Benchmarq Microelectronics, Inc.

Other

Benchmarg Microelectronics, Inc.

David L Freeman

Wallace E Matthews

John E Landau

Gene L Armstrong, Ii

William F Davies, Jr

John Edward Landau

Dave Heacock

Milad Alwardi

A battery charging system is provided which is comprised of a battery pack (30) and a charging system (20). The battery pack (30) includes a battery (10) and a battery capacity detect circuit (32). The battery capacity detect circuit (32) is interfaced with the charging system (20) through a single line to output a CHG-Bar signal. The battery capacity detect circuit (32) is operable to perform numerous monitoring operations on the battery by detecting the charge input to the battery and detecting charge taken away from the battery in a discharge operation. This operation is performed independent of the charging operation by the charging system (20). However, the charging operation of the charger (22) can be affected with the CHG-Bar signal.

Battery pack with monitoring function utilizing association with a

A battery charge/discharge monitor circuit (10) is operable to be disposed in a battery pack (12) which can be connected to a battery (13). The monitor circuit (10) is operable to be connected to an external CPU (24) or similar system through a single wire communication port (22) for transferring information back and forth. There is also provided an external signal on a line (30) for indicating charge or discharge activity in the monitor circuit (10). The monitor circuit (10) is operable to collect information regarding the amount of charge input to the battery and the length of time that the charge is input to the battery and also the amount of charge that is removed from the battery and the length of time that the charge is removed. This information is stored in a memory block (62) for later access by the external CPU (24). This system also provides offset information to provide some type of compensation for non-linearities of the part. This offset is determined during a calibration operation which operates over a long period of time during a period of inactivity. Regulation circuitry is operable to provide internal regulation to the circuitry with an external JFET (20).

Battery monitoring circuit with storage of charge and discharge

A reconfigurable integrated circuit chip includes an output terminal (42) which is connected to the output of an inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) includes an output terminal (46) which is connected to one input of a comparator (22). The other end of comparator (22) is connected to an internal voltage reference device (48). The output of comparator (22) is connected to the input of the inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) may be configured as a linear regulator when a transconductance device (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a load and an integrator (24) is connected between terminal (42) and the control input of the transconductance device (14). The integrated circuit chip (10) is configured as a switching regulator when a gated switch (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a switching node (65) wherein the gated switch (14) is gated by the signal output by the output terminal (42). The switching node (65) is connected to the cathode of a switching diode (66) and to one side of a switching inductance (68) with the other side of the switching inductance connected to the load 16. A voltage is sensed across a load resistor (18) and input into the comparator (22) which compares the sensed voltage to the reference voltage (48) and outputs the differential into the output terminal (42). This then controls transistor (14) and causes it to vary the current passing through the load (16).

Linear slewing regulator

A reconfigurable integrated circuit chip includes an output terminal (42) which is connected to the output of an inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) includes an output terminal (46) which is connected to one input of a comparator (22). The other end of comparator (22) is connected to an internal voltage reference device (48). The output of comparator (22) is connected to the input of the inverting amplifier (44). The integrated circuit chip (10) may be configured as a linear regulator when a transconductance device (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a load and an integrator (24) is connected between terminal (42) and the control input of the transconductance device (14). The integrated circuit chip (10) is configured as a switching regulator when a gated switch (14) is connected between a DC power supply (12) and a switching node (65) wherein the gated switch (14) is gated by the signal output by the output terminal (42). The switching node (65) is connected to the cathode of a switching diode (66) and to one side of a switching inductance (68) with the other side of the switching inductance connected to the load 16. A voltage is sensed across a load resistor (18) and input into the comparator (22) which compares the sensed voltage to the reference voltage (48) and outputs the differential waveform into the output terminal (42). This then controls transistor (14) and causes it to vary the current passing through the load (16).

Linear/switching regulator circuit

A battery detect circuit (32) is connected to a battery, with the current A battery V:the battery and the current extracted from the battery measured with a sense resistor (50) and convened to charge and discharge voltages with a V/F converter (52). A microcontroller (64) is operable to increment a nominal available charge (NAC) register (180) during a charge operation and to increment a discharge rate counter (DCR) (184) during a discharge operation. The NAC register (180) indicates the available charge, i.e. the charge state of the battery, which value is output to a display (34). The display (34) is controlled to operate in either an absolute full mode or a relative full mode. This is determined by an external programming pin which has first and second programming states associated with the two modes. In the absolute full mode, a Programmed Full Count (PFC) determines the upper capacity value of the display (34), which PFC is predetermined and represents the maximum capacity of the battery when the battery is new. The charge state value displayed is then determined relative to the maximum capacity value. In the relative full mode, the actual capacity of the battery is determined and defines the upper capacity value of the display (34). A translation device (186) is operable to vary the output of the NAC register (180) as a function of temperature, this changed in discrete steps.

