Battery monitoring circuit
First Claim
1. A method of determining the discharge level of a battery providing operating power for a portable transceiver, the method comprising the steps of:
- operating the portable transceiver in a plurality of different current consuming states;
assigning a plurality of representative values, each one of the plurality of representative values representing a level of the current consumed by the transceiver from the battery while operating in each one of the plurality of current consuming states;
accumulating a total representative value from each one of the plurality of representative values for obtaining a level of total current consumed by the transceiver from the battery, the accumulated total representative value being indicative of accumulated time periods during which the portable transceiver operates in each of said current consuming states; and
assigning a level for the total representative value in the absence of said plurality of representative values, the assigned total representative value being indicative of the discharge level of the battery when said battery is partially charged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery monitoring circuit provides information as to the level of electrical energy remaining in a battery for determining an appropriate charging rate for the battery from multiple available rates. Such information is obtained without the need for measuring battery voltage and temperature during operation of a battery operated device or prior to the recharging of the battery. Each one of a plurality of representative values is assigned to represent each one of different current levels obtained from the battery while the battery operated device is operated in different current consuming states. The representative values are totaled for providing a measure of the total current consumption of the battery operated device for all periods of operation. In accordance with the measure of total current consumption for the periods of operation, representing the level of discharge in the battery, the battery is charged at one of the multiple available charging rates, i.e., fast, standard or trickle. While the battery is being charged, a count value derived from totaling the representative values is portionally reduced in accordance with the charging rate applied to the battery. As the count value decreases, the charge rate also decreases to a charge rate associated with the count level. The battery charging time is advantageously reduced thereby and an increase in battery life is achieved by limiting the application of only the trickle charging rate to a fully charged battery.
196 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of determining the discharge level of a battery providing operating power for a portable transceiver, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating the portable transceiver in a plurality of different current consuming states; assigning a plurality of representative values, each one of the plurality of representative values representing a level of the current consumed by the transceiver from the battery while operating in each one of the plurality of current consuming states; accumulating a total representative value from each one of the plurality of representative values for obtaining a level of total current consumed by the transceiver from the battery, the accumulated total representative value being indicative of accumulated time periods during which the portable transceiver operates in each of said current consuming states; and assigning a level for the total representative value in the absence of said plurality of representative values, the assigned total representative value being indicative of the discharge level of the battery when said battery is partially charged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery monitoring circuit for determining the discharge level of a battery providing operating power for a portable transceiver, the portable transceiver operating in a plurality of different current consuming states, the monitoring circuit comprising:
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means for monitoring the operation of the portable transceiver while in each of the plurality of different current consuming states; means for assigning a plurality of representative values, each one of the plurality of representative values representing a level of the current consumed by the transceiver from the battery while operating in each one of the plurality of current consuming states; means for accumulating a total representative value from each one of the plurality of representative values for obtaining a level of the total current consumed by the transceiver from the battery, the accumulated total representative value being indicative of accumulated time periods during which the portable transceiver operates in each of said current consuming states; and means for assigning a level for the total representative value in the absence of said plurality of representative values, the assigned total representative value being indicative of the discharge level of the battery when said battery is partially charged. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a communication system, a battery monitoring circuit for determining the discharge level of a battery providing operating power for a portable transceiver capable of operating in a plurality of different current consuming states, the monitoring circuit comprising:
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means for monitoring the operation of the portable transeceiver while in each of the plurality of different current consuming states; means for assigning a plurality of representative values, each one of the plurality of representative values representing a rate of current consumed by the transceiver from the battery while operating in each one of the plurality of current consuming states; means for accumulating a total representative value from each one of the plurality of representative values for obtaining a level of total current consumed by the transceiver from the battery, the accumulated total representative value being indicative of accumulated time periods during which the portable transceiver operates in each of said current consuming states; means for assigning a level for the total representative value in the absence of said plurality of representative values, the assigned total representative value being indicative of the discharge level of the battery when said battery is partially charged; interconnecting means for connecting the transceiver to battery charging means for providing charging current to the battery at one of multiple available rates; and means for decrementing the magnitude of the total representative value in accordance with the level of said charging current being provided to the battery.
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Specification