Electronic device and battery management method thereof

Abstract

This case discloses an electronic device and its battery management method. The method includes the following steps: when the automatic transport mode function is enabled and the battery module is in sleep mode, continuously accumulating a storage time count value; and when the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than a time threshold, determining whether to put the battery module into a power-saving mode based on the current battery voltage of the battery module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electronic device capable of extending the storage time of a battery module and the battery management method employed therein. Prior Technology

[0002] Today's handheld electronic devices (such as laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, or tablets) are typically powered by power adapters (e.g., AC adapters) or battery modules. Powering the system motherboard with a battery module allows users to operate the device anytime, anywhere. However, educational institutions or organizations may not immediately use electronic devices after purchase due to various factors, resulting in the devices remaining in storage for extended periods (a state of prolonged inactivity). During storage, the system motherboard and battery module consume power, reducing the battery module's shelf life. Furthermore, excessive energy consumption can lead to the battery module entering a permanent failure (PF) state. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a battery management method applicable to electronic devices including a battery module. The method includes the following steps: when the automatic transport mode function is enabled and the battery module is in sleep mode, continuously accumulating a storage time count value; and when the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than a time threshold, determining whether to put the battery module into a power-saving mode based on the current battery voltage of the battery module.

[0004] This application also provides an electronic device including a battery module and a controller. The battery module includes a battery cell assembly and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the battery cell assembly and configured to continuously accumulate a storage time counter when the automatic transport mode is enabled and the battery module is in sleep mode. The controller is coupled to the battery module and configured to set parameters used by the battery module. Specifically, when the storage time counter accumulates to a value greater than a time threshold, the control circuit determines whether to put the battery module into a power-saving mode based on the current battery voltage.

[0005] Based on the above, the electronic device and its battery management method in this case can automatically put the battery module into power-saving mode in non-operating environments (such as the S5 mode specified by Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, ACPI). This extends the storage time of the battery module and prevents it from entering a state of permanent failure.

[0006] To make the above-mentioned features and advantages of this case more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are provided below, along with detailed descriptions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0007] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a battery management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a battery management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0008] Referring to Figure 1, the electronic device 100 in this embodiment is, for example, a handheld electronic product such as a laptop, mobile phone, digital camera, or tablet computer. The electronic device 100 includes a battery module 110 and a controller 120.

[0009] The battery module 110 can power the electronic device 100 through the positive terminal P+ and negative terminal P- of the charge / discharge path CDP. The battery module 110 can be, for example, embedded or external, as shown in FIG1, and includes a battery cell assembly 111, a control circuit 112, a charge / discharge transistor 113, a current sensing resistor 114, and a fuse element 115. The battery cell assembly 111, for example, consists of one or more lithium battery cells (cell units) and can be used to store electrical energy.

[0010] The charge / discharge transistor 113 is disposed on the charge / discharge path CDP and can be used to turn the charge / discharge path CDP on or off.

[0011] The current sensing resistor 114 is set on the charge / discharge path CDP, which can be used to allow the control circuit 112 to detect the charge / discharge current flowing through the charge / discharge path CDP.

[0012] The fuse element 115 is located on the charge / discharge path CDP and can serve as a hardware protection mechanism. When the voltage of the battery cell pack 111 is too high (abnormal), the fuse element 115 can provide one or more stages of protection.

[0013] The control circuit 112 is coupled to the battery cell assembly 111, the charge / discharge transistor 113, and the current sensing resistor 114, and can be implemented, for example, by a battery gauge IC or a microcontroller. The control circuit 112 monitors information such as the stored charge, battery voltage, and charge / discharge current in the battery cell assembly 111 and reports this information to the controller 120. Furthermore, the control circuit 112 includes a counter or has a counting function, which can be used to accumulate count values ​​(store time count values).

[0014] Controller 120 is coupled to battery module 110. Controller 120 is, for example, an embedded controller (EC) or microcontroller that communicates with control circuit 112 via a communication protocol, and can set parameters used by battery module 110 (such as time thresholds and voltage thresholds). The communication protocol is, for example, a System Management Bus (SMBus) or an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) circuit, but this embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0015] The battery management method of the present invention executes the relevant algorithm of the auto shipping mode function, thereby allowing the battery module 110 to enter the power saving mode (shutdown mode). Referring to Figures 1 and 2 simultaneously, the battery management method of this embodiment can be applied to the electronic device 100 of Figure 1, and its steps are described below.

