(12) United States Patent
`Deninger et al.
`
`USOO7024321B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,024,321 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM WITH
`LOW POWER AND END-OF-LIFE
`MESSAGING AND SHUTDOWN
`
`Inventors: Daniel A. Deninger, Carlsbad, CA
`(US); Huey Trando, Santee, CA (US);
`ego, CA
`Michael Lockerman, San Di
`(US); Anthony M. Richards,
`San
`Diego, CA (US); Mark D. Parisi, San
`Diego, CA (US)
`Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated, San Diego,
`CA (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 750 days.
`
`Notice:
`
`Appl. No.: 09/619,863
`Filed:
`Jul. 20, 2000
`Int. C.
`GOIR 3L/36
`
`(2006.01)
`
`U.S. Cl. .......................................... 702/63; 320/113
`Field of Classification Search ............... ... 702/57,
`702/63, 64, 65, 117, 118, 122, 124, 126, 182,
`702/183,184, 134, 135, 170, 17 1; 320/113:
`713/340; 600/300
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Balough, Laszlo, “Implementing Multi-State Charge Algo
`rithm with the UC3909 Switchmode Lead-Acid Battery
`Charger Controller, Unitrode Corporation, Texas Instru
`ments Inc.,1999.
`“Lead Acid Fast Charge IC. bq2031, Benchmarq Prod
`ucts, Texas Instruments Inc., Jun., 1999.
`Fleming, Frank A. et al., “Rapid Recharge Capability of
`Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries for EV & HEV Appli
`cations”, Hawker Energy Publication, 1999.
`Jana, Kalyan, “Charging Pure Lead Tin Batteries: A Guide
`for CYCLON and Genesis Products”, Hawker Energy Pub
`lication, First Edition, pp. 8–14, Mar. 1999.
`“U-510 Using the bd2031 to Charge Lead Acid Batteries'.
`Unitrode Corporation, Texas Instruments, Oct., 1997.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Marc S. Hoff
`Assistant Examiner Mohamed Charioui
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Philip R. Wadsworth;
`Charles D. Brown; Thomas M. Thibault
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A battery monitoring apparatus that senses battery condi
`tions such as low battery charge, end of battery capacity, and
`end of battery life, and responds by taking actions such as
`sending messages to a remote site and/or powering down. A
`rechargeable battery is coupled to one or more power
`consuming electrical components, including battery moni
`toring equipment. The battery monitoring equipment senses
`battery charge. In response to a low-battery-charge
`condition, the battery monitoring equipment transmits a
`battery status message to a remote site and powers-down
`some of the electrical components. Whenever the battery
`nears the end of its capacity, the monitoring equipment
`powers down all electronic components and awaits the
`application of external power. The invention also tracks the
`time required for the battery charge to deplete. Charge
`duration decreases over time, and whenever it reaches a
`predetermined minimum, the battery monitoring equipment
`transmits a representative status message to the remote site.
`
`28 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`A
`Lange et al.
`4, 1990
`4, 1995
`A
`Mino et al.
`5, 1996
`A
`Lin et al.
`11, 1997
`A
`Millar et al.
`A
`Boatwright et al.
`9, 1998
`Hayasaka .............. - - - - - T13,340
`A * 12, 1998
`A * 7, 1999
`Kaib et al. ...
`B1 * 6, 2002
`Reuss et al. ...........
