Management of fast battery charging in mobile devices

• US 8,288,994 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jakes, Philip J., Zawacki, Jennifer G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/059,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 320/160, 320/125, 320/161, 320/162, 320/114, 320/115, 320/111, 320/124, 320/127, 320/133, 320/155, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/132, 320/138, 320/148, 320/149
• US Class Current: 320/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

For laptops or other mobile devices, a battery charging arrangement wherein fast-charging and/or slow-charging is governed by something other than a fixed, immovable battery level threshold. Particularly, a variable threshold is broadly contemplated herein which may be governed by any of a very wide variety of conceivable factors, including (but by no means limited to) information relating to a user'"'"'s schedule or calendar, especially as regards “free” time when a user is not using a computer. Accordingly, if there is a long uninterrupted period of computer “downtime” (i.e., when a user is not using the computer), the battery level threshold below which fast-charging takes place can be lower. By the same token, for short periods of computer downtime, this threshold can be higher. In this manner, fast-charging is reserved only for the most compelling, time-based circumstances.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a battery for providing power to said apparatus;

a medium for connection to an AC power source; and

a battery charge manager which manages charging of said battery during connection of said connection medium with an AC power source;

said battery charge manager acting to lower a threshold amount of battery capacity at which a slow-charge is applied to said battery

responsive to determining enough time is available for slow-charging said battery.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a laptop, said laptop comprising a main memory and a system processor, said battery acting to power said main memory and said system processor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery charge manager acts to:

lower the threshold responsive to determining sufficient downtime is available for slow-charging the battery; and

increase the threshold responsive to determining insufficient downtime is available for slow-charging the battery.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said battery charge manager acts to lower the threshold battery charge as a function of time ascertained to be available for slow-charging said battery.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said battery charge manager acts to lower the threshold battery charge responsive to a user-input parameter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said battery charge manager acts to lower the threshold battery charge responsive to ascertaining historical data relating to connection of said connection medium with an AC power source.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said battery charge manager acts to lower the threshold battery charge responsive to calendar data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery charge manager comprises a charge control arrangement disposed separately from said battery and in said mobile device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery charge manager comprises a battery management unit disposed in said battery.

10. A method comprising:

connecting a mobile device to an AC power source;

thereafter charging a battery of the mobile device; and

managing the charging of the battery to lower a threshold amount of battery capacity at which a slow-charge is applied to said battery responsive to determining enough time is available for slow-charging said battery.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a laptop.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said varying comprises:

ascertaining available time for slow-charging the battery; and

varying the threshold battery charge based on time ascertained to be available for slow-charging the battery.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said varying of the threshold battery charge based on time comprises lowering the threshold battery charge as a function of time ascertained to be available for slow-charging the battery.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said managing further comprises accepting a user-input parameter; and

said lowering comprises lowering the threshold battery charge responsive to the accepted user-input parameter.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said managing further comprises ascertaining historical data relating to connection of the mobile device with an AC power source; and

said lowering comprises lowering the threshold battery charge based on the ascertained historical data.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said managing further comprises ascertaining calendar data; and

said lowering comprises lowering the threshold battery charge based on the ascertained calendar data.

17. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method comprising:

connecting a mobile device to an AC power source;

thereafter charging a battery of the mobile device; and

managing the charging of the battery to lower a threshold amount of battery capacity at which a slow-charge is applied to said battery responsive to determining enough time is available for slow-charging said battery.