[0016] First, in step S200, when the automatic transport mode function is enabled and the battery module 110 is in sleep mode, the control circuit 112 continuously increments the storage time count. Specifically, the control circuit 112 checks the bit value of the automatic transport mode enable bit (CVSHIP_EN) written internally. The automatic transport mode enable bit is written to the control circuit 112, for example, through a power management-related application. When the automatic transport mode enable bit value is 1, it indicates that the automatic transport mode function is enabled. When the automatic transport mode enable bit value is 0, it indicates that the automatic transport mode function is not enabled. If the automatic transport mode function is enabled and the battery module 110 is in sleep mode, the control circuit 112 will start continuously incrementing the storage time count.

[0017] Next, in step S202, when the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than a time threshold, the control circuit 112 determines whether to put the battery module 110 into a power-saving mode based on the current battery voltage of the battery module 110. For example, when the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than the time threshold, the control circuit 112 can determine whether the current battery voltage of the battery module 110 is less than a voltage threshold. If the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold, the control circuit 112 will put the battery module 110 into a power-saving mode, thereby extending the storage time of the battery module 110.

[0018] The voltage threshold in this embodiment can correspond to the storage voltage of the battery module 110. The controller 120 can set the time threshold and voltage threshold according to at least one of the following: user group, usage scenario, and user habits. For example, the time threshold and voltage threshold are recorded in the memory within the control circuit 112, and the recording length is, for example, one word, which can be divided into a high-order byte (bits 15 to 8) and a low-order byte (bits 7 to 0). The value of the high-order byte multiplied by 32 is the voltage threshold (in millivolts (mV)). The value of the low-order byte is the time threshold (in days). Additionally, when the low-order byte value is set to "00000000", 0 days represents a time threshold of 5 minutes. The controller 120 can use artificial intelligence (AI) learning to analyze the user group, usage context, or user habits of the electronic device 100, and use the 0x93 command character instruction to flexibly adjust the time and voltage thresholds recorded in the control circuit 112 based on the analysis results. This optimizes the system so that the battery module 110 automatically enters power-saving mode in different usage areas or environments to extend storage time, further ensuring the battery module 110 is effective and not easily damaged.

[0019] In one embodiment, when the electronic device 100 is powered off (i.e., the system enters the S5 mode specified by the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), the control circuit 112 determines whether the automatic transport mode function is enabled and whether the battery module 110 is in sleep mode, so as to execute the battery management method of this embodiment (i.e., the various steps shown in FIG2) when the automatic transport mode function is enabled and the battery module 110 is in sleep mode.

[0020] Furthermore, when the battery module 110 in power-saving mode is woken up (e.g., woken up by the system and begins charging and discharging), the control circuit 112 changes the time threshold and voltage threshold back to their corresponding preset values, and resets the stored time count value (e.g., resets it to 0).

[0021] Incidentally, when the battery module 110 is in sleep mode, the charge / discharge transistor 113 remains on. However, when the battery module 110 enters power-saving mode, the control circuit 112 disconnects the charge / discharge transistor 113 to prevent any charging or discharging from occurring.

[0022] The following example illustrates the implementation details of the battery management method of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the battery management method of this embodiment is executed, for example, when the electronic device 100 is powered off (i.e., the system enters the S5 mode specified by the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)). It is applicable to the electronic device 100 in Figure 1, and its steps are described below.

[0023] First, in step S300, the control circuit 112 determines whether the automatic transport mode function is enabled and whether the battery module 110 is in sleep mode.

[0024] If the automatic transport mode is not enabled or the battery module 110 is not in sleep mode, the control circuit 112 resets the storage time count value in step S302. Then, in step S304, the control circuit 112 puts the battery module 110 into normal mode, which allows for charging and discharging.

[0025] On the other hand, when the automatic transport mode is activated and the battery module 110 is in sleep mode, in step S306, the control circuit 112 starts to continuously accumulate the storage time count value. Next, in step S308, the control circuit 112 determines whether the accumulated storage time count value is greater than the time threshold.

[0026] If yes, proceed to step S310. If no, return to step S306, thereby allowing the control circuit 112 to continuously accumulate the storage time count value while repeatedly determining whether the storage time count value is greater than the time threshold, until the storage time count value accumulates to exceed the time threshold. In one embodiment, if the battery module 110 performs charging or discharging before the storage time count value accumulates to exceed the time threshold, the control circuit 112 will reset the storage time count value.

[0027] In step S310, the control circuit 112 determines whether the current battery voltage of the battery module 110 is less than a voltage threshold. When the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold, the control circuit 112 causes the battery module 110 to enter a power-saving mode in step S312.

[0028] When the current battery voltage is not lower than the voltage threshold, in step S314, the control circuit 112 keeps the battery module 110 in sleep mode, and then returns to step S310 to repeatedly determine whether the current battery voltage of the battery module 110 is lower than the voltage threshold, until the current battery voltage drops to lower than the voltage threshold.

