GB2360366A - Battery supply with voltage booster - Google Patents
Battery supply with voltage booster Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2360366A GB2360366A GB0006491A GB0006491A GB2360366A GB 2360366 A GB2360366 A GB 2360366A GB 0006491 A GB0006491 A GB 0006491A GB 0006491 A GB0006491 A GB 0006491A GB 2360366 A GB2360366 A GB 2360366A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- battery
- voltage
- meter
- booster circuit
- equipment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M3/00—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output
- H02M3/02—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC
- H02M3/04—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters
- H02M3/10—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
- H02M3/145—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
- H02M3/155—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
- H02M3/156—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
- H02M3/1563—Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators without using an external clock
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J2207/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J2207/20—Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A circuit 20 for boosting the voltage supplied to a meter 14 from a battery 12 when the battery voltage output has fallen below a predetermined threshold, comprises an inductor 22 diode 24, voltage reference 26, controller 28, switch (30), and feedback point 32. In normal operation, the meter 14 is powered by the battery 12 and current flow is indicated by the loop N. The booster circuit 20 is dormant at this point and only becomes operational when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined threshold which is above the minimum working voltage for the meter 14. The booster circuit 20 operates to maintain a constant level voltage for the meter 14 in the presence of the lower, falling, battery voltage. Controller 28 controls the closing and opening of switch 30 in accordance with a suitable mark-space ratio so that the current flow is around loop P, allowing energy to be stored in the inductor 22 when the switch 30 is closed and to allow stored energy to be transferred to the meter 14 when the switch 30 is open.
Description
2360366 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BATTERY PACKS The present invention
relates to improvements in or relating to battery packs, and is more particularly concerned with extending the life thereof It is well-known to use battery packs to power field equipment, for example, displays and/or counters for electricity and gas meters. In such cases,- the battery pack is sealed within a tamper-proof casing so that it can only be changed by a service engineer. Ideally, the service engineer is required to make a visit to replace the battery pack when it approaches the end of its useful life, but before it does so, so that data stored in the displays and/or counters is not lost when the battery pack reaches the end of its useful life. Such a visit may have a significant cost, possibly many times the cost of the battery pack.
Moreover,- it may not be an option to replace the battery pack with one having a higher capacity owing to the constraints of size imposed by the existing field equipment.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce the frequency of such site visits by extending the battery life.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of prolonging the life of a battery in equipment having a minimum working voltage, the method comprising the steps ofi a) detecting when the voltage supplied to the equipment falls below a predetermined threshold; and b) boosting the voltage from the battery to maintain the voltage supplied to the equipment at a constant level above the minimum working voltage in the presence of decreasing battery voltage.
It is preferred that the predetermined threshold is below a 'low battery' condition of the equipment but above the minimum working voltage thereof.
Advantageously, step b) comprises taking an increasing current from 5 the battery to maintain the constant level voltage for the equipment.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a booster circuit for a battery comprising:- detecting means for detecting when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined threshold; and voltage boosting means for boosting the voltage ftorn the battery to maintain the voltage supplied to the equipment above the minimum working voltage.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack including a booster circuit as described above.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a utility meter including a battery pack as described above.
Thus, the present invention aims to extract more of the intrinsic battery capacity by the addition of a selectively operating battery voltage boost circuit.
Advantageously, where a primary cell battery pack is used to support equipment having a fixed minimum operating voltage, a booster circuit is used in order to extend the working life of the battery pack. The booster circuit is inactive during majority of the battery life, but as the battery pack output voltage diminishes, the booster circuit becomes active and maintains the voltage of the supply to the equipment above the minimum required thereby.
Ideally, the booster circuit itself may be of the "switch mode" type with high efficiency and low quiescent current in its standby mode. Such a circuit, ignoring its inefficiency, would have a "power in = power ouC characteristic. Thus,' this type of circuit will extract energy from the battery by taking an increasing current from the battery in the presence of a falling battery voltage while maintaining a substantially constant output voltage to the equipment powered by the battery.
In the case where the battery voltage is above the normal output voltage of the switch mode booster circuit, the booster circuit is inoperative and passes the current supplied to the apparatus with only a slight voltage drop.
The result of this arrangement is that the booster circuit will have the effect of extending the time period between 'low battery' detection and the minimum operating voltage of the equipment being reached. In order to do this, the booster circuit extracts more energy from the battery by virtue of its increasing current demand as the battery voltage collapses, while maintaining a satisfactory working voltage for the equipment.
Moreover, the detection of the battery discharge state by monitoring the voltage delivered to the equipment will remain unaffected while the booster circuit is inactive and the detection of a 'low battery' condition by the equipment will be unaffected. Additionally, this improvement may require no modification of the equipment itself if the booster circuit is positioned either in the battery pack or in the electrical connections between the battery pack and the equipment.
