Method and apparatus for battery-power management using load-compensation monitoring of battery discharge
First Claim
1. Apparatus for managing a battery power supply connected to a load device using compensation for the rate of change of discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time, comprising:
- first means for generating a voltage-discharge value responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time;
second means for generating a compensation-factor value which is generally numerically different from the voltage-discharge value;
third means for generating a compensated voltage-discharge value responsive to both the voltage-discharge value and the compensation-factor value; and
means responsive to said third generating means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring the voltage discharge of a battery power supply while under load, and to manage the power supply by accurately calculating the time the useful charge is nearly depleted, providing a series of warnings to the user-operator of that fact, and subsequently performing a system shutdown before a complete discharge of the battery. If the invention is applied to a battery power supply for a computer, the series of warnings enable the computer operator to transfer data from a temporary memory to permanent storage in the time interval between a warning signal and computer shutdown; and since computer shutdown is effected before the battery is fully discharged a battery-destructive phenomenon known as a polarity cell reversal is prevented. The battey monitoring and management techniques disclosed comprise generating periodically at a first rate a voltage-discharge value (SS) indicative of the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load, generating periodically at the first rate a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically larger in absolute value than the absolute value of SS during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression and which is thereafter periodically decremented at a second rate until CF reaches a predetermined fixed value (FCF) approaching the SS of the stable section of the voltage discharge curve, and generating periodically at the first rate a real-time compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) in accordance with the functional expression: ##EQU1## The real-time CSAV(s) determine the particular battery management step taken.
117 Citations
67 Claims
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1. Apparatus for managing a battery power supply connected to a load device using compensation for the rate of change of discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time, comprising:
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first means for generating a voltage-discharge value responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time; second means for generating a compensation-factor value which is generally numerically different from the voltage-discharge value; third means for generating a compensated voltage-discharge value responsive to both the voltage-discharge value and the compensation-factor value; and means responsive to said third generating means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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2. Apparatus for managing a battery power supply connected to a load device using compensation for the rate of change of discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time, comprising:
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first means for generating a voltage-discharge value responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time; second means for generating a compensation-factor value which is generally numerically different from the voltage-discharge value; third means for generating a compensated voltage-discharge value responsive to both the voltage-discharge value and the compensation-factor value wherein the battery power supply is characterized by normal voltage-discharge curve with the power supply fully charged having a startup voltage depression section under load, and in which the absolute value of the compensation-factor value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression is numerically several times greater than the absolute value of the voltage-discharge value during the same period; and means responsive to said third generating means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for monitoring a battery power supply, which has a normal voltage-discharge curve when connected to a load device, characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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first means for generating a voltage-discharge value (SS) responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; second means for generating a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically different than the voltage-discharge value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression section; third means for generating a compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) is a function of the voltage-discharge factor (SS) and the compensation-factor value (CF) in accordance with the functional expression
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">CSAV=[(f)X]f(SS-CF)during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression; and means responsive to said third generating means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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20. Apparatus for monitoring a battery power supply, which has a normal voltage-discharge curve when connected to a load device, characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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first means for generating a voltage-discharge value (SS) responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respective to the elapse of time while the battery supply is under load; second means for generating a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically different than the voltage-discharge value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression section; third means for generating a compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge factor (SS) and the compensation-factor (CF) in accordance with the functional expression
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">CSAV=[(f)X]f(SS-CF)during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression wherein the absolute value of the initial CF at startup of battery discharge (start up compensation-factor (SCF)) is numerically greater than the absolute value of SS during the same time; and means responsive to said third generating means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for monitoring and managing a battery power supply, which has normal voltage-discharge curve when fully charged and connected to a load device, characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section, and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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first means for generating periodically at a first rate a voltage-discharge value (SS) indicative of the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; second means for generating periodically at the first rate a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically larger in absolute value than the absolute value of SS during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression and is thereafter periodically decremented at a second rate until CF reaches a predetermined fixed value (FCF) approaching the SS of the stable section of the voltage-discharge curve; third means for generating periodically at the first rate a real-time compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge factor (SS) and the compensation-factor (CF) in accordance with the functional expression ##EQU2## where SS is treated as a positive number for declining-voltage-discharge and as a negative