Detecting true battery removal from a host device by comparing a voltage level on a communication line with a threshold voltage level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9239772-B2
Application number	US-201013703201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2010
Priority date	Jun 11, 2010
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product embodiments are disclosed for detection of the availability of a battery ( 160 ) by a host terminal ( 100 ) during a data exchange session with the battery ( 160 ). In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, sampling, data communication with the battery pack ( 150 ), and detection of battery ( 160 ) removal, may occur substantially simultaneously. The battery ( 160 ) removal may be detected during data transmission from the terminal ( 100 ) to the battery pack ( 150 ). Moreover, a response may be received by the terminal ( 100 ) from the battery circuits ( 155 ) in response to data communicated to the battery ( 160 ) on the battery communication line ( 140 ), during sampling in a timed manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
comparing a digital voltage level of a host device waveform with a threshold voltage level and providing a comparison signal resulting from the comparison, the digital voltage level of the host device waveform being on a battery digital communication line coupled to a battery connector, wherein the digital voltage level of the host device waveform comprises at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level used for digital communication with circuits of a battery capable of digital communication coupled to the battery connector via the battery digital communication line to determine if the voltage of the battery connector exceeds the threshold voltage level, wherein the threshold voltage level is different from the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and the at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level;
sampling the comparison signal in a timed manner in order to ensure that digital communication with the circuits of the battery is not disturbing battery removal detection, by gating the sampling when the host device waveform is at the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level;
timing a duration with a timer, that the comparison signal corresponds to the digital voltage level of the host device waveform exceeding the threshold voltage and triggering a battery status signal when the duration exceeds a predetermined delay; and
determining a battery connection status based on the battery status signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duration represents a period of time that includes the length of time that the voltage level exceeds the threshold voltage plus the predetermined delay.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery connection status comprises at least a battery connect status or battery disconnect status.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the battery connection status changes from the battery connect status to the battery disconnect status if the duration exceeds a predetermined duration value.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the battery connection status changes from the battery disconnect status to the battery connect status if the voltage level is less than the at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level or greater than the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
resetting the timer if the voltage level is less than the at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level or greater than the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery connector has at least two additional connectors.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least two additional connectors are configured to deliver power.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sampling, the communication, and detection of battery removal, occur simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a response from the circuits of the battery to data communicated to the battery on the battery communication line during the sampling in the timed manner.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is a digital communication.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the comparing step detects that the voltage of the battery connector is above the threshold voltage, then gating the voltage of the battery connector out as the comparison signal for sampling.

13. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one memory including computer program code;
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
compare a digital voltage level of a host device waveform with a threshold voltage level and provide a comparison signal resulting from the comparison, the digital voltage level of the host device waveform being on a battery digital communication line coupled to a battery connector, wherein the digital voltage level of the host device waveform comprises at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level used for digital communication with circuits of a battery capable of digital communication coupled to the battery connector via the battery digital communication line to determine if the voltage of the battery connector exceeds the threshold voltage level, wherein the threshold voltage level is different from the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and the at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level;
sample the comparison signal in a timed manner in order to ensure that communication with the circuits of the battery is not disturbing battery removal detection, by gating the sampling when the host device waveform is at the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level;
time a duration with a timer, that the comparison signal corresponds to the digital voltage level of the host device waveform exceeding the threshold voltage and trigger a battery status signal after the duration exceeds a predetermined delay; and
determine a battery connection status based on the battery status signal.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps comprising:
comparing a digital voltage level of a host device waveform with a threshold voltage level and providing a comparison signal resulting from the comparison, the digital voltage level of the host device waveform being on a battery digital communication line coupled to a battery connector, wherein the digital voltage level of the host device waveform comprises at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level used for digital communication with circuits of a battery capable of digital communication coupled to the battery connector via the battery digital communication line to determine if the voltage of the battery connector exceeds the threshold voltage level, wherein the threshold voltage level is different from the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and the at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level;
sampling the comparison signal in a timed manner in order to ensure that digital communication with the circuits of the battery is not disturbing battery removal detection, by gating the sampling when the host device waveform is at the at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level;
timing a duration with a timer, that the comparison signal corresponds to the digital voltage level of the host device waveform exceeding the threshold voltage and triggering a battery status signal when the duration exceeds a predetermined delay; and
determining a battery connection status based on the battery status signal.

15. A method, comprising:
sampling a digital voltage level of a host device waveform in a timed manner on a battery digital communication line coupled to a battery connector, wherein the digital voltage level of the host device waveform comprises at least one predetermined low digital communication voltage level and at least one predetermined high digital communication voltage level used for communication with circuits of a battery capable of digital communication coupled to the battery

Assignees

• Leinonen Pekka
• Lindholm Rune
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Leinonen Pekka
• Lindholm Rune

Classifications

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• H04B1/3883 Primary

  Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers · CPC title

• G06F1/12

  Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators} · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/0063

  Electricity · mapped topic