System and method for low battery detection
AssigneeLandis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
InventorsBruce Edwards, Eric Norrod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring a voltage pump to determine the status of a battery connected to the voltage pump are provided. The operation of the voltage pump is monitored during at least one monitoring period which corresponds to a period of relatively heavy consistent load. The operation of the voltage pump can be monitored by sampling a control signal that corresponds to the operation of the voltage pump.
Claims20
A method of monitoring battery status, wherein the battery is connected to a voltage pump which drives a variable load, comprising:
- determining a start of a monitoring period to monitor the operation of the voltage pump;
- monitoring operation of the voltage pump during the monitoring period by sampling a control signal multiple times during the monitoring period, wherein the control signal indicates whether the voltage pump is on;
- if at least a pre-determined number of samples indicate that the voltage pump was on during each of the pre-determined number of samples, then determining that the voltage pump is operating at a pre-determined level;
- and
- when the voltage pump is operating at the pre-determined level, then analyzing at least one previously determined level of operation of the voltage pump for a previous monitoring period to determine the battery status.
A method of monitoring battery status, wherein the battery is connected to a voltage pump which drives a variable load, comprising:
- monitoring operation of the voltage pump during a monitoring period by sampling a control signal multiple times during the monitoring period, wherein the control signal indicates whether the voltage pump is on;
- processing the samples to determine if at least a pre-determined number of the samples taken during the monitoring period indicates that the voltage pump was on during each of the pre-determined number of samples to determine if the voltage pump is operating at a pre-determined level;
- when the voltage pump is operating at the pre-determined level, then adjusting a value representing the battery status;
- and
- if the value representing the battery status is at least equal to a pre-determined threshold, then determining that a low battery status exists.
A battery monitoring system, comprising:
- a battery connected to a voltage pump;
- the voltage pump, which drives a variable load, wherein the voltage pump is switched on and off via a control signal;
- and
- a processor programmed to:
- monitor operation of the voltage pump by sampling the control signal multiple times during a monitoring period;
- if at least a pre-determined number of the samples taken during the monitoring period indicates that the voltage pump was on during each of the pre-determined number of samples, then determine that the voltage pump is operating at a pre-determined level;
- and
- when the voltage pump is operating at the pre-determined level, then analyzing at least one previously determined level of operation of the voltage pump for a previous monitoring period to determine the battery status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.