`
`4,916,613
`5,406.266
`5,514,946
`5,684.404
`5,802.379
`5,845,142
`5,929,601
`6,406.426
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`- - - - - 320,113
`
`- - - - - 600/300
`
`EP
`GB
`
`O665443
`234.1760
`
`8, 1995
`3, 2000
`
`STARTicy
`BATTERYHARGE
`ROUTINE
`
`DECAREL&W
`BATERY CHARGE
`
`62
`
`END OF
`RECARONG
`TMEKNOWN
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`-616
`CAREURATIONE CJRRENTTTE
`EN-F-RECARENCE
`
`ris
`
`ETFRESH gp8
`POSITN
`
`828
`ENQUEUE
`BATTERYNEES
`{ARGEMESSAGE
`
`
`
`824
`SENATERY
`NEEDS CHARGE,
`and CHARGE
`BRATION
`
`626
`
`PWER
`do
`
`DE-QUEUE
`BATTERY
`MESSAGES
`
`YES -636
`ENQUEUE BATTERYNEns
`RefLACMENTSG
`
`632
`
`628
`
`RURN
`
`STOP
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`100
`
`
`
`130
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`MAIN
`PROCESSOR
`
`SENSOR(S)
`
`FIG. 1
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`
`
`210
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`
`FAST-ACCESS
`STORAGE
`
`NON-VOLATILE
`STORAGE
`
`STORAGE
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`DIGITAL DATA
`PROCESSINGAPPARATUS
`
`FIG. 2
`
`300
`
`FIG. 3
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4
`
`9
`
`2006
`
`Sheet3 0f9
`
`US 7,024,321 B1
`
`WHHU<Q<U
`
`mehuumm
`
`”HO92m
`
`
`
`E8053
`
`waffle;
`
`mwgo
`
`Nov
`
`Egg33m
`
`
`
`mmfimmmoyaV
`
`cow
`
`m0QZm
`
`EBOM
`
`
`53.2mmWWUEWMmogu
`mzfibommzmbom
`262EhzaoEDm
`
`
`v.OE
`
`|PR2020-01192
`
`Apple EX1016 Page 4
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`500
`//
`
`507
`
`502
`
`START
`FULL CHARGE
`ROUTINE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VERIFY
`EXT. POWER
`APPLIED
`
`YES
`
`510
`
`DECLARE BATTERY
`FULLY CHARGED
`
`FIG. 5
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`602
`
`START LOW
`BATTERY CHARGE
`ROUTINE
`
`600
`//
`
`
`
`604
`
`606
`
`608
`
`
`
`
`
`EXT. POWER
`APPLIED
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`610
`
`DECLARE LOW
`BATTERY CHARGE
`
`
`
`
`
`612
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`END OF
`RECHARGING
`TIME KNOWN
`
`614
`
`CHARGE
`DURATION
`UNKNOWN
`
`
`
`
`
`ENQUEUE
`BATTERY NEEDS
`CHARGE MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`634
`
`BATTERY NEEDS
`REPLACEMENT
`
`NO
`
`
`
`622
`
`624
`SEND BATTERY
`Low BATTERYNYES NEEDS CHARGE,
`AND CHARGE
`HAR
`C
`GE STILL
`DURATION
`
`NO
`630
`
`DE-QUEUE
`BATTERY
`MESSAGES
`
`626
`
`POWER
`DOWN
`
`628
`
`ENQUEUE BATTERY NEEDS
`REPLACEMENT MSG
`
`RETURN
`
`STOP
`
`FIG. 6
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`702
`
`START END OF
`BATTERY CAPACITY
`ROUTINE
`
`700
`//
`
`
`
`
`
`704
`
`EXT. POWER
`APPLIED 2
`
`706
`YES - ERROR
`
`707
`
`712
`
`CHARGE
`DURATION
`UNKNOWN
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`708
`
`DECLARE END
`OF BATTERY
`CAPACITY
`
`END OF
`RECHARGING
`TIME KNOWN
`
`CHARGE DURATION =
`CURRENT TIME -
`END-OF-RECHARGING-TIME
`
`POWER DOWN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 7 Of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`800
`//
`
`802
`SENSE RECHARGING
`POWER
`
`803
`
`POWERED-DOWN
`
`NO
`
`END OF
`CAPACITY
`
`804
`
`LOW BATTERY
`CHARGE
`
`ENQUEUE BATTERY
`NEEDED CHARGE
`MESSAGE, PAST
`CHARGE DURATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BATTERY
`NEEDS
`REPLACEMENT
`
`ENQUEUE BATTERY
`NEEDS REPLACEMENT
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`GET GPS
`POSITION AND
`ENOUEUE
`
`816
`
`OTHERTASKS
`
`BEGINRATTERY
`MONITORING
`
`FIG. 8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`“SUFFICIENT CHARGE'
`
`952
`
`900
`1/
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`START
`SUFFICIENT
`CHARGEROUTINE
`
`DECLARE BATTERY
`SUFFICIENTLY
`CHARGED
`
`
`
`
`
`BATTERY
`MESSAGE(S) PENDING
`TRANSMISSION ?
`
`EXT. PWR
`APPLIED?
