Systems and methods for remotely determining a battery characteristic

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10684374-B2
Application number	US-201916572520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2019
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Included are embodiments for remotely determining a battery characteristic. Some embodiments include searching for a first wireless signal that identifies the energy storage device and, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, determining a current charge level of the energy storage device. Some embodiments include receiving a second wireless signal from the energy storage device, determining from the second wireless signal, whether the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining that the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches the predetermined threshold, facilitating replacement of the battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device for remotely monitoring battery activity comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the computing device to perform at least the following:
detect a wireless communication associated with a battery powering a powered device;
determine, from the wireless communication signal, a battery characteristic of the battery;
provide, via a software application executing on the computing device, a first user interface that includes data related to the battery characteristic of the battery;
predict an expected time when the battery will be depleted;
in response to determining that the expected time falls within a predetermined timeframe, obtain positioning data related to the computing device; and
in response to determining that the positioning data indicates the computing device has entered a retail establishment, receive, via the software application, a coupon for purchasing a replacement battery for the battery.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the positioning data is global positioning system (GPS) data.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to generate directions to the retail establishment.

4. The computing device of claim 3 , wherein to generate directions to the retail establishment, the logic further causes the computing device to:
connect to an inventory database associated with the retail establishment;
determine an inventory of replacement batteries associated with the retail establishment; and
based on the determination of the inventory, generate the directions to the retail establishment.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to provide, via the software application, a second user interface that includes a list of a plurality of batteries monitored by the software application.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to provide the first user interface in response to detecting a selection of the battery via the second user interface.

7. A method for remotely monitoring activity of an energy storage device, comprising:
searching, by a computing device, for a first wireless signal that identifies the energy storage device powering a powered device;
in response to receiving the first wireless signal, determining, by the computing device, a current charge level of the energy storage device;
receiving, by the computing device, a second wireless signal from the energy storage device;
determining, by the computing device from the second wireless signal, whether the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches the predetermined threshold, obtaining, by the computing device, positioning data related to the computing device; and
in response to determining that the positioning data indicates the computing device has entered a retail establishment, receiving, at the computing device, a coupon for purchasing a replacement battery for the battery.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising predicting a time that the current charge level will reach the predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the positioning data is global positioning system (GPS) data.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating directions to the retail establishment.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein generating directions to the retail establishment comprises:
connecting to an inventory database associated with the retail establishment;
determining an inventory of replacement batteries associated with the retail establishment; and
based on the determination of the inventory, generating the directions to the retail establishment.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for remotely monitoring activity of an energy storage device powering a powered device that stores logic that, when executed by a processor, causes a computing device to perform the following:
search for an incoming wireless signal that identifies the energy storage device;
in response to receiving the wireless signal, determine a current charge level and a depletion rate of the energy storage device;
determine, from the current charge level and the depletion rate, a time when the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches the predetermined threshold, provide, via a software application executing on the computing device, a first user interface indicating the current charge level;
obtain positioning data related to the computing device; and
in response to determining that the positioning data indicates the computing device has entered a retail establishment, receive a coupon for purchasing a replacement battery for the battery.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to predict a time that the current charge level will reach the predetermined threshold.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the positioning data is global positioning system (GPS) data.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to generate directions to the retail establishment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein to generate directions to the retail establishment, the logic further causes the computing device to:
connect to an inventory database associated with the retail establishment;
determine an inventory of replacement batteries associated with the retail establishment; and
based on the determination of the inventory, generate the directions to the retail establishment.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to provide, via the software application, a second user interface that includes a list of a plurality of batteries monitored by the software application.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to provide the first user interface in response to detecting a selection of the battery via the second user interface.

Assignees

• Duracell Us Operations Inc
• Duravell U S Operations Inc

Inventors

• Dempsey Nancy Taylor
• Mcginnis Karen Coltharp
• Wenzel Elizabeth Jane
• Amann Mathias
• Bourilkov Jordan Todorov
• Coronado Hortal Sergio
• Joyce Jonathan Livingston
• Sherman Faiz Feisal
• Specht Steven Jeffrey

Classifications

• H01M10/488

  Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density · CPC title

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title

• G01S17/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01R31/371 Primary

  with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers · CPC title

• H01M2010/4278

  Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller · CPC title