The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12191658 B1

Date of Patent:

Jan. 07, 2025

Filed:

Dec. 05, 2022

Determining battery depletion for coordinating battery replacement

Applicant:

Itron Networked Solutions, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Inventor:

Bruce Edwards, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Itron Networked Solutions, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:

Artegis Law Group, LLP

Primary Examiner:

Alexis B Pacheco

Int. Cl.

CPC ...

H02J 7/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/367 (2019.01); G01R 31/3835 (2019.01); H01M 6/14 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H01M 16/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/14 (2006.01); H02J 7/34 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01);

U.S. Cl.

CPC ...

H02J 13/00017 (2020.01); G01R 31/367 (2019.01); G01R 31/3835 (2019.01); H01M 6/14 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/44 (2013.01); H01M 10/48 (2013.01); H01M 10/482 (2013.01); H01M 16/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/342 (2020.01); H02J 7/00306 (2020.01); H02J 7/00308 (2020.01); H02J 13/00022 (2020.01); H02J 13/00024 (2020.01);

Abstract

A battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the current source charges the secondary cell at a constant current level and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active, which can be used to determine a battery depletion level for the primary cell. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

Find Patent Forward Citations