# US 9,520,746 B2 · Battery disconnect safeguard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,746 B2 - Document ID: US9520746B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/604,395 - Filed: 2015-01-23 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-23 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Jiri Slaby; Mark Carlson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520746B2 ## CPC - H02J 9/06: with automatic change-over {, e.g. UPS systems} - H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04W 52/0254: {detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device} - H04W 52/0296: {switching to a backup power supply} - H04M 1/0262: {for a battery compartment} - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract In embodiments, a mobile device includes a primary battery as a power source to power components of the mobile device, and includes a secondary battery as an additional power source to power the components of the mobile device. A sensor is implemented to detect moisture proximate a battery connection of the secondary battery, where the detected moisture indicates an impending secondary battery disconnect event due to the secondary battery shorting out. A battery controller is implemented to receive a sensor input of the detected moisture from the sensor. The battery controller can then switch from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source based on the detected moisture proximate the battery connection of the secondary battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a primary battery configured as a power source to power components of a mobile device; a secondary battery configured as an additional power source to power the components of the mobile device; and a battery controller configured to: receive a sensor input of detected moisture proximate a battery connection of the secondary battery; determine an impending secondary battery disconnect event due to the secondary battery shorting out as a result of exposure to the detected moisture; determine that the primary battery is functional as the power source without the exposure to the detected moisture and without an impending primary battery disconnect event; and initiate a battery switch circuit switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source based on the sensor input of the detected moisture and the impending secondary battery disconnect event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a moisture detector configured to detect the moisture proximate the battery connection of the secondary battery in the mobile device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the moisture detector is configured to at least one of detect the moisture on a circuit board that implements the battery controller, or detect the moisture at the battery connection of the secondary battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is one of: integrated within the mobile device; integrated in a removable housing cover of the mobile device; connected to contacts that are integrated in a housing of the mobile device; integrated in a protective cover or case for the mobile device; or external to the mobile device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery controller is configured to: monitor a charge level of the primary battery; and maintain at least a minimum charge level of the primary battery to enable the switch from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery controller is implemented with hardware components configured to receive a moisture detection input as the sensor input and initiate the battery switch circuit switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory and processing system to implement the battery controller as software that is configured to receive a moisture detection input as the sensor input and initiate the battery switch circuit switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery controller is configured to: determine that the primary battery functions as the power source without the exposure to the detected moisture and without an impending primary battery disconnect event. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: powering components of a mobile device with a secondary battery as an additional power source to a primary battery that is configured to power the components of the mobile device; detecting moisture proximate a battery connection of the secondary battery, the detected moisture indicating an impending secondary battery disconnect event due to the secondary battery shorting out; and switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source of the mobile device based on a sensor input of the detected moisture proximate the battery connection of the secondary battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: switching back from the primary battery to the secondary battery based on the moisture proximate the battery connection no longer being detected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: receiving the sensor input of the detected moisture in the mobile device from a moisture detector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said detecting the moisture comprises at least one of: detecting the moisture on a circuit board that implements a battery controller configured to control said switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery; and detecting the moisture comprises detecting the moisture at the battery connection of the secondary battery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: monitoring the charge level of the primary battery; and maintaining at least a minimum charge level of the primary battery to enable said switching from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source. ### Claim 14 A mobile device, comprising: a battery configured as a power source to power components of the mobile device; a sensor configured to detect moisture proximate a battery connection of the battery, the detected moisture indicating an impending battery disconnect event due to the battery shorting out as a result of exposure to the detected moisture; and a battery controller configured to initiate a battery switch circuit switching the power source of the mobile device based on the detected moisture, the power source switched to an additional power source without the exposure to the detected moisture to maintain power for the components of the mobile device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A mobile device as recited in claim 14, wherein: the sensor is a moisture detector configured to detect the moisture proximate the battery connection of the battery; and the battery controller is configured to receive a sensor input of the detected moisture from the moisture detector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A mobile device as recited in claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to at least one of detect the moisture on a circuit board that implements the battery controller, or detect the moisture at the battery connection of the battery. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A mobile device as recited in claim 14, wherein: the battery is a secondary battery configured as the additional power source to power the components of the mobile device; the battery controller is configured to: switch from the secondary battery to a primary battery as the power source based on the detected moisture; and switch back from the primary battery to the secondary battery as the power source based on the moisture proximate the battery connection no longer being detected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A mobile device as recited in claim 17, wherein the battery controller is configured to: monitor a charge level of the primary battery; and maintain at least a minimum charge level of the primary battery to enable the switch from the secondary battery to the primary battery as the power source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A mobile device as recited in claim 14, wherein the battery controller is implemented with hardware components configured to receive a moisture detection input from the sensor and switch the power source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A mobile device as recited in claim 14, further comprising a memory and processing system to implement the battery controller as software that is configured to receive a moisture detection input from the sensor and switch the power source.