`
`DEQUEUE
`BATTERY
`MESSAGE(S)
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 9 Of 9
`
`US 7.024,321 B1
`
`“BATTERY HAS
`BEEN REPLACED
`
`
`
`START
`NEW BATTERY
`ROUTINE
`
`1000
`//
`
`MARK BATTERY
`AS NEW
`
`GET FRESHPOSITION
`FROM GPS RECEIVER
`
`ENQUEUE
`NEW BATTERY MSG
`
`SEND QUEUE
`CONTENTS
`
`FIG 10
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 10
`
`

`

`US 7,024,321 B1
`
`1.
`BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM WITH
`LOW POWER AND END-OF-LIFE
`MESSAGING AND SHUTDOWN
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2
`defeating one important benefit normally enjoyed by Trai
`lerTRACS customers. Furthermore, if a battery reaches the
`end of its life, Subsequent recharging cannot prevent the
`battery from quickly returning to a low charge condition in
`a relatively fast time, such as one day, thus increasing the
`possibility of an unexpected, future power loss.
`Furthermore, technicians must be immediately dispatched to
`remove and replace the expired battery, despite the resultant
`inconvenience and labor costs.
`As mentioned above, poor battery monitoring and man
`agement can result in higher operating costs, inconvenience,
`and loss of services. Unfortunately, engineers face numerous
`challenges in trying to develop improved battery monitoring
`and management techniques. For example, manufacturers
`product data sheets often lack accurate information concern
`ing battery charging requirements. In some cases, product
`data sheets specify battery replacement after a specific
`number of years of operation. However, depending upon the
`manner of battery operation, batteries can last notably
`shorter or longer than expected. If battery life is shorter, the
`user can Suffer an unexpected, premature battery failure. If
`battery life is longer than expected, the user may replace the
`battery sooner than necessary, incurring unnecessary
`replacement costs.
`Consequently, known rechargeable battery monitoring
`and management schemes are not always adequate due to
`certain unsolved problems.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Broadly, the present invention concerns a battery moni
`toring apparatus that senses battery conditions such as low
`battery charge, end of battery capacity, battery life and end
`of battery life, and responds by taking actions such as
`sending messages to a remote site and/or shutting down
`certain battery-powered components. More particularly, a
`rechargeable battery is coupled to one or more power
`consuming electrical components, as well as various battery
`monitoring equipment. Among other functions, the battery
`monitoring equipment repeatedly senses battery charge. In
`response to a low-battery-charge condition (such as a pre
`determined battery voltage), the battery monitoring equip
`ment transmits a battery-needs-charge message to a remote
`site and powers-down at least Some of the electrical com
`ponents. Whenever the battery nears the end of its capacity,
`the monitoring equipment powers down all electronic com
`ponents and awaits the application of external power. No
`messages are sent because of the battery's critically low
`charge.
`The invention also tracks the battery's charge duration,
`which may also be called charge "depletion' time. A bat
`tery's charge duration naturally decreases over time, and
`whenever it reaches a predetermined minimum, this marks
`the battery’s probable imminent failure. Accordingly, when
`this occurs, the battery monitoring equipment transmits a
`battery-needs-replacement message to the remote site. This
`predetermined minimum charge duration may be empiri
`cally adjusted upon examination of replaced batteries to
`determine the actual battery life remaining. Some additional
`features include retracting erroneous battery status messages
`Such as those caused by temperature slew, including geo
`graphical position reports in transmitted messages reporting
`battery replacement, and reporting battery charge duration at
`various times.
`The foregoing features may be implemented in a number
`of different forms. For example, the invention may be
`implemented to provide a method of monitoring a recharge
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to the use and charging of
`rechargeable batteries. More particularly, the invention con
`cerns an unattended battery monitoring system that detects
`battery conditions such as low charge and impending end
`of-battery-life, and responds by taking actions such as
`sending messages to a remote site and/or shutting down
`various battery-powered electrical components.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Along with increased computing power, portability has
`been an important hallmark of the electronic age. Some
`electronic products are manufactured in handheld packages
`today, where the same component in past years occupied an
`entire room. Such portability would be meaningless without
`the availability of similarly portable power supplies, so it is
`no surprise that batteries have also undergone significant
`development in storage capability, compactness and other
`features.
