Method of detecting charger type and estimating remaining recharging time for mobile devices with USB recharging
View Patent ↗Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for estimating the remaining charging time of a rechargeable battery. An example embodiment of the invention comprises a method comprising the steps of detecting an availability of a charging device to a battery in an apparatus; determining a type of the charging device by measuring its charging characteristics for charging the battery in the apparatus and comparing its measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; measuring charging current of the battery; and calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
1. A method comprising the steps of:
detecting, by an apparatus, an availability of a charging device to provide charging current to terminals of a battery in the apparatus;
determining, by the apparatus, a type of the charging device by measuring its charging current into the battery and battery voltage between the terminals of the battery, as measured charging characteristics during-charging the battery in the apparatus;
comparing the measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; and
calculating, by the apparatus, a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging device is a charger, an adapter, or a charger-adapter combination.
3. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises:
the measuring the charging characteristics of the charging device, by charging the battery in the apparatus being from a substantially completely uncharged state to a substantially completely charged state.
4. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises:
determining a charge level of the battery based on the battery's initial charge and an integrated charge from the charging current.
5. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises:
interpolating stored values characterizing plural types of charging devices for an unidentified charging device type; and
using the interpolated values to calculate a time remaining to charge the battery with the unidentified charging device type.
6. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises:
repeating the steps of:
measuring charging current of the battery; and
calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
7. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one memory including computer program code;
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the processor at least to:
detect an availability of a charging device to provide charging current to terminals of a battery in the apparatus;
determine a type of the charging device by measuring its charging current into the battery and battery voltage between the terminals of the battery, as measured charging characteristics during-charging the battery in the apparatus;
compare the measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; and
calculate a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the charging device is a charger, an adapter, or a charger-adapter combination.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , which further comprises:
the measuring the charging characteristics of the charging device, by charging the battery in the apparatus being from a substantially completely uncharged state to a substantially completely charged state.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , which further comprises:
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the processor at least to:
determine a charge level of the battery based on the battery's initial charge and an integrated charge from the charging current.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , which further comprises:
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the processor at least to:
interpolate stored values characterizing plural types of charging devices for an unidentified charging device type; and
use the interpolated values to calculate a time remaining to charge the battery with the unidentified charging device type.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , which further comprises:
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the processor at least to:
repeat the steps of:
measuring charging current of the battery; and
calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
13. A computer readable non-transitory medium, comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
detecting, by an apparatus, an availability of a charging device to provide charging current to terminals of a battery in the apparatus;
determining, by the apparatus, a type of the charging device by measuring its charging current into the battery and battery voltage between the terminals of the battery, as measured charging characteristics during-charging the battery in the apparatus;
comparing the measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; and
calculating, by the apparatus, a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the charging device is a charger, an adapter, or a charger-adapter combination.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
the measuring the charging characteristics of the charging device, by charging the battery in the apparatus being from a substantially completely uncharged state to a substantially completely charged state.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
determining a charge level of the battery based on the battery's initial charge and an integrated charge from the charging current.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
interpolating stored values characterizing plural types of charging devices for an unidentified charging device type; and
using the interpolated values to calculate a time remaining to charge the battery with the unidentified charging device type.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
repeating the steps of:
measuring charging current of the battery; and
calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.