Arrangement and a method relating to exchange of digital information between devices comprising electric circuitry

• US 6,194,866 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktienbolaget L M Ericsson
• Inventors: Olsson, Torbjörn
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/468,982
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/109, 340/310.01, 340/825.69, 307/125, 455/38.3
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electric arrangement, a battery pack and methods for transmitting digitally encoded information from a first electric device to a digital processor in a second electric device, and a battery information signal transmitted between the devices. An encoder is located in the first electric device and contains the digitally encoded information. A communication line capable of conveying electric information signals representing the information connects the electric devices. A decoder is located in the second electric device and is capable of decoding the information signals into information and supplying the information to the processor in the second device.

Claims

1. An electric arrangement for transmitting digitally encoded information from a first electric device to a digital processor in a second electric device, comprising:

a) an encoder located in the first electric device and containing the digitally encoded information, the encoder containing the digitally encoded information on at least one output terminal,

b) a single communication line capable of conveying electric information signals representing the information between the electric devices,

c) a decoder located in the second electric device, said decoder capable of decoding the information signals into information and supplying the information to the processor in the second device,

d) a variable voltage generator located in the second device and connected to the communication line, said variable voltage generator capable of supplying a sequence of voltage levels to the communication line,

e) a voltage dependent current generator located in the first device and connected to the at least one output terminal of the encoder and to the communication line, said current generator capable of outputting the information signals in the form of a sequence of current levels through the communication line, said sequence of current levels being dependent both on the voltage level as detected on the communication line and the digitally encoded information on the at least one output terminal of the connected encoder, and

f) a current detector located in the second device and connected between the communication line and the decoder for conveying the information signals to the decoder.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a battery pack and wherein the arrangement further comprises at least two power supply lines for supplying power from the battery pack to the second device.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the voltage dependent current generator comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter having an analog input terminal and at least one digital output terminal,

a multiplexer having at least one address input terminal connected to the at least one digital output terminal of the analog-to-digital converter, at least one data input terminal connected to the at least one output terminal of the encoder, and an output terminal capable of conveying signals from any one of the at least one data input terminals depending on the input of the at least one address input terminal, and

a current generator having at least one current output terminal connected to the communication line and a control input terminal connected to the output terminal of the multiplexer, said current generator capable of being switched on and off in dependence on the incoming signals from the multiplexer.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of voltage levels generated by the variable voltage generator is continuous between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of voltage levels generated by the variable voltage generator comprises a number of discrete voltage levels between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the sequence of discrete voltage levels is discontinuous.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises a network of discrete components, said network having at least one output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises, at least in part, a digital memory unit having stored information represented on at least one output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises, at least in part, software running in a processor having at least one programmable output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

10. A battery pack for supplying power to a portable electric device, said battery pack comprising;

a) at least one battery cell,

b) at least two power supply terminals,

c) a communication terminal for exchanging information signals with the device,

d) an encoder containing digitally encoded information, said encoder containing the digitally encoded information on at least one output terminal, and

e) a voltage dependent current generator connected to the at least one output terminal of the encoder and to the communication terminal, said voltage dependent current generator capable of outputting the information signals in the form of a sequence of current levels to the communication terminal, said sequence of current levels being dependent both on a voltage level as detected on the communication terminal and the digitally encoded information on the at least one output terminal of the connected encoder.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the voltage dependent current generator comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter having an analog input terminal and at least one digital output terminal,

a multiplexer having at least one address input terminal connected to the at least one digital output terminal of the analog-to-digital converter, at least one data input terminal connected to the at least one output terminal of the encoder, and an output terminal capable of conveying signals from any one of the at least one data input terminals depending on the input of the at least one address input terminal, and

a current generator having at least one current output terminal connected to the communication line and a control input terminal connected to the output terminal of the multiplexer, said current generator capable of being switched on and off in dependence on the incoming signals from the multiplexer.

12. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the encoder comprises a network of discrete components, said network having at least one output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

13. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the encoder comprises, at least in part, a digital memory unit having stored information represented on at least one output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

14. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the encoder comprises, at least in part, software running in a processor having at least one programmable output terminal which corresponds to the at least one output terminal of the encoder.

15. A portable arrangement including a portable electric device having a digital processor and a battery pack for supplying power to the portable electric device, said portable arrangement comprising:

a) an encoder located in the battery pack and containing digitally encoded information, the encoder containing the digitally encoded information on at least one output terminal,

b) a communication line between the battery pack and the portable electric device for conveying electric information signals representing the information from the battery pack to the portable electric device,

c) a decoder located in the portable electric device, said decoder capable of decoding the information signals into information and supplying the information to the processor,

d) a variable voltage generator located in the portable electric device and connected to the encoder, said variable voltage generator capable of supplying a sequence of voltage levels to the communication line,

e) a voltage dependent current generator located in the battery pack and connected to the at least one output terminal of the encoder and to the communication line, said voltage dependent current generator capable of outputting the information signals in the form of a sequence of current levels through the communication line, said sequence of current levels being dependent both on the voltage level as detected on the communication line and the digitally encoded information on the at least one output terminal of the connected encoder; and

f) a current detector located in the portable electric device and connected between the communication line and the decoder for conveying the information signals to the decoder.

16. The portable arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the arrangement further includes at least two power supply terminals connected between the portable electric device and the battery pack, and wherein the battery pack includes at least one battery cell.

17. In a battery pack for supplying power to a portable electric device, a method of transmitting electrically encoded information, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a sequence of voltage levels from the portable electric device,

b) selecting digitally encoded information in dependence of said sequence of voltage levels, and

c) transmitting said encoded information as a sequence of current levels to said portable electric device.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising the further steps of:

a) converting a voltage level to a digital voltage value, and

b) converting one piece of the encoded information to a current level for transmission to the portable electric device, and wherein

c) the step of selecting further comprises selecting a piece of digitally encoded information in voltage form from a memory in dependence of said digital value.

19. In an arrangement for supplying power from a battery pack to a portable electric device, a method of transmitting electrically encoded information, comprising the steps of:

a) generating a sequence of voltage levels in the portable electric device,

b) transmitting said sequence of voltage levels from the portable electric device to said battery pack,

c) receiving said sequence of voltage levels in the battery pack, d) selecting, in the battery pack, digitally encoded information in dependence of said sequence of voltage levels,

e) transmitting said encoded information as a sequence of current levels to said portable electric device, and

f) processing the information in the sequence of current levels in the portable electric device.

20. A battery information signal transmitted between a portable electric device and a battery pack for supplying power to said portable electric device, comprising:

a) a sequence of voltage levels generated in the portable electric device, and

b) a sequence of current levels generated by the battery pack in dependence of said voltage levels and of digitally encoded information in the battery pack.

21. The battery information signal according to claim 20, wherein the digitally encoded information includes a number of digital values selected using said sequence of voltage levels, and wherein the sequence of current levels corresponds to said selected values.