Alternatively or additionally, by extending the life of the battery, it may be possible for the service engineer to plan to visit several separate equipment units in one locality and replace several batteries in one service visit.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional battery arrangement; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery arrangement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the voltage output from the battery arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a graph illustrating the operation of the battery arrangement shown in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a booster circuit utilised in the battery arrangement of Figure 2.
Although the present invention will be described with reference to meters, it will readily be appreciated that it can have other applications.
The terms 'battery' and 'battery pack' used herein are interchangeable as the latter term can be considered to comprise one or more of the former.
Figure 1 illustrates a conventional battery arrangement 10 in which a battery 12 is connected to power electronics (not shown) in a meter 14 by means of lines 16, 18. The meter 14 may be a gas meter or an electricity meter and the electronics powered by the battery 12 may comprise a display for displaying the amount of the gas or electricity consumed and/or a counter which stores data relating to the amount of gas or electricity consumed. Whilst it is appreciated that in an electricity meter power can be taken directly from the mains supply to power any electronics located in the meter, disconnection from the mains supply may erase any stored data.
Although the battery 12 is shown in Figure 1 as being external to the meter 14, it will readily be appreciated that the battery 12 will normally be housed within the meter 14 and the meter will be arranged such that unauthorised access to the interior of the meter 14, and hence the battery 12 is prevented.
Figure 2 illustrates a battery arrangement 10' in accordance with the present invention. Components already described with reference to Figure 1 bear the same reference numerals. The arrangement 10' is similar to arrangement 10 except that a booster circuit 20 is connected in between the battery 12 and the meter 14 with lines 16, 18 feeding into the booster circuit and lines W, 18' feeding out of the booster circuit 20 to the meter 14.
Although the booster circuit 20 is shown as being separate from the battery 12 and the meter 14, it will readily be appreciated that the booster circuit 20 may be combined as an integral part of the battery 12 or of the meter 14.
Figure 3 illustrates a voltage-time graph for voltage supplied by the battery 12 for the meter 14 in accordance with the battery arrangement shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the voltage output from the battery 12 is shown by the solid curved line A, the 'low battery' voltage for the meter 14 is shown by dot-dash line B, and the minimum working voltage of the meter 14 is shown by dashed line C. In use, the voltage output from the battery 12 decreases over time as shown,- reaching the low battery voltage for the meter 14 at point D. At this point, the meter 14 will continue to work although it will display a 'low battery' signal. The voltage output from the battery 12 continues to fall to point E where it reaches the minimum working voltage of the meter 14. At this point, the meter 14 will stop working until the battery 12 is replaced.
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but illustrates the voltage output from a battery arrangement in accordance with the present invention. Here, the voltage output from the battery 12 is again shown as solid curved 1 me A, the low battery' voltage as dot-dash line B, and the minimum working voltage of the meter 14 is shown by dashed line C. Point D indicates the point where the meter 14 displays a 'low battery' indication as before.
However, in Figure 4, an additional voltage line is shown as F which corresponds to the voltage provided by the booster circuit 20. Solid curved line A continues past line B and intersects line F as point G. Point G corresponds to the point at which the booster circuit 20 kicks in and operates to boost the voltage supplied to the meter 14. The booster circuit 20 provides a constant voltage output as shown by solid straight line H whilst the voltage output from the battery 12 alone is shown as the portion of line A below the point G.
In accordance with the present invention, the booster circuit 20 operates for a given time which corresponds to line H. However, at point 1, the booster circuit 20 can no longer provide the same voltage and the voltage output drops as shown by solid line J until the line C is reached at point K and the meter 14 ceases to operate until the battery 12 is replaced.
It will be appreciated that although the voltage output from the battery 12 has the same profile in Figures 3 and 4, the booster circuit 20 enables the meter 14 to operate for a longer period of time as shown by the time period between point E (where the meter 14 would stop operating without the booster circuit 20) and point K. For example, the meter 14 may continue to work for a period of between 3 and 12 months longer than one without the booster circuit 20.
Referring now to Figure 5, a booster circuit 20 is shown in more detail connected between a battery 12 and a meter 14. The booster circuit 20 comprises an inductor 22, a diode 24, a voltage reference 26, a controller 28, a switch 3Q, and a feedback point 32. A smoothing capacitor C2 is also provided for smoothing the output voltage from the booster circuit 20.
In normal operation, the meter 14 is powered by the battery 12 and the current flow is indicated by the dotted lined box N, that is, current flows from the positive terminal of the battery 12 through the inductor 22 and diode 24 to the meter 14 and then back to the negative terminal of the battery 12.
