Methods of extending the life of battery
Methods for extending the life of a battery output regulated voltages from output terminals configured to interface with input terminals of battery powered devices. A method includes receiving a battery electrical power output from the battery. The voltage output by the battery decreases from a battery first output voltage to a battery second output voltage during use of the battery. The electrical power output is used to drive a converter that outputs a converter electrical power having a converter output voltage greater than the battery second output voltage. The converter electrical power is output from output terminals configured to interface with input terminals of a battery powered device. The converter is configured and supported relative to the battery to interface with one or more output terminals of the battery.
1. A battery having an extended operating life, the battery comprising:
an outer shell;
a voltage generating cell disposed within the outer shell and providing an output voltage on an internal positive terminal and an internal negative terminal;
an external positive terminal;
an external negative terminal; and
a voltage regulation circuit disposed within the outer shell, the voltage regulation circuit receiving the output voltage provided by the one or more voltage generating cells and generating an increased output voltage relative to the voltage provided by the one or more voltage generating cells over at least a portion of an operating life of the one or more voltage generating cells, the voltage regulation circuit being operatively connected to the external positive and negative terminals to output the generated increased output voltage via the external positive and negative terminals, the battery being configured to operate in a bypass phase and a boost phase such that during the bypass phase, the external positive and negative terminals are electrically coupled to the internal positive and negative terminals, and during the boost phase, the battery outputs the increased voltage provided by the voltage regulator circuit on the external positive and negative terminals.
2. The battery of claim 1 wherein when the output voltage provided by the voltage generating cell is greater than a pre-selected voltage, the output voltage provided by the voltage generating cell is provided on the external positive and negative terminals.
3. The battery of claim 2 wherein if the output voltage provided by the voltage generating cell is less than the pre-selected voltage, the increased output voltage is provided on the external positive and negative terminals.
4. The battery of claim 1 wherein the voltage regulation circuit has an input terminal connected to the internal positive terminal, the battery further comprising a bypass transistor coupled between the input terminal and the external positive terminal, wherein:
when the output voltage provided by the voltage generating cell is greater than a pre-selected voltage, the input terminal is electrically coupled to the external positive terminal through the bypass transistor, and
when the output voltage provided by the voltage generating cell is less than the pre-selected voltage, the increased output voltage is provided on the external positive and negative terminals.