Battery power supply circuit for maximizing utilization of available battery capacity with a sleep capable load

A power supply for providing battery based power to an intermittently operating load, comprising:

• a voltage converter connected to a battery and operative to generate a desired output voltage;
• a current limiter connected in series to said voltage converter and operative to limit the current output thereof;
• a capacitor tank electrically connected to said current limiter and to the load;
• a controller configured to:
• maintain an electrical disconnect between said battery and said capacitor tank when the load is disabled or in sleep mode by disabling said voltage converter via a first control signal thereby preventing battery discharge due to capacitor tank parasitic self-discharge;
• enable said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said capacitor tank is charged through said current limiter in a controlled manner in accordance with a first charge current surge profile to a threshold voltage less than the desired output voltage;
• remove current limiting via a second control signal when the voltage on the capacitor tank reaches the threshold voltage, to immediately further charge said capacitor tank to the desired output voltage in accordance with a second charge current surge profile;
• enable the load via a third control signal after waiting a period of time after current limiting is removed corresponding to a relaxation period associated with the battery;
• disable said voltage converter when the load is to be disabled or placed in sleep mode thereby disconnecting said battery from said capacitor tank to prevent battery discharge;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage, characteristics of the first charge current surge profile and that of the second charge current surge profile are configured to aid in maximizing both battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A power supply for providing battery based power to an intermittently operating load, comprising:

• a voltage converter connected to a battery and operative to generate a desired output voltage;
• a first voltage regulator having an input connected to said battery and an output connected via a switch to said load;
• a current limiter connected in series to said voltage converter and operative to limit the current output thereof;
• a capacitor tank electrically connected to said current limiter and to the load;
• a controller configured to:
• maintain an electrical disconnect between said battery and said capacitor tank when the load is disabled or in sleep mode by disabling said voltage converter via a first control signal thereby preventing battery discharge due to capacitor tank parasitic self-discharge;
• power the load from said first voltage regulator while the load is disabled or in sleep mode;
• enable said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said voltage converter charges said capacitor tank via said current limiter, said capacitor tank charged to a threshold voltage less than 95% of the desired output voltage;
• remove current limiting via a second control signal when the voltage on the capacitor tank reaches the threshold voltage, to immediately further charge said capacitor tank to the desired output voltage;
• enable the load via a third control signal after said capacitor tank is charged to the desired output voltage;
• disable said voltage converter when the load is to be disabled or placed in sleep mode thereby disconnecting said battery from said capacitor tank to prevent battery discharge;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing both battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A power supply for providing battery based power to an intermittently operating load, comprising:

• a voltage converter connected to a battery and operative to generate a desired output voltage;
• a first voltage regulator having an input connected to said battery and an output connected via a switch to said load;
• a current limiter connected in series to said voltage converter and operative to limit the current output thereof;
• a capacitor tank electrically connected to said current limiter and to the load;
• a controller configured to:
• maintain an electrical disconnect between said battery and said capacitor tank when the load is disabled or in sleep mode by disabling said voltage converter via a first control signal thereby preventing battery discharge due to capacitor tank parasitic self-discharge;
• power the load from said first voltage regulator while the load is disabled or in sleep mode;
• enable said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said voltage converter charges said capacitor tank via said current limiter, said capacitor tank charged to a threshold voltage less than the desired output voltage;
• remove current limiting via a second control signal when the voltage on the capacitor tank reaches the threshold voltage, to immediately further charge said capacitor tank to the desired output voltage;
• enable the load via a third control signal after waiting a period of time after current limiting is removed corresponding to a relaxation period associated with the battery;
• disable said voltage converter when the load is to be disabled or placed in sleep mode thereby disconnecting said battery from said capacitor tank to prevent battery discharge;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing both battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A method of providing power to an intermittently operating load in a battery power supply including a voltage converter, current limiter, capacitor tank, and controller, the method comprising:

• electrically disconnecting the battery from said capacitor tank while the load is disabled or in sleep mode by disabling the voltage converter thereby preventing battery discharge due to capacitor tank parasitic self-discharge current;
• enabling said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said voltage converter charges said capacitor tank via said current limiter, said capacitor tank charged to a threshold voltage less than 95% of a desired output voltage;
• removing current limiting when the voltage on the capacitor tank reaches the threshold voltage, to immediately further charge said capacitor tank to the desired output voltage;
• enabling the load after the capacitor tank is charged to the desired output voltage;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A method of providing power to an intermittently operating load in a battery power supply including a voltage converter, current limiter, capacitor tank, and controller, the method comprising:

• electrically disconnecting the battery from said capacitor tank while the load is disabled or in sleep mode by disabling the voltage converter thereby preventing battery discharge due to capacitor tank parasitic self-discharge current;
• enabling said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said voltage converter charges said capacitor tank via said current limiter, said capacitor tank charged to a threshold voltage less than a desired output voltage;
• removing current limiting when the voltage on the capacitor tank reaches the threshold voltage, to immediately further charge said capacitor tank to the desired output voltage;
• enabling the load after waiting a period of time after current limiting is removed corresponding to a relaxation period associated with the battery;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A power supply for providing battery based power to an intermittently operating load, comprising:

• a voltage converter connected to a battery and operative to generate a desired output voltage;
• a current limiter connected in series to said voltage converter and operative to limit the current output thereof;
• a capacitor tank electrically connected to said current limiter and to the load;
• a controller configured to enable said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said capacitor tank is charged through said current limiter in accordance with a first charge current surge profile to a threshold voltage less than 95% of the desired output voltage;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing both battery capacity utilization and battery life.

A power supply for providing battery based power to an intermittently operating load, comprising:

• a voltage converter connected to a battery and operative to generate a desired output voltage;
• a current limiter connected in series to said voltage converter and operative to limit the current output thereof;
• a capacitor tank electrically connected to said current limiter and to the load;
• a controller configured to enable said voltage converter before the load is to be enabled or woken up whereby said capacitor tank is charged through said current limiter in a controlled manner in accordance with a first charge current surge profile to a threshold voltage less than the desired output voltage, and to enable the load after waiting a period of time after current limiting is removed corresponding to a relaxation period associated with the battery;
• and
• wherein the threshold voltage is configured to aid in maximizing both battery capacity utilization and battery life.