International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Richard John Fishbune

Mark Edmund Maresh

Marc Henri Coq

Eric B Swenson

Yakup Bulur

Adam M Wheeler

Neil C Swenson

Patrick Kevin Egan

Robert B Schlak

Xing Li

Timothy Charles Daun-Lindberg

Noah B Singer

Steven John Ahladas

Scott D Strand

Thai Quoc Ngo

Brian Joseph Hruby

Nathan Carl Mandelko

Michale Lee Miller

A method can include obtaining device data for a set of electronic devices. The device data can indicate power utilized by the set of electronic devices. The method can include obtaining a capacity of a backup power source. The method can include obtaining priority data regarding an allocation of power to the set of electronic devices. The method can include obtaining a set of environmental conditions. The method can include calculating, based at least in part on the set of environmental conditions and the device data, a projected electrical load on the backup power source. The method can include determining that one or more thresholds are exceeded. The determining can comprise identifying that the projected electrical load exceeds the capacity. The method can include modifying, in response to the determining and according to the priority data, power supplied to the set of electronic devices from the backup power source.

Backup power allocation management

Embodiments of the present invention manage a state of charge of a rechargeable battery for extended storage by determining a manual override for a storage protocol is not activate for a rechargeable battery associated with a battery charger and an electronic device. Receiving battery data, environment data, and historical data for the rechargeable battery associated with a battery charger. Embodiments of the present invention determine to activate the storage protocol for the rechargeable battery based on the battery data, the environment data, and the historical data and discharge the rechargeable battery to a preset state of charge level based on the storage protocol.

Battery state of charge management for storage

A method for managing a battery to perform a final action, the method includes determining a battery supplying power to an electronic device is discharging and receiving battery specification information for the battery. The method includes receiving environmental condition information for the battery and determining an open circuit voltage for the battery. The method includes determining a base capacity for the battery, a first capacity reduction for the battery based on the battery specification, and a second capacity reduction for the battery based on the environmental condition information. The method includes determining an overall expected capacity for the battery based on the first capacity reduction and the second capacity reduction, where the overall expected capacity represents available energy. Responsive to determining the available energy for the battery is less than a required energy to perform an action prior to battery depletion, the method includes sending a warning notification.

Battery management for performing a final action

A rechargeable lead-acid battery is provided. The rechargeable lead-acid battery includes a casing, a grid structure and an electro-mechanical assembly. The casing defines an interior configured to accommodate plates and a supply of fluid that is electrically reactive with the plates to generate electricity. The grid structure is interposed between lower edges of the plates and a bottom of the casing. The electro-mechanical assembly is coupled with the grid structure and operable to agitate the grid structure.

Rechargeable lead-acid battery with compound and sludge leveling and shedding capability

A battery comprises a plurality of battery modules. A method determines a load-state of the battery and selects a set of the battery modules to configure, to produce a load-state capacity of the battery based on the load-state. A load-state capacity of the battery can be a sub-capacity of the battery less than a rated capacity of the battery and the method can configure the set of battery modules to produce the sub-capacity based on the load-state comprising the battery disconnected from a load. A battery system can comprise a battery having a plurality of battery modules and a controller configured to perform the method. A battery system can comprise a battery having a plurality of battery modules, and an actuator and a module retainer that can position a battery module in or out of contact with a module interconnect.

Configuring large capacity batteries

A wet-cell in a battery is configured with a set of i-electrodes. A collection surface inside the wet-cell is identified where electrically conductive debris accumulates to an expected height. A first i-electrode of a first polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A second i-electrode of a second polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A first indication device is installed where the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode are configured in an electrical circuit via the first indication device, wherein when the electrically conductive debris has accumulated up to the expected height, makes simultaneous electrical contact with the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode and activates the first indication device.