`One especially significant development in this area is the
`rechargeable battery. With rechargeable batteries, an elec
`trically powered device can run for longer without the
`inconvenient and sometimes expensive task of removing and
`replacing batteries. In fact, many devices permit battery
`recharging without removing the batteries. And, if a source
`of occasional recharging is naturally available, rechargeable
`batteries can be used to power unattended or remotely
`located devices, thereby offering even greater convenience
`and longevity. One such example includes devices that are
`occasionally recharged with electricity generated by Solar or
`wind energy.
`Another example is the cellular untethered Trailer
`TRACSR) product of Qualcomm Inc. The untethered Trai
`lerTRACS product includes a self-contained freight module
`installed at a freight car Such as a semi-tractor trailer. The
`freight module senses and transmits various status reports
`regarding trailer position, load, door status, and the like.
`Each TrailerTRACS module automatically receives recharg
`ing power when it is attached to a tractor, and consumes
`power when it is unattached or “untethered. Rechargeable
`batteries provide the TrailerTRACS modules with a greater
`degree of longevity and self-sufficiency than would be
`otherwise possible. In some cases, untethered trailers sit
`dormant for months while their TrailerTRACS modules
`continue to provide various trailer-related status reports.
`Although the TrailerTRACS product yields a number of
`significant benefits, and even enjoys widespread commercial
`use today, engineers at Qualcomm Inc. are nonetheless
`interested in improving the performance and efficiency of
`the battery monitoring and recharging processes in Trailer
`TRACS and other unattended products that use rechargeable
`batteries. Some areas of possible focus concerns improving
`the ability to monitor and manage battery use, and thereby
`ensure the availability of sufficient battery power for unat
`tended battery-powered equipment. Monitoring and care
`fully managing battery use are important because the con
`sequences of poor battery monitoring and management can
`be severe. For instance, if an unattended TrailerTRACS
`battery unexpectedly runs out of power, the TrailerTRACS
`equipment stops transmitting its normal position reports and
`therefore disappears from remote monitoring equipment,
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 11
`
`

`

`US 7,024,321 B1
`
`3
`able battery's condition and managing battery operation. In
`another embodiment, the invention may be implemented to
`provide an apparatus, Such as a battery monitoring and
`management apparatus. In still another embodiment, the
`invention may be implemented to provide a signal-bearing
`medium tangibly embodying a program of machine
`readable instructions executable by a digital data processing
`apparatus to monitor battery condition and manage battery
`operation. Another embodiment concerns logic circuitry
`having multiple interconnected electrically conductive ele
`ments configured to monitor battery condition and manage
`battery operation as explained herein.
`The invention affords its users with a number of distinct
`advantages. In general, the invention helps ensure the avail
`ability of sufficient battery power for unattended battery
`powered equipment by improving the ability to accurately
`monitor and manage battery use. Thus, the invention helps
`avoid the situation where unattended electronic equipment
`unexpectedly runs out of power. In addition, the invention
`helps technicians conduct more timely battery replacement
`operations, saving labor costs and avoiding the costs of
`premature battery replacement. As an important benefit, the
`invention monitors the actual condition of remotely located
`batteries, thereby avoiding the need for engineers to rely on
`battery manufacturing data sheets and manufacturer's pre
`dictive estimates of battery lifetime. The invention also
`provides a number of other advantages and benefits, which
`should be apparent from the following description of the
`invention.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4
`battery charge and remaining life. Although this battery
`monitoring equipment may be used in various applications,
`the present description utilizes the exemplary context of an
`unattended, battery-powered trailer status reporting appara
`tus 100, as shown in FIG. 1.
`Generally, the apparatus 100 is mounted upon or inside a
`freight car Such as a semi-tractor trailer, and serves to
`transmit various status reports concerning the trailer's loca
`tion and condition, as explained in greater detail below. The
`apparatus 100 includes a controller 102, interface 104,
`global positioning system (AGPS") receiver 106 antennas
`105/107, timer 118, one or more register(s) 120, and one or
`more sensor(s) 112. Importantly, the apparatus 100 also
`includes a rechargeable battery 110, which may be of
`Lead-acid or another type that is suitable to the types of
`electrically powered equipment in the apparatus 100. The
`battery 110 is electrically coupled to a connector 130 shaped
`for attachment to a recharging source. As an example, the
`recharging source may comprise an external power source
`Such as a larger battery, alternating current input, dedicated
`direct-current charging line, Source of generated power
`(such as Solar, wind, etc.), and the like.
