Method of improving battery recharge efficiency by statistical analysis

1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery installed in a battery powered device using a separate battery charging device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing wirelessly a charging signal from the battery charging device to the battery powered device, said charging signal including energy to charge said battery during a charging session;

receiving, in the battery charging device from the battery powered device, a plurality of values of a charging parameter reflecting an amount of energy being received by the battery powered device from the charging signal provided by the battery charging device;

analyzing, in said battery charging device, the plurality of values of the charging parameter received from said battery powered device, wherein said step of analyzing said plurality of values of said charging parameter includes the step of determining a standard deviation of said plurality of values of said charging parameter; and

adjusting, in the battery charging device, the charging signal based on said analyzing, wherein said step of adjusting said charging signal utilizes said determined standard deviation to control said charging signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said charging parameter is a voltage resulting from said charging signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring a status of the battery powered device, wherein said adjusting said charging signal is also based on the status.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said status is a temperature of said device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said battery charging signal is wirelessly transmitted from said battery charging device to said battery powered device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said battery powered device is implanted in a patient and wherein said battery charging device is provided external to said patient.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of values of said charging parameter is wirelessly received from said battery powered device by said battery charging device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

monitoring, in the battery charging device, the charging signal provided by the battery charging device to obtain an additional charging parameter measuring an amount of energy being provided by said battery charging device to charge said battery, and

further adjusting, in the battery charging device, said charging signal based on said additional charging parameter to achieve a desired charging signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of values of said charging parameter is wirelessly received from said battery powered device by said battery charging device.

10. A method for charging a rechargeable battery installed in a battery powered device using a separate battery charging device, the method comprising:

wirelessly charging the battery powered device via a charging signal provided by the battery charging device, wherein the battery powered device is implanted in a human body, and wherein the battery charging device is provided outside the human body;

wirelessly receiving, by the battery charging device and from the battery powered device, one or more values of a charging parameter reflecting an amount of energy being received by the battery powered device from the charging signal;

analyzing, by the battery charging device, the one or more values of the charging parameter received from the battery powered device, wherein the analyzing the one or more values of the charging parameter includes analyzing a standard deviation of the one or more values of the charging parameter;

monitoring, by the battery charging device, a status of the battery powered device; and

adjusting, by the battery charging device, the charging signal based on the analyzing and the monitoring, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the charging signal at least in part based on the standard deviation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the charging parameter includes a voltage resulting from the charging signal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring a temperature of the battery powered device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the monitoring the temperature comprises utilizing a plurality of temperature sensors to measure temperatures of the battery powered device at different locations of the battery powered device.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the monitoring comprises concurrently monitoring a first parameter of a charging path for charging the battery powered device and a second parameter outside of the charging path.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first parameter and the second parameter comprises a minimum voltage required to run the battery powered device.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

monitoring, by the battery charging device, the charging signal to obtain an additional charging parameter measuring an amount of energy being provided by the battery charging device to charge the battery, and

further adjusting, by the battery charging device, the charging signal based on the additional charging parameter to achieve a desired charging signal.

17. A method for charging a rechargeable battery installed in a battery powered device using a separate battery charging device, the method comprising:

inductively charging the battery powered device via a charging signal provided by the battery charging device, wherein the battery powered device is implanted in a human body, and wherein the battery charging device is provided outside the human body;

wirelessly receiving, by the battery charging device and from the battery powered device, one or more values of a charging parameter reflecting an amount of energy being received by the battery powered device from the charging signal;

analyzing, by the battery charging device, the one or more values of the charging parameter received from the battery powered device, including determining a standard deviation of the one or more values of the charging parameter;

monitoring, by the battery charging device, the charging signal and one or more temperatures of the battery powered device; and

adjusting, by the battery charging device, the charging signal based on the standard deviation and the monitoring.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the monitoring comprises concurrently monitoring a first parameter of a charging path for charging the battery powered device and a second parameter outside of the charging path; and

at least one of the first parameter and the second parameter comprises a minimum voltage required to run the battery powered device.