[0029] In summary, the electronic device and battery management method of the present invention can automatically put the battery module into a power-saving mode in non-operating environments, and allow the controller to flexibly adjust the parameters used by the battery module using command character instructions, without having to send them back to the battery manufacturer for setting. This extends the storage time of the battery module, prevents it from entering a permanent failure state, and improves ease of use.

[0030] 100: Electronic devices 110: Battery Module 111: Battery Cell Pack 112: Control Circuit 113: Charge / discharge transistor 114: Current sensing resistor 115: Fuse element 120: Controller CDP: Charge / Discharge Path P+: Positive extreme subpole P-: Negative extreme subunit S200~S202, S300~S314: Steps

Claims

1. A battery management method applicable to an electronic device including a battery module, the battery management method comprising the following steps: when an automatic transport mode function is activated and the battery module is in a sleep mode, continuously accumulating a storage time count value; and when the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than a time threshold, determining whether to put the battery module into a power-saving mode based on a current battery voltage of the battery module; wherein, This time threshold is dynamically adjusted based on usage information.

2. The battery management method as described in claim 1 further includes: When the electronic device is powered off, it is determined whether the automatic transport mode function is enabled and whether the battery module is in sleep mode.

3. The battery management method as described in claim 1 further includes: If the automatic transport mode is not enabled or the battery module is not in sleep mode, the storage time counter is reset, and then the battery module is put into a normal mode.

4. The battery management method as described in claim 1, further comprising: Determine whether the storage time count value is greater than the time threshold; If not, while continuously accumulating the storage time count value, the step of judging the storage time count value is repeated until the storage time count value accumulates to a value greater than the time threshold.

5. The battery management method as described in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether to put the battery module into the power-saving mode based on the current battery voltage of the battery module includes: Determine whether the current battery voltage of the battery module is less than a voltage threshold. When the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold, the battery module enters the power saving mode; and when the current battery voltage is not less than the voltage threshold, the battery module remains in the sleep mode, and the step of judging the current battery voltage of the battery module is repeated until the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

6. The battery management method as described in claim 5 further includes: The time threshold and the voltage threshold are set based on at least one of the following: user group, usage scenario, and user habits.

7. The battery management method as described in claim 5 further includes: When the battery module in the power-saving mode is woken up, the time threshold and the voltage threshold are changed back to their respective preset values.

8. The battery management method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery module further includes a charge / discharge transistor disposed on a charge / discharge path, and the battery management method further includes: When the battery module enters the power-saving mode, the charging / discharging transistor is disconnected.

9. The battery management method as described in claim 1, further comprising: When the battery module in this power-saving mode is woken up, the stored time count value is reset.

10. An electronic device comprising: A battery module includes a battery cell assembly and a control circuit coupled to the battery cell assembly. The control circuit is configured to continuously accumulate a storage time counter value when an automatic transport mode function is activated and the battery module is in a sleep mode. A controller coupled to the battery module is configured to set parameters used by the battery module. When the accumulated storage time counter value exceeds a time threshold, the control circuit determines whether to put the battery module into a power-saving mode based on a current battery voltage of the battery module. The time threshold is dynamically adjusted based on usage information.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein when the electronic device is powered off, the control circuit determines whether the automatic transport mode function is enabled and whether the battery module is in the sleep mode.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein when the automatic transport mode function is not activated or the battery module is not in the sleep mode, the control circuit resets the storage time counter value and then puts the battery module into a normal mode.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the control circuit determines whether the storage time count value is greater than the time threshold, and if not, while continuously accumulating the storage time count value, the control circuit repeats the step of determining the storage time count value until the storage time count value accumulates to be greater than the time threshold.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the control circuit determines whether the current battery voltage of the battery module is less than a voltage threshold; when the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold, the control circuit causes the battery module to enter the power-saving mode; when the current battery voltage is not less than the voltage threshold, the control circuit causes the battery module to remain in the sleep mode and repeats the step of determining the current battery voltage of the battery module until the current battery voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller sets the time threshold and the voltage threshold based on at least one of user group, usage context and user habits.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein when the battery module in the power-saving mode is woken up, the control circuit changes the time threshold and the voltage threshold back to corresponding preset values.

17. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the battery module further includes a charge / discharge transistor, a current sensing resistor and a fuse element disposed on a charge / discharge path, the control circuit being coupled to the charge / discharge transistor and the current sensing resistor, and the control circuit disconnecting the charge / discharge transistor when the battery module enters the power saving mode.

18. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein when the battery module in the power-saving mode is woken up, the control circuit resets the stored time count value.

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