`The controller 102 receives its power from the battery
`110, and serves to supervise and coordinate operations of the
`remaining components in the apparatus 100. The controller
`102 may be implemented by various types of circuit
`components, as explained below in greater detail. For power
`management reasons, the controller 102 may be optionally
`implemented by two separate processing units. One of these
`units is a task manager 102b, which comprises an always-on,
`lower-power-consumption unit that performs simple opera
`tions such as receiving input from the sensors 112, making
`records in the registers 120, etc. The other processing unit is
`the main processor 102a, which comprises a higher-power
`consumption unit that is only powered-up when needed for
`complex operations such as mathematical computations and
`input/output operations, as well as any time recharging
`power is available.
`Attached to the controller 102 is the interface 104, which
`utilizes the antenna 105 to transmit and receive messages in
`a wireless format that is suitable for the particular applica
`tion at hand. In one embodiment, the interface 104 com
`prises a frequency modulated (AFM") transceiver capable of
`communications using analog cellular radiotelephone fre
`quencies. In addition, the present invention also contem
`plates other embodiments of the interface 104, such as a
`GlobalStarTM satellite communication transceiver, digital
`cellular transceiver, digital personal communication system
`(APCS") transceiver, two-way radio, or other suitable equip
`ment.
`Regardless of the implementation choice, the interface
`104 is used to transmit status messages to a remote com
`munications site such as a central facility that monitors
`trailer activity. This remote communication site may be
`referred to as a “network management center.” If desired, a
`queue 103 may be functionally or structurally interposed
`between the controller 102 and interface 104 for the purpose
`of enqueueing outgoing messages for later transmission by
`the interface 104. Also attached to the controller 102 is the
`GPS receiver 106, which utilizes the antenna 107 to receive
`signals from GPS satellites. Using these satellite signals, the
`GPS receiver 106 determines the geographical location of
`the apparatus 100 and provides a representative position
`output to the controller 102.
`The sensors 112 include one or more hardware devices
`configured to sample various attributes of the apparatus 100
`and its operating environment. For instance, the sensors 112
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the hardware components
`and interconnections of an unattended, battery-powered
`trailer status reporting system, according to the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital data processing
`machine according to the invention.
`FIG. 3 shows an exemplary signal-bearing medium
`according to the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an overall battery monitoring
`sequence according to the invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a “full charge' routine, according
`to the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a “low battery charge” routine,
`according to the invention.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an “end of battery capacity'
`routine, according to the invention.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a recharging routine, according to
`the invention.
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a “sufficient charge routine,
`according to the invention.
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a “new battery’ routine, accord
`ing to the invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The nature, objectives, and advantages of the invention
`will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after
`considering the following detailed description in connection
`with the accompanying drawings.
`Hardware Components & Interconnections
`Overall Structure
`Broadly, one aspect of the invention concerns an unat
`tended battery monitoring and management system, which
`65
`transmits various status reports and manages battery pow
`ered equipment according to battery properties such as
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 12
`
`

`

`5
`may include appropriate hardware devices to detect various
`trailer-related properties such as cargo refrigerator
`(Areefer") temperature, trailer door open/shut, cargo loca
`tion and/or Volume, trailer attachment to truck tractor, trailer
`Verification, drop-and-hook information, ambient
`temperature, trailer identity, and the like. The sensors 112
`may also include various battery sensors to sample battery
`related attributes such as battery voltage, battery current,
`battery temperature, etc. The sensors 112 are coupled to their
`respective sensing sites (not shown) by links 116, each of
`which may comprise a wire, cable, bus, backplane, fiber
`optic link, wireless link, infrared link, etc.
