Simulated fast recharge of power supply
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsSchelte Heeringa, Oedilius Johannes Bisschop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fraction of the battery energy is kept in reserve during operational use of a battery-powered apparatus. The motor of the apparatus is switched off when the battery has discharged to the level of this reserve fraction. The reserve is made available again for operational use when the user has recharged the apparatus for a little while. This approach 5 simulates a super fast charging operation.
Claims13
An apparatus having a power-consuming component and a rechargeable power supply for powering the component, where:
- the apparatus comprises a controller for managing the power supply;
- the controller comprises a monitor for monitoring a remaining charge capacity of the power supply;
- the controller is operative to enter a reserve mode upon an indication by the monitor that the remaining charge capacity of the power supply has decreased below a predetermined low level;
- upon entering the reserve mode, the controller disconnects the power supply from the component and requires recharging of the power supply;
- and
- upon a partial recharge of the power supply in the reserve mode, the controller is further operative to reconnect the power supply to the component and to keep the power supply reconnected if the capacity decreases below the predetermined low level.
A controller for use in an apparatus, the apparatus having a power-consuming component and a rechargeable power supply for powering the component, where:
- the controller is operative to manage the power supply;
- the controller comprises a monitor for monitoring a remaining charge capacity of the power supply;
- the controller is operative to enter a reserve mode upon an indication by the monitor that the remaining charge capacity of the power supply has decreased below a predetermined low level;
- upon entering the reserve mode, the controller is operative to disconnect the power supply from the component and requires recharging of the power supply;
- and
- upon a partial recharge of the power supply in the reserve mode, the controller is further operative to reconnect the power supply to the component and to keep the power supply reconnected if the capacity decreases below the predetermined low level.
A method for controlling the powering of a power-consuming component by a rechargeable power supply, said method comprising:
- monitoring a remaining charge capacity of the power supply;
- entering a reserve mode upon an indication by the monitor that the remaining charge capacity of the power supply has decreased to at least a predetermined low level at which a minimum reserve capacity is to be maintained;
- upon entering the reserve mode, ceasing the powering of the component by the rechargeable power supply and requiring recharging of said power supply;
- and
- upon a partial recharge of the power supply, restarting the powering of the component by the rechargeable power supply and continuing said powering if the remaining charge capacity decreases below the predetermined low level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.