Swelling management in batteries for portable electronic devices
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery.
1. A computer-implemented method for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:
monitoring a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery;
monitoring a temperature of the battery during use of the battery; and
disabling the battery if the cycle number reaches a temperature-dependent shutdown threshold, wherein the temperature-dependent shutdown threshold changes depending upon the monitored temperature of the battery.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, modifying a charging technique for the battery; and
if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, further modifying the charging technique for the battery.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein modifying the charging technique involves:
reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein modifying the charging technique involves:
further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging technique involves:
reducing a constant charge current of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein modifying the charging technique further involves:
further reducing the constant charge current if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the battery corresponds to a lithium-polymer battery.
8. A system for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:
a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor a cycle number and a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and
a management apparatus configured to disable the battery if the cycle number reaches a temperature-dependent shut down threshold, wherein the temperature-dependent shutdown threshold changes depending upon the monitored temperature of the battery.
9. The system of claim 8 ,
wherein the management apparatus is configured to modify a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold; and
wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery involves:
reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery further involves:
further reducing the charge voltage if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery involves:
reducing a constant charge current of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery further involves:
further reducing the constant charge current if the cycle number exceeds a second cycle number threshold that is higher than the first cycle number threshold.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for managing use of a battery in a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
monitoring a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and
monitoring a temperature of the battery during use of the battery; and
disabling the battery if the cycle number reaches a temperature-dependent shutdown threshold, wherein the temperature-dependent shutdown threshold changes depending upon the monitored temperature of the battery.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , the method further comprising:
if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, modifying a charging technique for the battery; and
if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, further modifying the charging technique for the battery.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery involves:
reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery involves:
reducing a constant charge current of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
18. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a set of components powered by a battery;
a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor a cycle number and a temperature of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery; and
a management apparatus configured to disable the battery if the cycle number reaches a temperature-dependent shut down threshold, wherein the temperature-dependent shutdown threshold changes depending upon the monitored temperature of the battery.
19. The portable electronic device of claim 18 ,
wherein the management apparatus is configured to modify a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery if the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold; and
wherein the management apparatus is further configured to modify the charging technique if the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.
20. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein modifying the charging technique to manage swelling in the battery involves at least one of:
reducing a charge voltage of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold; and
reducing a constant charge current of the battery if the cycle number exceeds the first cycle threshold.
21. The portable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the battery corresponds to a lithium-polymer battery.