Smart battery providing battery life and recharge time prediction
First Claim
1. An apparatus for predicting a remaining life of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the apparatus comprising:
- a logic unit;
a memory, coupled to the logic trait, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected discharge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current;
means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the discharge rate;
a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery;
wherein the logic unit periodically updates the remaining capacity value based on the battery current, one or more of the environmental conditions, and one or more of the battery characteristics; and
wherein the logic unit predicts the remaining life of the battery based on the remaining capacity value and the selected discharge rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart battery that can predict the remaining life and recharge time of the battery based on battery-specific characteristics. A memory stores battery-specific characteristics, such as charge characteristics, discharge characteristics, capacity characteristics, and self-discharge characteristics. The environmental conditions of the battery, such as temperature, and battery current (charge or discharge) are measured. A microcontroller periodically determines an incremental self-discharge of the battery based on the measured environmental conditions and the self-discharge characteristic of the battery. The microcontroller predicts the remaining battery life of the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery, the environmental conditions of the battery, and a selected discharge rate of the battery. The discharge rate can be selected by a user, a power management system or by other means. A charge rate of the battery can also be selected. The microcontroller predicts the recharge time of the battery based on the selected charge rate, the present battery capacity, one or more charging characteristics of the battery, and the environmental conditions of the battery (such as battery temperature).
219 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for predicting a remaining life of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the apparatus comprising:
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a logic unit; a memory, coupled to the logic trait, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected discharge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current; means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the discharge rate; a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery; wherein the logic unit periodically updates the remaining capacity value based on the battery current, one or more of the environmental conditions, and one or more of the battery characteristics; and wherein the logic unit predicts the remaining life of the battery based on the remaining capacity value and the selected discharge rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for indicating a remaining capacity of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the apparatus comprising:
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a logic unit; a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected discharge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current; an environmental monitor circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the environmental conditions of the battery; a current measuring circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the battery current; and means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the discharge rate; a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery; wherein the logic unit periodically determines an incremental self-discharge of the battery based on the environmental conditions and the battery characteristics and changes the remaining capacity value according to the incremental self-discharge and the battery current; and wherein the logic unit predicts the remaining battery life of the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery and the selected discharge rate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for predicting a remaining life of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting the discharge rate; determining a present battery capacity based on one or more environmental conditions of the battery and one or more characteristics of the battery, the battery characteristics being functions of the environmental conditions and/or a battery current; predicting the remaining life of the battery based on the selected discharge rate and the present battery capacity; and indicating the predicted remaining life of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for predicting a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the apparatus comprising:
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a logic unit; a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected charge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current; means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the charge rate; a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery; wherein the logic unit periodically updates the remaining capacity value based on the battery current, one or more of the environmental conditions, and one or more of the battery characteristics; wherein the logic unit predicts the recharge time of the battery based on the remaining capacity value, the selected charge rate, and one more charging characteristics of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for indicating a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the apparatus comprising:
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a logic unit; a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected charge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current; an environmental monitor circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the environmental conditions of the battery; a current measuring circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the battery current; and means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the charge rate; a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery; wherein the logic unit periodically determines an incremental self-discharge of the battery based on the environmental conditions and the battery characteristics and changes the remaining capacity value according to the incremental self-discharge and the battery current; and wherein the logic unit predicts the recharge time of the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery, the selected charge rate, and one or more charging characteristics of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for predicting a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting the charge rate; determining a present battery capacity based on one or more environmental conditions of the battery and one or more characteristics of the battery, the battery characteristics being functions of the environmental conditions and/or a battery current; predicting the recharge time of the battery based on the selected charge rate, the present battery capacity, and one or more charging characteristics of the battery; and indicating the predicted remaining life of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification