Autonomous battery lifespan booster
A circuit for autonomous battery lifespan boosting, the circuit including a power source, an output, a current sensing module located on an electrical load path between the power source and the output, a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, and a capacitor electronically connected to the DC-DC converter.
1 . A circuit for autonomous battery lifespan boosting, the circuit comprising:
a power source;
an output electrically connected to the power source, the electrical connection forming an electrical load path;
a current sensing module located on the electrical load path between the power source and the output;
a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter positioned in parallel to the current sensing module and the electrical load path and electrically connected to the electrical load path at both ends of the current sensing module; and
a capacitor electronically connected to the DC-DC converter,
wherein the DC-DC converter comprises:
an input module electrically connected to the electrical load path between the power source and the current sensing module, and configured to receive charge from the power source,
an output module electrically connected to the electrical load path between the current sensing module and the output, and configured to transmit charge from the capacitor,
a connection module connected to the capacitor,
a charge module configured to connect the input module with the connection module,
a buffer configured to connect the connection module with the output module, and
a controller connected to the charge module, buffer and current sensing module,
wherein, in operation, the controller is configured to:
when a current sensed by the current sensing module is below a first threshold, instruct the charge module transfer a first charge from the input module to the connection module to charge the capacitor, and
when the current sensed by the current sensing module is above a first threshold, instruct the buffer to transfer a second charge from the capacitor connected to the connection module to the output module to replace the sensed current across the electrical load path until a voltage of the capacitor reaches a threshold value.
2 . The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the charge module comprises a first inductor and at least one switch, and wherein the buffer comprises the first inductor and at least one switch.
3 . The circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the charge module and buffer share at least one switch.
4 . The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a sample and hold module configured to store a voltage from the power source.
5 . The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitor has positive polarity, where the negative capacitor voltage is positive relative to the ground.
6 . The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitor has negative polarity, where capacitor voltage is negative relative to the ground.
7 . The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensing module is a resistor.
8 . A method of operation of a circuit for autonomous battery lifespan boosting, the method comprising the steps of:
(i) sensing, by a current sensing module, the current on an electrical load path between a power source and an output when the sensed current is below a first threshold value;
(ii) transferring, by a controller of a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, charge from the electrical load path to an input module of the DC-DC converter;
a. transferring, by the controller and a charge module of the DC-DC converter, charge from the input module to a connection module of the DC-DC converter;
b. transferring, by the controller and the charge module, charge to a capacitor connected to the connection module, and;
(iii) when the sensed current is above a first threshold value:
a. transferring, by the controller and a buffer of the DC-DC converter, charge from the capacitor to the connection module of the DC-DC converter until a voltage of the capacitor reaches a threshold value;
b. transferring, by the controller and the buffer, charge from the connection module of the DC-DC converter to the output module of the DC-DC converter; and
c. transferring, by the controller, charge at the sensed current level, from the output module to the electrical load path to an output.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) the transferred charge travels across a first inductor of the DC-DC converter and at least one switch of the DC-DC converter.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) the transferred charge travels across at least one shared switch.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the charge in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) passes through a ground of the DC-DC converter.
12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein step (ii)(a) further comprises storing a voltage of the power source in a sample and hold module in the DC-DC converter.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the charge in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) passes through a ground of the DC-DC converter.
14 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein step (ii)(a) further comprises storing a voltage of the power source in a sample and hold module in the DC-DC converter.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the current travels across the same inductor and at least one switch in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b).
16 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the charge in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) passes through a ground of the DC-DC converter.
17 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein step (ii)(a) further comprises storing a voltage of the power source in a sample and hold module in the DC-DC converter.
18 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the charge in steps (ii)(b) and (iii)(b) passes through a ground of the DC-DC converter.