Battery Life Estimation Using Operating State Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining battery life in battery-powered devices are inaccurate due to variations in battery manufacturing and environmental factors, leading to unreliable notifications for users about the need for battery replacement or recharging.

Innovation Solution

A computing device determines its power usage by analyzing its operating states and the characteristics of its battery, such as resistance and voltage, to estimate the remaining battery life without requiring additional hardware, allowing for accurate notifications about battery status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional hardware is used to measure power discharged from the battery, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower measurement accuracyVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery-powered device uses its own existing operational data (operating states, duration in states) to calculate power consumption without requiring external measurement hardware. The device serves itself by leveraging internal information about its power usage patterns across different operating states to determine remaining battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct physical measurement of power discharge with a computational approach. Instead of using hardware sensors to measure electrical power flow, the system substitutes a calculation method that uses software to process operating state data and derive power consumption estimates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If additional hardware is used to measure power discharged from the battery, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower measurement accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery-powered device uses its own existing operational data (operating states, duration in states) to calculate power consumption without requiring external measurement hardware. The device serves itself by leveraging internal information about its power usage patterns across different operating states to determine remaining battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct physical measurement of power discharge with a computational approach. Instead of using hardware sensors to measure electrical power flow, the system substitutes a calculation method that uses software to process operating state data and derive power consumption estimates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If battery life is determined without considering battery characteristics variations, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of battery life estimation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery management complexityVSAvoidbattery life estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates battery-specific parameters such as capacity, manufacturer, and type into the power consumption calculation model. By adjusting the calculation to account for these varying battery characteristics, the system achieves more accurate remaining battery life estimates without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different power consumption characteristics specific to each battery's properties. Instead of using a universal power model, the system tailors the calculation to match the specific battery installed in the device, accounting for variations in capacity and performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method provides a more accurate estimation of battery life, enabling timely and relevant notifications to users without increasing the device's cost or complexity.

Implementation Method 1

battery powered devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical energy conversion: Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS20210216126A1Methods and systems for battery management

Publication Date: 2021.07.15 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems for determining battery life are described. A computing device may determine a state of the computing device and a power usage of the computing device based on the state. The computing device may determine a capacity of a battery and a remaining battery life of the battery based on the power usage of the computing device.