Battery and energy management circuit with temporal storage mode

1. An energy management circuit for coupling to one or more rechargeable cells, the energy management circuit comprising:

a control circuit, operable with:

a current sense node configured to sense a current flowing through the one or more rechargeable cells;

a temporal determination circuit;

a current sense node; and

a discharge control node configured to control a discharge disconnect switch coupled serially with the one or more rechargeable cells;

wherein the control circuit is configured to, upon detecting a predetermined charging condition, apply a control signal configured to open the discharge disconnect switch at the discharge control node until at least detecting application of a charging current for at least a reset duration threshold;

the predetermined charging condition comprising failing to detect, from the current sense node and the temporal determination circuit the charging current for at least a predetermined non-charging duration threshold.

2. The energy management circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a temporal determination circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the non-charging duration threshold from the temporal determination circuit.

3. The energy management circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the control circuit is further configured to, upon detecting a charging current pulse having more than a second charging duration threshold, apply a second control signal causing the discharge disconnect switch to close at the discharge control node.

4. The energy management circuit of claim 3 , wherein the charging duration threshold is less than or equal to the second charging duration threshold.

5. The energy management circuit of claim 4 , wherein the charging duration threshold is between four milliseconds and sixteen milliseconds.

6. An energy management circuit for coupling to one or more rechargeable cells as a rechargeable battery, the energy management circuit comprising:

a control circuit, operable with:

a current sense node configured to sense a current flowing through the one or more rechargeable cells; and

a discharge control node configured to control a discharge disconnect switch coupled serially with the one or more rechargeable cells;

a temporal determination circuit operable with the control circuit;

wherein the control circuit is configured to, upon detecting a predetermined charging condition, apply a control signal configured to open the discharge disconnect switch at the discharge control node at least until detecting application of a charging current for at least a reset duration threshold;

wherein the predetermined charging condition comprises failing to detect, from the current sense node and the temporal determination circuit, the charging current for at least a predetermined non-charging duration threshold.

7. The energy management circuit of claim 6 , wherein the reset duration threshold is less than the predetermined non-charging duration threshold.

8. The energy management circuit of claim 7 , wherein the reset duration threshold is ten minutes or less.

9. The energy management circuit of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined non-charging duration threshold is more than one week.

10. The energy management circuit of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to, upon detecting a charging current pulse having a duration less than a charging duration threshold, apply the control signal causing the discharge disconnect switch to open at the discharge control node.

11. A rechargeable battery pack, comprising:

at least one rechargeable cell;

a switch coupled serially with the at least one rechargeable cell;

a discharge control node to control the switch;

a current sense node;

a temporal determination circuit; and

a control circuit coupled to the switch and the at least one rechargeable cell, wherein the control circuit is configured to sense a predetermined condition comprising failing to detect with the current sense node and the temporal determination circuit, a charging current for at least a predetermined non-charging duration threshold and upon sensing the predetermined condition, to apply a control signal to open the switch at the discharge control node until detecting application of the charging current for at least a reset duration threshold.

12. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 , wherein the switch, when open, is configured to permit a charging current through the at least one rechargeable cell, and prohibit a discharge current through the at least one rechargeable cell.

13. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 , the control circuit configured to cause the switch to remain open until detecting the application of the charging current for the at least a reset duration threshold.

14. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 , further comprising an electronic device fixedly coupled to the rechargeable battery pack.

15. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 14 , wherein the electronic device is deactivated when the switch is open.

16. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit further comprises an overdischarge detector coupled to, and configured to sense a cell voltage across, the at least one rechargeable cell, wherein upon the overdischarge detector sensing that the cell voltage is beneath a discharge voltage threshold, the control circuit is configured to cause the switch to open.

17. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 , further comprising a second switch coupled serially with the at least one rechargeable cell and an overcharge detector coupled to and configured to sense a voltage across the at least one rechargeable cell, wherein upon the overcharge detector sensing that a cell voltage is above a maximum voltage threshold, the control circuit is configured to cause the second switch to open.