number for increasing-voltage-discharge, where the previously taken quantity (SS-CF) is adjusted to a first fixed value if the quantity is otherwise less than the first fixed value; and means responsive to said third means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Apparatus for monitoring and managing a battery power supply, which has a normal voltage-discharge curve when fully charged and connected to a load device, characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section, and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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first means for generating periodically at a first rate a voltage-discharge value (SS) indicative of the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; second means for generating periodically at the first rate a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically larger in absolute value than the absolute value of SS during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression and is thereafter periodically decremented at a second rate until CF reaches a predetermined fixed value (FCF) approaching the SS of the stable section of the voltage-discharge curve; third means for generating periodically at the first rate a real-time compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge factor (SS) and the compensation-factor (CF) in accordance with the functional expression ##EQU3## where SS is treated as a positive number for declining-voltage-discharge and as a negative number for increasing-voltage-discharge, and where the previously taken quantity (SS-CF) is adjusted to a first fixed value if the quantity is otherwise less than the first fixed value wherein the adjusted first fixed value is zero; and means responsive to said third means for initiating a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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41. The method of managing a battery power supply connected to a load device which is energized by the battery power supply using compensation for the rate of change of discharge voltage with respect to a specified criteria, comprising:
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generating a voltage-discharge value responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to a specified criteria; generating a compensation-factor value which is generally numerically different than the voltage-discharge value; generating a compensated voltage-discharge value responsive to both the voltage-discharge value and the compensation-factor value for monitoring the battery discharge voltage; and utilizing said compensated voltage-discharge value to initiate a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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42. The method of managing a battery power supply connected to a load device which is energized by the battery power supply using compensation for the rate of change of discharge voltage with respect to a specified criteria, comprising;
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generating a voltage-discharge value responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to a specified criteria; generating a compensation-factor value which is generally numerically different than the voltage-discharge value; generating a compensated voltage-discharge value responsive to both the voltage-discharge value and the compensation-factor value for monitoring the battery discharge voltage, wherein the battery power supply is characterized by a voltage-discharge curve having a startup voltage depression under load, and in which the absolute value of the compensation-factor value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression is numerically several times greater than the absolute value of the voltage-discharge value during the same time period; and utilizing said compensated voltage-discharge value to initiate a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. The method of monitoring a battery power supply connected to a load device which is energized by the battery power supply which has a voltage-discharge curve characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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generating a voltage-discharge value (SS) responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; generating a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically different than the voltage-discharge value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression; generating a compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge value (SS) and the compensation-factor value (CF) in accordance with the functional expression
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">[SCAV]CSAV=[(f)x](SS-CF)during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression; and utilizing said compensated voltage-discharge value to initiate a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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60. The method of monitoring a battery power supply connected to a load device which is energized by the battery power supply which has a voltage-discharge curve characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising;
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generating a voltage-discharge value (SS) responsive to the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; generating a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically different than the voltage-discharge value during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression; generating a compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge value (SS) and the compensation (CF) in accordance with the functional expression
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">[SCAV]CSAV=[(f)X]f(SS-CF)during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression wherein the absolute value of the initial CF at startup of battery discharge (startup compensation factor (SCF)) is numerically greater than the absolute value of SS during the same time; and utilizing said compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) to initiate a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. The method of monitoring and managing a battery power supply, which has a normal voltage-discharge curve when fully charged and connected to a load device, characterized by an initial startup voltage depression section, followed by a stable voltage section and ending with a rapidly declining voltage knee section terminating in loss of battery capacity, comprising:
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generating periodically at a first rate a voltage-discharge value (SS) indicative of the rate of change of battery discharge voltage with respect to the elapse of time while the battery power supply is under load; generating periodically at the first rate a compensation-factor value (CF) which is numerically larger in absolute value than the absolute value of SS during at least the initial portion of the startup voltage depression and which is thereafter periodically decremented at a second rate until CF reaches a predetermined fixed value (FCF) approaching the SS of the stable section of the voltage-discharge curve; generating periodically at the first rate a real-time compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) as a function of the voltage-discharge value (SS) and the compensation-factor (CF) in accordance with the functional expression ##EQU4## where SS is treated as a positive number for declining-voltage-discharge and as a negative number for increasing-voltage-discharge, and where the previously taken quantity (SS-CF) is adjusted to a first fixed value if the quantity is otherwise less than the first fixed value numerically; and utilizing said compensated voltage-discharge value (CSAV) to initiate a shutdown of said load device under predetermined conditions.
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Specification