`Battery sensors (not specifically shown) are coupled to the
`battery 110 by a link 114. The battery sensors may include
`analog-to-digital converters, Voltage dividers, and other
`appropriate circuitry, for the purpose of sampling battery
`Voltage, current, and other desired properties. In one
`implementation, for example, battery Voltage may be con
`tinuously measured throughout transmit pulses to determine
`the battery's capacity. Since accurate measurement of bat
`tery capacity is best performed during peak load on the
`battery. In the present implementation, this occurs when the
`interface 104 transmits messages over the antenna 105. In
`addition to sampling battery voltage, battery temperature
`may be used to assist in determining battery capacity, as one
`option. In this regard, thresholds for end of battery charge
`and end of battery capacity (discussed below) may be
`temperature dependent.
`Also attached to the controller 102 are various other
`components, including a timer 118 and one or more registers
`120. The timer 118 may comprise a clock, oscillator, or other
`mechanism for measuring time between events.
`Alternatively, the controller 102 may utilize a time readout
`of the GPS receiver 106, in which case the apparatus 100
`may omit the timer 118. The register(s) 120 are used to store
`various statistics used during certain computations of the
`controller 102, as shown below.
`Exemplary Digital Data Processing Apparatus
`As mentioned above, the controller 102 may be imple
`mented in various forms. For instance, the controller 102
`may comprise a digital data processing apparatus, as exem
`plified by the hardware components and interconnections of
`the digital data processing apparatus 200 of FIG. 2. The
`apparatus 200 includes a processor 202. Such as a micro
`processor or other processing machine, coupled to a storage
`204. In the present example, the storage 204 includes a
`fast-access storage 206, as well as nonvolatile storage 208.
`The fast-access storage 206 may comprise random access
`memory (ARAM"), and may be used to store the program
`ming instructions executed by the processor 202. The non
`Volatile storage 208 may comprise, for example, one or more
`magnetic data storage disks Such as a “hard drive', a tape
`drive, or any other suitable storage device. The apparatus
`200 also includes an input/output 210, such as a line, bus,
`cable, electromagnetic link, or other means for the processor
`202 to exchange data with other hardware external to the
`apparatus 200.
`Despite the specific foregoing description, ordinarily
`skilled artisans (having the benefit of this disclosure) will
`recognize that the apparatus discussed above may be imple
`mented in a machine of different construction, without
`departing from the scope of the invention. As a specific
`example, one of the components 206, 208 may be elimi
`nated; furthermore, the storage 204 may be provided
`on-board the processor 202, or even provided externally to
`the apparatus 200.
`
`6
`
`Logic Circuitry
`In contrast to the digital data processing apparatus dis
`cussed previously, a different embodiment of the invention
`uses logic circuitry instead of computer-executed instruc
`tions to implement the controller 102. Depending upon the
`particular requirements of the application in the areas of
`speed, expense, tooling costs, and the like, this logic may be
`implemented by constructing an application-specific inte
`grated circuit (AASIC") having thousands of tiny integrated
`transistors. Such an ASIC may be implemented with CMOS,
`TTL, VLSI, or another suitable construction. Other alterna
`tives include a digital signal processing chip (ADSP"),
`discrete circuitry (such as resistors, capacitors, diodes,
`inductors, and transistors), field programmable gate array
`(AFPGA"), programmable logic array (APLA"), and the
`like.
`
`Operation
`Having described the structural features of the present
`invention, the method aspect of the present invention will
`now be described. Although the present invention has broad
`applicability to monitoring battery condition and managing
`battery-powered electrical equipment, the specifics of the
`structure that has been described is well suited for use with
`trailer status reporting equipment, and the explanation that
`follows will emphasize Such an application of the invention
`without any intended limitation.
`Signal-Bearing Media
`In the context of FIG. 1, such a method may be
`implemented, for example, by operating the controller 102
`(as embodied by a digital data processing apparatus 200) to
`execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions. These
`instructions may reside in various types of signal-bearing
`media. In this respect, one aspect of the present invention
`concerns a programmed product, comprising signal-bearing
`media tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable
`instructions executable by a digital data processor to per
`form a method to monitor rechargeable battery condition
`and performance.
`This signal-bearing media may comprise, for example,
`RAM (not shown) contained within the controller 102, as
`represented by the fast-access storage 206. Alternatively, the
`instructions may be contained in another signal-bearing
`media, such as a magnetic data storage diskette 300 (FIG. 3),
`directly or indirectly accessible by the processor 202.
