Battery Status Circuit with Multi-Stage LED Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held transmitters often experience diminished functionality due to battery drain, with users receiving inadequate warning of low battery levels, leading to inconvenience or inability to operate devices like garage doors or security systems, as existing systems lack multi-staged voltage status indicators and efficient power management.
Innovation Solution
A system with a battery status circuit that uses visual indicators, such as LEDs, to provide multi-staged voltage status notifications, allowing users to continue using the transmitter without fear of it dying unexpectedly, by determining and acting on predetermined voltage thresholds (e.g., 50% and 25% charge levels) to alert the user of impending battery depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single low-battery warning indicator is used, then users are notified of battery depletion, but the warning occurs too late to allow continued useful operation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery status indication is segmented into multiple stages using different colored LEDs (e.g., green for healthy, yellow for depleted, red for critical). This segmentation allows users to understand the remaining battery life in discrete stages, enabling them to continue using the transmitter during yellow stage while planning replacement, thus resolving the contradiction between timely notification and continued usability.
2Loss of time
If multi-staged voltage status indicators are added, then users can plan battery replacement in advance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes in LEDs (green, yellow, red) to indicate different battery voltage stages. This visual color-coding system provides intuitive multi-staged status indication without requiring complex displays or interfaces, thus achieving advanced battery status monitoring while minimizing increases in device complexity.
3Loss of information
If battery monitoring circuitry is implemented, then battery status can be tracked, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery status monitoring is implemented to activate only during button press events rather than continuously. The voltage detection circuit measures battery voltage periodically when triggered by user interaction, and the appropriate LED is illuminated based on the measured voltage level. This periodic action significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous monitoring while still providing necessary battery status information.
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
The system effectively extends the usable life of hand-held transmitters by providing timely and clear battery status updates, ensuring continued functionality until replacement is possible, reducing the risk of device failure during critical operations.
Implementation Method 1
A voltage reference circuit is provided with a plurality of different voltage thresholds. The battery status circuit determines a voltage output level associated with the battery and compares it to these thresholds to determine battery status.
Implementation Method 2
In one embodiment, the one or more LEDs emit different colored lights, with each color corresponding to a different voltage output level.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery powered transmitter is provided with a battery status circuit that determines an output voltage level associated with the battery. The battery status circuit is provided with multiple voltage reference thresholds. One or more visual voltage status indicators are electrically coupled with the battery status circuit. The battery status circuit actuates a visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within a first output range. One or more additional visual voltage status indicators may be actuated when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within other output ranges.