventors: Ren, Li, Ying, Peter Shih Hsin, Danji, Xi, Ge, Chengjie
• Application Number:
  US12/628,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128006A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health

Abstract

A system and method for determining life of a rechargeable battery. Data representing relationship between lasting time of the battery and equivalent number of life cycles of the battery is provided; lasting time of the battery in charging is obtained; and the life of the battery is determined utilizing the obtained lasting time and the data provided.

Claims

1. A method for determining life of a rechargeable battery, comprising the steps of:

providing data representing relationship between lasting time of the battery and equivalent number of life cycles of the battery;

obtaining lasting time of the battery in charging; and

determining the life of the battery utilizing the obtained lasting time and the data provided.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a threshold voltage for the battery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the threshold voltage is a fast charging threshold voltage.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the battery is charged using a constant current and constant voltage charging method.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lasting time is obtained by utilizing the charging time measured at the end of the constant current charging.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the battery is charged using a variable current or variable voltage charging method.

7. The method claim 2, wherein the battery is charged using a fast charging method.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the lasting time is obtained by measuring the charging time when the battery voltage of the battery reaches the threshold voltage, if the battery has been fully discharged before the charging.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing data V(t) representing relationship between battery voltage and charging time of the battery, wherein, if the battery is not fully discharged before the charging, the lasting time is obtained by using

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the life of the battery comprising determining the equivalent number of life cycles the battery has performed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a Lithium battery, a NiCd battery, a Lead Acid battery, nano wire battery, or a NiMH battery.

12. A system for determining life of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a storage unit adapted to store wear-out data representing relationship between lasting time of the battery and equivalent number of life cycles of the battery and a threshold voltage;

a charging time measurement unit adapted to measure time when battery is being charged;

a voltage measurement unit adapted to measure voltage of the battery; and

a controller unit adapted to determine lasting time of the battery in charging utilizing the time measured by the charging time measurement unit and the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit, and to determine the life of the battery utilizing the data stored in the storage unit and the lasting time.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the threshold voltage is a fast charging threshold voltage.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the lasting time is determined using the charging time when the battery voltage of the battery reaches the threshold voltage, if the battery has been fully discharged before the charging.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein, the storage unit is adapted to store data V(t) representing relationship between battery voltage and charging time of the battery, and if the battery is not fully discharged before the charging, the lasting time is determined by using

16. The system of claim 12, wherein, the battery is charged using a constant current and constant voltage charging method.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the lasting time is obtained by utilizing the charging time measured at the end of the constant current charging.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery is charged using a variable current or variable voltage charging method.

19. The method claim 12, wherein the battery is charged using a fast charging method.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the life of the battery is determined by determining the equivalent number of life cycles the battery has performed.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery is a Lithium battery, a NiCd battery, a Lead Acid battery, a nano wire battery, or a NiMH battery.

22. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one analog-to-digital converter for converting the measured time or voltage into a digital form.