Battery management system and method
A battery management system/method implementing optimal dynamic battery charge/discharge cycling is disclosed. The system utilizes a power source control unit (PSCU) to selectively switch a power supply source to a battery charger that charges a battery servicing a portable computing device. The PSCU is controlled by a power monitor control unit (PMCU) that monitors the battery state and determines the optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery. Depending on the type and current condition of the battery as well as battery charge/discharge history, the PMCU monitors the historical, current, and/or anticipated demand activity of the battery to determine an optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery to enable maximum battery life under a wide variety of environmental and use profiles. Present invention methods control battery charge/discharge activity based on computing device historical/anticipated use characteristics, battery chemistry, and/or optimal battery lifecycle operation.
1. A battery management system comprising:
(a) Power Source Control Unit (PSCU); and
(b) Power Monitor Control Unit (PMCU);
wherein:
said PSCU further comprises an electrical power switch that controls electrical current supplied to a wall outlet power adapter responsible for charging a battery supplying power to a computing device;
said PMCU monitors the condition of said battery supplying power to said computing device;
said electrical power switch is controlled by said PMCU via a wireless communication link between said PMCU and said PSCU;
said PMCU activates said electrical power switch in response to said condition of said battery;
said PMCU is configured to accept user input battery charging parameters further comprising parameters defining battery charge/discharge, calibration, and reconditioning;
said PMCU is configured to communicate with said PSCU to determine if said PSCU is available; and
said PMCU is configured to communicate with said PSCU to execute battery charge/discharge, battery calibration, and battery reconditioning processes controlled in accordance with said user input battery charging parameters if said PMCU determines that said PSCU is available.
2. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an electrical interface selected from a group consisting of: wireless hardware interface; BLUETOOTH® wireless hardware interface; WiFi; ISM; ZIGBEE®; and wireless Ethernet hardware interface.
3. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said computing device is selected from a group consisting of: a laptop computer; a tablet computer; a cellular phone; and a smartphone.
4. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge chemistry profile of said battery.
5. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge history profile of said battery.
6. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the temperature of said battery.
7. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the age of said battery.
8. The battery management system of claim 1 wherein said PMCU further comprises said computing device.
9. A tangible non-transitory computer usable medium having computer-readable program code means embodied thereon comprising a battery management method, said method operating in conjunction with a battery management system, said system comprising:
(a) Power Source Control Unit (PSCU); and
(b) Power Monitor Control Unit (PMCU);
wherein:
said PSCU further comprises an electrical power switch that controls electrical current supplied to a wall outlet power adapter responsible for charging a battery supplying power to a computing device;
said PMCU monitors the condition of said battery supplying power to said computing device;
said electrical power switch is controlled by said PMCU via a wireless communication link between said PMCU and said PSCU; and
said PMCU activates said electrical power switch in response to said condition of said battery;
wherein said method comprises the steps of:
(1) Determining if said PSCU is available, and if so, proceeding to step (3);
(2) Issuing a warning message requesting a status of said PSCU and proceeding to said step (1);
(3) Determining if battery charging user input parameters are available, and if not, proceeding to step (7);
(4) Configuring user battery charge/discharge parameters;
(5) Configuring user battery calibration parameters;
(6) Configuring user battery recondition parameters then proceeding to said step (1);
(7) Executing a battery charge/discharge process;
(8) Executing a battery calibration process; and
(9) Executing a battery reconditioning process then proceeding to said step (1).
10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an electrical interface selected from a group consisting of: wireless hardware interface; BLUETOOTH® wireless hardware interface; WiFi; ISM; ZIGBEE®; and wireless Ethernet hardware interface.
11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said computing device is selected from a group consisting of: a laptop computer; a tablet computer; a cellular phone; and a smartphone.
12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge chemistry profile of said battery.
13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge history profile of said battery.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the temperature of said battery.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the age of said battery.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said PMCU further comprises said computing device.
17. A battery management system comprising:
(a) Power Source Control Unit (PSCU); and
(b) Power Monitor Control Unit (PMCU);
wherein:
said PSCU further comprises an electrical power switch that controls electrical current supplied from a wall outlet power adapter responsible for charging a battery supplying power to a computing device;
said PMCU monitors the condition of said battery supplying power to said computing device;
said electrical power switch is controlled by said PMCU via a wireless communication link between said PMCU and said PSCU;
said PMCU activates said electrical power switch in response to said condition of said battery;
said PMCU is configured to accept user input battery charging parameters further comprising parameters defining battery charge/discharge, calibration, and reconditioning;
said PMCU is configured to communicate with said PSCU to determine if said PSCU is available; and
said PMCU is configured to communicate with said PSCU to execute battery charge/discharge, battery calibration, and battery reconditioning processes controlled in accordance with said user input battery charging parameters if said PMCU determines that said PSCU is available.
18. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an electrical interface selected from a group consisting of: wireless hardware interface; BLUETOOTH® wireless hardware interface; WiFi; ISM; ZIGBEE®; and wireless Ethernet hardware interface.
19. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said computing device is selected from a group consisting of: a laptop computer; a tablet computer; a cellular phone; and a smartphone.
20. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge chemistry profile of said battery.
21. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge history profile of said battery.
22. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the temperature of said battery.
23. The battery management system of claim 17 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the age of said battery.
24. A tangible non-transitory computer usable medium having computer-readable program code means embodied thereon comprising a battery management method, said method operating in conjunction with a battery management system, said system comprising:
(a) Power Source Control Unit (PSCU); and
(b) Power Monitor Control Unit (PMCU);
wherein:
said PSCU further comprises an electrical power switch that controls electrical current supplied from a wall outlet power adapter responsible for charging a battery supplying power to a computing device;
said PMCU monitors the condition of said battery supplying power to said computing device;
said electrical power switch is controlled by said PMCU via a wireless communication link between said PMCU and said PSCU; and
said PMCU activates said electrical power switch in response to said condition of said battery;
wherein said method comprises the steps of:
(1) Determining if said PSCU is available, and if so, proceeding to step (3);
(2) issuing a warning message requesting a status of said PSCU and proceeding to said step (1);
(3) Determining if battery charging user input parameters are available, and if not, proceeding to step (7);
(4) Configuring user battery charge/discharge parameters;
(5) Configuring user battery calibration parameters;
(6) Configuring user battery recondition parameters then proceeding to said step (1);
(7) Executing a battery charge/discharge process;
(8) Executing a battery calibration process; and
(9) Executing a battery reconditioning process then proceeding to said step (1).
25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an electrical interface selected from a group consisting of: wireless hardware interface; BLUETOOTH® wireless hardware interface; WiFi; ISM; ZIGBEE®; and wireless Ethernet hardware interface.
26. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said computing device is selected from a group consisting of: a laptop computer; a tablet computer; a cellular phone; and a smartphone.
27. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge chemistry profile of said battery.
28. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the charge/discharge history profile of said battery.
29. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the temperature of said battery.
30. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said electrical power switch activation is conditioned on the age of said battery.