Battery control circuit
First Claim
1. A battery circuit, comprising:
- a battery pack for powering an electronic means, the battery pack consisting a plurality of battery cells;
monitoring circuit means for monitoring the battery cells;
means responsive to the monitoring circuit means for determining the amount of charge remaining in the battery cells;
monitoring means for monitoring the voltage output from the battery pack; and
switching circuit means for switching depleted battery cells with charged battery cells if the voltage being supplied falls below a predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a cost-effective, accurate use of multiple batteries in a battery pack 110. The battery pack 110 consisting a plurality of battery cells 112. A monitoring circuit 117, 217, 317 is provided that monitors the battery cells 112. The monitoring circuit 117, 217, 317 is connected to a microprocessor 119 through an analog-to-digital converter 114. The microprocessor 119 determines the amount of voltage remaining in the battery cells 112. The microprocessor 119 also monitors the voltage output from the battery pack 110. When the voltage being supplied by the battery pack 110 falls below a threshold value, a switching circuit 121, 221, 321 switches depleted battery cells 112 with charged battery cells 112.
53 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A battery circuit, comprising:
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a battery pack for powering an electronic means, the battery pack consisting a plurality of battery cells;
monitoring circuit means for monitoring the battery cells;
means responsive to the monitoring circuit means for determining the amount of charge remaining in the battery cells;
monitoring means for monitoring the voltage output from the battery pack; and
switching circuit means for switching depleted battery cells with charged battery cells if the voltage being supplied falls below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A battery circuit for use with a battery powered device, comprising:
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a battery pack for powering the electronic device, the battery pack consisting a plurality of battery cells;
a monitoring circuit that monitors the battery cells;
a microprocessor connected to the monitoring circuit, the microprocessor determining the amount of charge remaining in the battery;
the microprocessor further monitoring the voltage output from the battery pack; and
a switching circuit that switches depleted battery cells with charged battery cells if the voltage being supplied falls below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of supplying electrical power, comprising:
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providing a battery pack consisting a plurality of battery cells;
monitoring the battery cells;
determining the amount of charge remaining in the battery cell;
monitoring the voltage output from the battery pack; and
switching depleted battery cells with charged battery cells if the voltage being supplied falls below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification