US5990664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for modulating terminal voltage of battery
Assignee: Congress Financial Corp Florida
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Filing: 1998-03-30
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2018-03-30
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and apparatus for converting the terminal voltage of a battery so that one or more operations (such as shut-down, save-to-disk, and the like) begin at the appropriate point on the discharge curve for various cell chemistries. A control circuit is provided for triggering end-of-discharge operations based on various predetermined points, such as remaining capacity, voltage, temperature, and safety for devices which utilize a predetermined terminal voltage measurement to trigger one or more operations. The control circuit modulates the terminal voltage of the battery to a value which substantially matches the predetermined terminal voltage threshold of the device upon reaching a predetermined point, thereby successfully triggering operations at the appropriate time. The control circuitry also can modulate the terminal voltage to maintain it above the threshold to delay triggering of one or more operations. The method and apparatus of the present invention provides a solution in the electronic circuitry of the battery to allow devices designed for use with cells of a certain chemistry be able to suspend operations without losing data or delay operations to avoid wasting battery capacity when used with cell chemistries different than those for which the devices were designed.
Inventors
- 👤 Syed Rahman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:29
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/855; H02J7/90; H02J7/933; H02J2207/00; H02J2207/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising converting the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values upon reaching one or more predetermined points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising converting the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values upon reaching one or more predetermined points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said remaining capacity measurement is approximately a minimum value for remaining capacity required for completing end-of-discharge operations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terminal voltage is converted by discharge control circuitry within the circuitry of the battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said discharge control circuitry activates voltage modulating circuitry to lower the terminal voltage to said one or more predetermined values which substantially match one or more of said predetermined thresholds to trigger said one or more operations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a buck converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said discharge control circuitry activates voltage modulating circuitry to maintain the terminal voltage at said one or more predetermined values above said one or more of said predetermined thresholds to delay triggering of said one or more operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a boost converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined thresholds of said device are programmed based on a coke-based lithium-ion battery chemistry and said terminal voltage is lowered to said one or more predetermined values which substantially match said thresholds to trigger one or more operations when using a graphite-based lithium-ion battery upon reaching said one or more predetermined points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined thresholds of said device are based on a graphite-based lithium-ion battery chemistry and said terminal voltage is maintained at said one or more predetermined values above said thresholds to delay triggering of one or more operations when using a coke-based lithium-ion battery upon reaching said one or more predetermined points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more operations include operations selected from the group consisting of end-of-discharge operations, shut down operations, safety operations, save-to-disk operations, peripheral disabling operations, access disabling operations, sleep mode operations, low power mode operations, and alarm operations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for converting the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values upon reaching one or more predetermined points.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for converting the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values upon reaching one or more predetermined points.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said remaining capacity measurement is approximately a minimum value for remaining capacity required for completing end-of-discharge operations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said terminal voltage is converted by discharge control circuitry within the circuitry of the battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said discharge control circuitry activates voltage modulating circuitry to lower the terminal voltage to said one or more predetermined values which substantially match one or more of said predetermined thresholds to trigger said one or more operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a buck converter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said discharge control circuitry activates voltage modulating circuitry to maintain the terminal voltage at one or more predetermined values above one or more of said predetermined thresholds to delay triggering of said one or more operations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said voltage modulating circuitry comprises a boost converter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one or more predetermined thresholds of said device are programmed based on a coke-based lithium-ion battery chemistry and said terminal voltage is lowered to said one or more predetermined values which substantially match said thresholds to trigger one or more operations when using a graphite-based lithium-ion battery upon reaching said one or more predetermined points.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one or more predetermined thresholds of said device are programmed based on a graphite-based lithium-ion battery chemistry and said terminal voltage is maintained at said one or more predetermined values above said thresholds to delay triggering of one or more operations when using a coke-based lithium-ion battery upon reaching said one or more predetermined points.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
145 words
A control circuit for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for lowering the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values which substantially matches said one or more of said predetermined thresholds to trigger said one or more operations upon reaching one or more predetermined points, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety; and wherein said one or more operations include operations selected from the group consisting of end-of-discharge operations, shut down operations, safety operations, save-to-disk operations, peripheral disabling operations, access disabling operations, sleep mode operations, low power mode operations, and alarm operations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
145 words
A control circuit for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for lowering the terminal voltage to one or more predetermined values which substantially matches said one or more of said predetermined thresholds to trigger said one or more operations upon reaching one or more predetermined points, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety; and wherein said one or more operations include operations selected from the group consisting of end-of-discharge operations, shut down operations, safety operations, save-to-disk operations, peripheral disabling operations, access disabling operations, sleep mode operations, low power mode operations, and alarm operations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
145 words
A control circuit for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for maintaining the terminal voltage at one or more predetermined values above said one or more of said predetermined thresholds to delay triggering of said one or more operations upon reaching one or more predetermined points, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety; and wherein said one or more operations include operations selected from the group consisting of end-of-discharge operations, shut down operations, safety operations, save-to-disk operations, peripheral disabling operations, access disabling operations, sleep mode operations, low power mode operations, and alarm operations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
145 words
A control circuit for controlling the triggering of one or more operations in a device which utilizes a battery terminal voltage measurement to trigger said one or more operations at one or more predetermined thresholds, comprising means for maintaining the terminal voltage at one or more predetermined values above said one or more of said predetermined thresholds to delay triggering of said one or more operations upon reaching one or more predetermined points, wherein said one or more predetermined points are based on a measurement selected from the group consisting of battery voltage, cell voltage, remaining battery capacity, current, time, temperature, pressure, pH, and safety; and wherein said one or more operations include operations selected from the group consisting of end-of-discharge operations, shut down operations, safety operations, save-to-disk operations, peripheral disabling operations, access disabling operations, sleep mode operations, low power mode operations, and alarm operations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |