Smart battery providing battery life and recharge time prediction

An apparatus for indicating a remaining capacity of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the apparatus comprising:

• a logic unit;
• a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected discharge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current;
• an environmental monitor circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the environmental conditions of the battery;
• a current measuring circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the battery current;
• and
• means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the discharge rate;
• a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery;
• wherein the logic unit periodically determines an incremental self-discharge of the battery based on the environmental conditions and the battery characteristics and changes the remaining capacity value according to the incremental self-discharge and the battery current;
• and
• wherein the logic unit predicts the remaining battery life of the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery and the selected discharge rate.

A method for predicting a remaining life of a battery based on a selected discharge rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting the discharge rate;
• determining a present battery capacity based on one or more environmental conditions of the battery and one or more characteristics of the battery, the battery characteristics being functions of the environmental conditions and/or a battery current;
• predicting the remaining life of the battery based on the selected discharge rate and the present battery capacity;
• and
• indicating the predicted remaining life of the battery.

An apparatus for predicting a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the apparatus comprising:

• a logic unit;
• a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected charge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current;
• means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the charge rate;
• a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery;
• wherein the logic unit periodically updates the remaining capacity value based on the battery current, one or more of the environmental conditions, and one or more of the battery characteristics;
• wherein the logic unit predicts the recharge time of the battery based on the remaining capacity value, the selected charge rate, and one more charging characteristics of the battery.

An apparatus for indicating a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the apparatus comprising:

• a logic unit;
• a memory, coupled to the logic unit, actually storing one or more characteristics of the battery and the selected charge rate, the battery characteristics being a function of one or more environmental conditions of the battery and/or a battery current;
• an environmental monitor circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the environmental conditions of the battery;
• a current measuring circuit, coupled to the logic unit, for measuring the battery current;
• and
• means, coupled to the memory, for selecting the charge rate;
• a remaining capacity value stored in the memory, the remaining capacity value representing a remaining capacity of the battery;
• wherein the logic unit periodically determines an incremental self-discharge of the battery based on the environmental conditions and the battery characteristics and changes the remaining capacity value according to the incremental self-discharge and the battery current;
• and
• wherein the logic unit predicts the recharge time of the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery, the selected charge rate, and one or more charging characteristics of the battery.

A method for predicting a recharge time of a battery based on a selected charge rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting the charge rate;
• determining a present battery capacity based on one or more environmental conditions of the battery and one or more characteristics of the battery, the battery characteristics being functions of the environmental conditions and/or a battery current;
• predicting the recharge time of the battery based on the selected charge rate, the present battery capacity, and one or more charging characteristics of the battery;
• and
• indicating the predicted remaining life of the battery.