Advance indication of short-circuit conditions in a wetcell battery

Described herein are techniques for battery management. The techniques include a method comprising initializing a battery management system (BMS) associated with a battery and calculating a degraded battery capacity by charging the battery from a first voltage threshold to a test voltage threshold, discharging the battery from the test voltage threshold to the first voltage threshold, collecting measurements of discharge capacity at predetermined voltage measurement points while discharging the battery from the test voltage threshold to the first voltage threshold, generating a polynomial fit function for discharge capacity as a function of voltage for the battery based on the measuring, and estimating the degraded battery capacity. The method further includes charging the battery based on the degraded battery capacity, the charging resulting in the battery maintaining an updated voltage threshold.

Capacity degradation analysis for batteries

A starter battery with a total battery voltage exceeding a supply voltage requirement of an electrical system. An alternator provides a charging voltage that corresponds with the supply voltage requirement of the electrical system. A total battery voltage equal to the sum of cell voltages exceeds the supply voltage requirement of the electrical system. A step-down voltage regulator reduces the total battery voltage to correspond with the supply voltage requirement and a boost voltage regulator increases the charging voltage from the alternator when charging the starter battery to the total battery voltage. When detecting a degraded cell, the step-down voltage regulator continues to regulate the total battery voltage to correspond with the supply voltage requirement after the cell has degraded and the boost voltage regulator is bypassed when charging the starter battery to no longer increase the charging voltage from the alternator when charging the starter battery.

Starter battery with continued function after cell failure

An apparatus is provided for detecting one of multiple possible abnormal conditions associated with a flexible, pouch-type energy storage device of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a stiffener, a pressure sensor and a control component. The stiffener overlies a main surface of the storage device. The pressure sensor is disposed between the stiffener and an inner surface of the electronic device to monitor for pressure between the stiffener and the inner surface indicative of an abnormal condition associated with the storage device. The control component is coupled to the pressure sensor and detects the abnormal condition based, at least in part, on the monitored pressure exceeding a specified threshold, and performs and action based thereon. The abnormal condition may include excessive external force being applied to the energy storage device, or excessive internal swelling of the energy storage device during charging, or during use.

Detecting abnormal condition(s) associated with flexible, pouch-type energy storage device

Battery management systems and methods for optimizing and extending the service life of a battery generally include subjecting the battery to a test cycle that appropriately sets the state of charge for the battery to less than the nominal capacity of the battery, i.e., to less than 100% state of charge. The state of charge of other batteries in the system not being tested can be increased to insure that the system battery capacity is not degraded during the test cycle. Periodic testing of the battery and adjusting the state of charge maintains an optimal state of charge as the battery ages. Batteries that do not meet the required capacity can be readily identified and replaced on demand.

Battery management system for extending service life of a battery

An apparatus is provided for an electrical component to automatically provide a discharge of a rechargeable battery to a predetermined state of charge. The apparatus includes the electrical component determining a rechargeable battery is not connected to a device and discharging the rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes the electronic component determining whether a state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge in the rechargeable battery and responsive to determining that the state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge, continuing discharging the rechargeable battery.

Automatically discharging a rechargeable battery

A wet cell battery, where a first cell in a wet-cell battery includes a set of anode electrodes and a set of cathode electrodes, and where electrically conductive debris accumulates on a surface inside the first cell to an expected height. An anode electrode in the set of anode electrodes has an anode end closest to the surface, and a cathode electrode in the set of cathode electrodes has a cathode end closest to the surface. A first gap distance between the anode end and the surface is different from a second gap distance between the cathode end and the surface. When the electrically conductive debris accumulates up to the expected height, the debris fails to make simultaneous electrical contact with the anode electrode and the cathode electrode due to the different gap distances.

Short-circuit protection in wet-cell battery

Advance indication of short-circuit conditions in a wet-cell battery

A device may include an electronic component stack cover having an open end sized to receive a modular electronic component stack including a plurality of like modular electronic components, an at least partially closed end, and sides extending from the at least partially closed end toward the open end. The at least partially closed end and the at least one side may form a chamber. At least one electrically conductive probe may extend from the at least partially closed end into the chamber. The chamber may conform to an outer shape of at least a portion of the modular electronic component stack, and the electrically conductive probe may be configured to electrically interface with a first connector on the electronic component stack when the stack is within the chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

Richard John Fishbune