`Whether contained in the storage 206, diskette 300, or
`elsewhere, the instructions may be stored on a variety of
`machine-readable data storage media, such as direct access
`storage (e.g., a conventional "hard drive', redundant array of
`inexpensive disks (ARAID"), or another direct access stor
`age device (ADASD")), magnetic tape, electronic read-only
`memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM), optical stor
`age (e.g., CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape),
`paper “punch cards, or other Suitable signal-bearing media
`including transmission media Such as digital and analog and
`communication links and wireless. In an illustrative embodi
`ment of the invention, the machine-readable instructions
`may comprise Software object code, compiled from a lan
`guage Such as “C.” etc.
`Logic Circuitry
`In contrast to the signal-bearing medium discussed above,
`the method aspect of the invention may be implemented
`using logic circuitry, without using a processor to execute
`instructions. In this embodiment, the logic circuitry is imple
`mented in the controller 102, and is configured to perform
`operations to implement the method of the invention. The
`logic circuitry may be implemented using many different
`
`US 7,024,321 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1016 Page 13
`
`

`

`US 7,024,321 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`7
`types of circuitry, as discussed above. As still another
`embodiment of the invention, one component 102a, 102b of
`the controller 102 may be implemented in logic circuitry
`with the other component implemented as a digital data
`processing apparatus.
`Overall Sequence of Operation
`FIG. 4 shows an overall battery monitoring sequence 400
`to illustrate one example of the method aspect of the present
`invention. For ease of explanation, but without any intended
`limitation, the apparatus 100 is employed as a context for
`description of FIG. 4, as well as FIGS. 5–10 described
`below.
`In step 402, the controller 102 senses various attributes of
`the battery 110 and/or its use history. For example, the
`controller 102 may direct the sensors 112 to sample battery
`Voltage, battery current, battery temperature, and/or other
`properties representative of battery charge condition. In
`addition, the controller 102 may consult the registers 120 to
`determine whether the battery 110 has been newly replaced,
`as discussed in greater detail below.
`After step 402, the controller uses the results of step 402
`to evaluate the battery's state (step 404). This evaluation is
`conducted using certain criteria, described in detail below.
`Depending upon the battery's state, the controller 102 may
`initiate a sufficient charge routine 412, full charge routine
`406, low battery charge routine 408, end of battery capacity
`routine 410, or new battery routine 414.
`More particularly, if the sampled battery voltage exhibits
`a “full charge, the controller 102 begins the “full charge'
`routine 406. A full charge substantially matches the battery's
`full rated voltage, and indicates that the battery 110 is
`coupled to a recharging source. As an example, the criteria
`for determining “full charge” in step 404 may require the
`battery charge current to reach a predetermined minimum
`value threshold. In contrast to the full charge routine 406, the
`controller 102 begins a “low battery charge routine 408 if
`battery voltage (as sampled in step 402) falls within a
`predetermined low-battery-charge range. The low-battery
`charge range, for example, may include Voltages between
`about four to ten percent of the battery's rated capacity
`Voltage when measured during maximum battery load. If
`desired, the low-battery-charge range may be adjusted to
`account for the battery's temperature. If the sampled voltage
`falls below the low-battery-charge range, the controller 102
`initiates the “end of battery capacity’ routine 410. Continu
`ing with the previous example, the controller 102 initiates
`the routine 410 if the voltage of the battery 110 is less than
`four percent of its rated capacity Voltage when measured
`during maximum battery load. If desired, the criteria for
`“end of battery capacity” may also be adjusted to account for
`the battery's temperature.
`If step 404 determines that the battery is newly replaced,
`step 404 initiates a routine 414. Presence of a new battery
`may be sensed in various ways. For example, the controller
`102 may store a used-battery flag (not shown) in volatile
`memory, Such as the storage 206, during normal operations.
`If the controller 102 experiences end-of-battery-capacity,
`this loss of power has the effect of clearing the used-battery
`flag. Upon power-up, it is assumed that the battery has been
`replaced. Namely, after restoration of power, the controller
`102 encounters a cleared used-battery flag in step 404,
`triggering the controller 102 to begin the new battery routine
`414.
`In contrast to the previous alternatives, if the sampled
`battery voltage does not fall into the full charge, low-battery
`charge, end-of-battery-capacity, or new battery categories,
`the battery has sufficient charge and an appropriate routine
`
`8
`412 is performed. Th