Systems and methods for remotely determining a battery characteristic

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11307259-B2
Application number	US-202017114068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2020
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Apr 19, 2022
Grant date	Apr 19, 2022

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:
obtain an image corresponding to a powered device powered by a battery;
analyze the image to identify a powered device type;
obtain a discharge model corresponding to the powered device type;
based on the discharge model, determine a depletion rate for the battery;
based on the depletion rate, predict a remaining charge in the battery;
determine that the remaining charge is depleted below a threshold charge level; and
in response to determining that the remaining charge level of the battery is depleted below the threshold charge level, generate an alert indicating that the remaining charge level is depleted below the threshold charge level.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to receive a communication signal that indicates a current charge level of the battery.

3. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to adjust the depletion rate based on the current charge level for the battery.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to identify an external condition that affects the depletion rate of the battery.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to adjust the depletion rate based on the external condition.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to determine that an unused or partially used battery is within a signal range of the computing device.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to configure the alert to include an indication of a physical location of the unused or partially used battery.

8. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein:
two or more unused or partially used batteries are within the signal range of the computing device; and
the logic further causes the computing device to present an interface to enable a user to select a replacement battery from among the two or more unused or partially used batteries.

9. A method for remotely monitoring activity of an energy storage device, comprising:
obtaining, by a computing device, an image corresponding to a powered device powered by a battery;
analyzing, by the computing device, the image to identify a powered device type;
obtaining, by the computing device, a discharge model corresponding to the powered device type;
based on the discharge model, determining, by the computing device, a depletion rate for the battery;
based on the depletion rate, predicting, by the computing device, a remaining charge in the battery;
determining, by the computing device, that the remaining charge is depleted below a threshold charge level; and
in response to determining that the remaining charge level of the battery is depleted below the threshold charge level, generating, by the computing device, an alert indicating that the remaining charge level is depleted below the threshold charge level.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a communication signal that indicates a current charge level of the battery.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the computing device, the depletion rate based on the current charge level for the battery.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
identifying, by the computing device, an external condition that affects the depletion rate of the battery.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the computing device, the depletion rate based on the external condition.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing device, that an unused or partially used battery is within a signal range of the computing device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
configuring, by the computing device, the alert to include an indication of a physical location of the unused or partially used battery.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
two or more unused or partially used batteries are within the signal range of the computing device; and
the method further comprises presenting, by the computing device, an interface to enable a user to select a replacement battery from among the two or more unused or partially used batteries.

17. 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:
obtain an image corresponding to the powered device;
analyze the image to identify a type for the powered device;
obtain a discharge model corresponding to the powered device type;
based on the discharge model, determine a depletion rate for the energy storage device;
based on the depletion rate, predict a remaining charge in the energy storage device;
determine that the remaining charge is depleted below a threshold charge level; and
in response to determining that the remaining charge level of the energy storage device is depleted below the threshold charge level, generate an alert indicating that the remaining charge level is depleted below the threshold charge level.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to determine that an unused or partially used energy storage device is within a signal range of the computing device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to configure the alert to include an indication of a physical location of the unused or partially used energy storage device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein:
two or more unused or partially used energy storage devices are within the signal range of the computing device; and
the logic further causes the computing device to present an interface to enable a user to select a replacement energy storage device from among the two or more unused or partially used energy storage devices.

Assignees

• Duracell Us 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

• 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

• G01S17/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title