Display system for a battery monitoring circuit

A battery detect circuit (32) is connected to the battery with the current input to the battery and extracted from the battery measured with a sense resistor (50) and then converted to charge and discharge pulses with a V/F converter (52). A microcontroller (64) is operable to increment a Nominal Available Charge (NAC) register (180) during a charge operation, and to increment a Discharge Count Register (DCR) (184) during a discharge operation. The NAC register (180) indicates the available charge, which value is output to a display (34). The maximum value to which the NAC value can rise is limited by a value stored in the last measured discharge register (182). This value represents the value stored in the DCR (184) whenever the battery is discharged from an apparent full state to a fully discharged state. This results in a qualified transfer to the LMD register (182) such that no knowledge of the actual battery charge is necessary. The charge rate is varied as both a function of temperature, voltage and also of the state of charge. A fast charge rate is initiated when the charge state is above a predetermined low voltage threshold and less than full. When the charge state reaches a level within approximately 80% of full charge, the charge rate is reduced. At full capacity, the charge rate is further reduced to a top off charge rate which continues for approximately two hours. If the temperature falls below a predetermined low temperature threshold, the charge rate is again reduced to a safe, slow, effective rate. Trickle charge is provided to replenish charge adaptively in accordance with a self-discharge counter. The trickle charge operates to momentarily pulse the battery (10) at a predetermined charge rate.

Method and apparatus for monitoring batttery capacity with charge control

A battery monitoring/control device includes a monitor/control device (35) that is operable to be integrated with a microprocessor system. The system includes a CPU (12) that interfaces with a data bus (14) and an address bus (16). The CPU (12) interfaces through a data line (40) with the control/monitor device (35) and control lines (28) and (34). Commands and data can be input to the control/monitor circuit (35) and data received therefrom. The control/monitor device (35) includes a controller/data register block (36) and a battery charge control/monitor block (44). The device (35) is operable to monitor the battery voltage of a secondary battery (46) during charging thereof and to control the rate of charge through a transistor (66). The battery monitor (90) determines when the voltage on the battery (46) reaches a predetermined level indicating full-charge. A discharge circuit (94) controls a discharge transistor (72) to discharge the battery (46) through a sense resistor (68) for conditioning of the battery. The system receives current from the battery (46) through the resistor (68), the current monitored by a Gas Gauge monitor (92). The Gas Gauge monitor (92) maintains a measurement of the capacity of the battery (46). Control and status information is maintained in control/status register (56), which are set to a default value in a default register (57) upon power up. The CPU (12) can store control information in the registers (56) in order to control the device (35). Further, status information of the device (35) can be stored in the register (56) for access by the CPU (12) through a bus interface (52).

System for charging/monitoring batteries for a microprocessor based

A battery detect circuit (32) is connected to the battery with the current input to the battery and extracted from the battery measured with a sense resistor (50) and then converted to charge and discharge pulses with a V/F converter (52). A microcontroller (64) is operable to increment a Nominal Available Charge (NAC) register (180) during a charge operation, and to increment a Discharge Count Register (DCR) (184) during a discharge operation. The NAC register (180) indicates the available charge, which value is output to a display (34). The maximum value to which the NAC value can rise is limited by a value stored in the last measured discharge register (182). This value represents the value stored in the DCR (184) whenever the battery is discharged from an apparent full state to a fully discharged state. This results in a qualified transfer to the LMD register (182) such that no knowledge of the actual battery charge is necessary. The microcontroller (64) is operable to determine the rate of discharge corresponding to the voltage across the sense resistor (50). When the rate of discharge exceeds a predetermined discharge rate, the operation of the microcontroller (64) is partially inhibited. When the rate of discharge falls below the predetermined discharge rate, the microcontroller (64) is again allowed to operate in a normal operating mode. A resistor (61) is switched across the battery (10) by a transistor (59) for a short duration of time after the discharge rate had fallen below the discharge rate threshold voltage.

Battery monitoring circuit for operating with high battery discharge

A battery detect circuit (32) is connected to the battery with the current input to the battery and extracted from the battery measured with a sense resistor (50) and then converted to charge and discharge pulses with a V/F converter (52). A microcontroller (64) is operable to increment a Nominal Available Charge (NAC) register (180) during a charge operation, and to increment a Discharge Count Register (DCR) (184) during a discharge operation. The NAC register (180) indicates the available charge, which value is output to a display (34). The maximum value to which the NAC value can rise is limited by a value stored in the last measured discharge register (182). This value represents the value stored in the DCR (184) whenever the battery is discharged from an apparent full state to a fully discharged state. This results in a qualified transfer to the LMD register (182) such that no knowledge of the actual battery charge is necessary.

Method and apparatus for monitoring battery capacity

An adjustable length extension tool is disclosed for interconnection between a driving tool, such as a socket wrench, and an object to be driven, such as a screw or bolt. An extension housing body includes a shaft that can move reciprocally within a bore therein; one end of the sleeve member includes a box opening for interconnection with the driving tool and one end of the shaft includes a box pin for interconnection with a socket. An adjustable compression sleeve is received around the shaft to limit the movement and drag of the shaft within the bore thereby providing infinite length adjustability.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

David L Freeman