METHOD OF CHARACTERIZING AND MONITORING ENERGY USAGE OF BATTERY POWERED WIRELESSLY LINKED DEVICES

• Main Author: REED, Stewart D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 10.07.2024
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; COMPUTER SYSTEMS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS; COMPUTING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; COUNTING; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; MEASURING; MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TESTING

A method of managing a battery of a wireless sensor or other battery-powered remote wireless device includes pre-characterizing the device's energy usage during its various activities and modes, placing the device in operation, opportunistically gathering device operational data obtained for purposes other than battery management, and estimating a status of the battery according to an analysis of the operational data in light of the pre-characterized information. The method further includes taking a battery management action according to the estimated battery status, such as recharging or replacing the battery when it is nearly exhausted, and/or modifying the operation of the device so as to extend the battery lifetime, for example by reducing or increasing the frequency of data transmissions, measurements, calculations, and/or other dynamic current events. The status estimate can further be in light of measurements provided by a simple current measuring circuit included in the device.