Battery monitoring system with low power and end-of-life messaging and shutdown

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for managing a rechargeable battery coupled to one or more power-consuming electrical components, the operations comprising:

• monitoring a battery charge;
• monitoring a battery charge duration;
• responsive to a low-battery-charge condition, performing needs-charge operations including initiating transmission on a battery-needs-charge message to a remote site and powering-down a first group including at least some of the electrical components;
• responsive to an end-of-battery-capacity condition, performing end-of-capacity operations including powering-down a second group including at least some of the electronic components;
• and
• determining whether battery charge duration exceeds a predetermined minimum duration, and if not, transmitting a battery-needs-replacement message to the remote site.

A battery monitoring apparatus, comprising:

• one or more battery property sensors;
• a timer;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a controller, coupled to the sensors and the timer and the transmitter, the controller programmed to manage a rechargeable battery coupled to one or more power-consuming electrical components, by performing operations comprising:
• directing the sensors to monitor a battery charge;
• monitoring a battery charge duration utilizing the timer;
• responsive to a low-battery-charge condition, performing needs-charge operations including:
• initiating transmission of a battery-needs-charge message to a remote site;
• and
• powering-down a first group including at least some of the electrical components;
• responsive to an end-of-battery-capacity condition, performing end-of-capacity operations including powering-down a second group of the electronic components;
• determining whether battery charge duration exceeds a predetermined minimum duration, and if not, initiating transmission of a battery-needs-replacement message to the remote site.

A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations for monitoring a rechargeable battery coupled to one or more power-consuming electrical components, the operations comprising:

• monitoring a battery charge;
• monitoring a battery charge duration;
• responsive to a low-battery-charge condition, performing needs-charge operations including initiating transmission of a battery-needs-charge message to a remote site and powering-down at least some of the electrical components;
• responsive to an end-of-battery-capacity condition, performing end-of-capacity operations including powering-down all of the electronic components;
• and
• determining whether battery charge duration exceeds a predetermined minimum duration, and if not, transmitting a battery-needs-replacement message to the remote site.

A battery monitoring apparatus, comprising:

• sensor means for sensing one or more battery properties;
• timing means for providing a time reference signal;
• transmitter means for transmitting signals;
• and
• controller means, coupled to the sensor means and the timing means and the transmitter means, for managing a rechargeable battery coupled to one or more power-consuming electrical components by:
• directing the sensor means to monitor battery charge;
• monitoring battery charge duration utilizing the timer means;
• responsive to a low-battery-charge condition, performing needs-charge operations including:
• initiating transmission of a battery-needs-charge message to a remote site;
• and
• powering-down at least some of the electrical components;
• responsive to an end-of-battery-capacity condition, performing end-of-capacity operations including powering-down all of the electronic components;
• and
• determining whether battery charge duration exceeds a predetermined minimum duration, and if not, initiating transmission of a battery-needs-replacement message to the remote site.