Method for determining battery capacity

1. A method performed by an electrical device powered by a battery, the method comprising:

monitoring voltage of the battery;

determining that the battery has entered a transition phase;

in response to determining that the battery has entered the transition phase, determining capacity of the battery based on a transition phase battery capacity model that defines the battery's capacity as a function of the battery's voltage;

determining that the transition phase has ended based on lapse of a predetermined time period from the start of the transition phase; and

in response to determining that the transition phase has ended, determining the capacity of the battery based on a non-transition phase battery capacity model.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is calculated as a function of two capacity values yielded respectively by a non-transition charge model and a non-transition discharge model for the given voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is determined experimentally.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-transition phase model is a charge model or a discharge model.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring step and the determining steps are performed by a mobile communication device that is powered by the battery.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing different transition phase models, each for a different temperature range;

measuring a current temperature of the battery; and

selecting the transition phase model, for determining the battery capacity, whose temperature range includes the current temperature of the battery;

the storing, measuring and selecting steps being performed by the electrical device that is powered by the battery.

7. A method performed by an electrical device powered by a battery, the method comprising:

monitoring voltage of the battery;

determining that the battery has entered a transition phase;

in response to determining that the battery has entered the transition phase, determining capacity of the battery based on a transition phase battery capacity model that defines the battery's capacity as a function of the battery's voltage;

determining that the transition phase has ended based on the battery voltage having changed by a predetermined voltage value from the battery voltage at the start of the transition phase; and

in response to determining that the transition phase has ended, determining the capacity of the battery based on a non-transition phase battery capacity model.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is calculated as a function of two capacity values yielded respectively by a non-transition charge model and a non-transition discharge model for the given voltage.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is determined experimentally.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the non-transition phase model is a charge model or a discharge model.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the monitoring step and the determining steps are performed by a mobile communication device that is powered by the battery.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

storing different transition phase models, each for a different temperature range;

measuring a current temperature of the battery; and

selecting the transition phase model, for determining the battery capacity, whose temperature range includes the current temperature of the battery;

the storing, measuring and selecting steps being performed by the electrical device that is powered by the battery.

13. A method performed by an electrical device powered by a battery, the method comprising:

monitoring voltage of the battery;

determining that the battery has entered a transition phase;

in response to determining that the battery has entered the transition phase, determining capacity of the battery based on a transition phase battery capacity model that defines the battery's capacity as a function of the battery's voltage;

determining that the transition phase has ended based on the transition phase battery capacity model and a non-transition battery capacity model of capacity-vs.-voltage yielding the same capacity value for the monitored voltage; and

in response to determining that the transition phase has ended, determining the capacity of the battery based on the non-transition phase battery capacity model.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is calculated as a function of two capacity values yielded respectively by a non-transition charge model and a non-transition discharge model for the given voltage.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a capacity value of the transition phase model for each given voltage is determined experimentally.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-transition phase model is a charge model or a discharge model.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the monitoring step and the determining steps are performed by a mobile communication device that is powered by the battery.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

storing different transition phase models, each for a different temperature range;

measuring a current temperature of the battery; and

selecting the transition phase model, for determining the battery capacity, whose temperature range includes the current temperature of the battery;

the storing, measuring and selecting steps being performed by the electrical device that is powered by the battery.