The meter 14 monitors the battery voltage to determine its state of charge. At one threshold voltage (corresponding to the 'low battery' voltage indicated by line B in Figures 3 and 4), the meter 14 detects a 'low battery' condition which it indicates on its display (not shown). As discussed with reference to Figures 3 and 4 above, the 'low battery' condition does not prevent the meter 14 from operating and it will continue to operate at this level, and at lower battery voltages as shown by line A in Figures 3 and 4.
During this time at which the line A is above point G (in Figure 4), the booster circuit 20 is dormant and does not make any contribution to the voltage supplied to the meter 14.
At some battery voltage below the 'low battery' threshold voltage, but above the minimum working voltage for the meter 14, the booster circuit 20 starts to operate and then maintains the voltage supplied to the meter 14 in the presence of the lower, falling, battery voltage. This can be clearly seen in Figure 4 where the booster circuit voltage is indicated by line F and when the booster circuit 20 is connected to supply the meter 14, line H.
When the booster circuit 20 becomes operational, at point G in Figure the controller 28 closes switch 30 so that the current flow is around loop P allowing energy to be stored in the inductor 22. Switch 30 is then opened to allow the stored energy to be transferred to the meter 14 - the current passing through the diode 24 and into the meter 14. The closing and opening of the switch 30 is controlled by the controller 28 in accordance with a suitable mark-space ratio.
A feedback voltage is detected at point 32 via resistor Rl. The feedback voltage is fed into the controller 28 where it is compared with the reference voltage 26. If the feedback voltage 32 is less than the reference voltage 26, the switch 30 is closed to allow the loop P to store energy. The switch 30 is then opened to allow the stored energy to flow to the meter 14. The switch 30 may be controlled to operate at a rate suitable for the particular application. For example, the switch 30 may have a frequency of 1 0OkHz.
As described above, the controller 28 is a mark-space controller but 5 may also be a variable frequency controller.
The diode 24 has the function providing current flow in only one direction, that is, it prevents current flow back through the switch 30 when it is closed.
The resistor R2 and the capacitor Cl are components for completing the booster circuit 20.
The booster circuit 20 is electrically positioned between the battery 12 and the meter 14 as described above. Alternatively, the booster circuit 20 may be located in the battery 12 itself, in the meter 14, or in the connection leads 16, 18. as appropriate.
In a preferred arrangement, the booster circuit 20 is fitted in a battery pack assembly thereby avoiding any modifications to the apparatus or the battery connection leads.
Claims (9)
1. ' A method of prolonging the life of a battery in equipment having a minimum working voltage, the method comprising the steps of. - a) detecting when the voltage supplied to the equipment falls below a predetermined threshold; and b) boosting the voltage from the battery to maintain the voltage supplied to the equipment at a constant level above the minimum working voltage in the presence of decreasing battery voltage.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is below a 'low battery' condition of the equipment but above the minimum working voltage thereof
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step b) comprises taking an increasing current from the battery to maintain the constant level voltage for the equipment.
4. A booster circuit for a battery comprising:- detecting means for detecting when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined threshold; and voltage boosting means for boosting the voltage from the battery to maintain the voltage supplied to the equipment above the minimum working voltage.
5. A booster circuit according to claim 4, wherein the voltage boosting means takes an increasing current from the battery when the battery voltage is below the predetermined threshold.
6. A battery pack including a booster circuit according to claim 4 or 5.
7. A utility meter including a battery pack according to claim 6.
8. A method of prolonging the life of a battery in apparatus having a minimum working voltage substantially. as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5 accompanying drawings.
9. A booster circuit for a battery substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0006491A GB2360366B (en) | 2000-03-18 | 2000-03-18 | Improvements in or relating to utility metering |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0006491A GB2360366B (en) | 2000-03-18 | 2000-03-18 | Improvements in or relating to utility metering |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0006491D0 GB0006491D0 (en) | 2000-05-10 |
| GB2360366A true GB2360366A (en) | 2001-09-19 |
| GB2360366B GB2360366B (en) | 2004-12-01 |
Family
ID=9887850
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0006491A Expired - Fee Related GB2360366B (en) | 2000-03-18 | 2000-03-18 | Improvements in or relating to utility metering |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2360366B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2412796A (en) * | 2004-09-02 | 2005-10-05 | Teknek Electronics Ltd | Power supply with rechargeable cell and voltage booster |
| US8080904B2 (en) * | 2003-03-06 | 2011-12-20 | Eosystem Co., Ltd. | Power supply and night vision device using the power supply |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2079498A (en) * | 1980-07-31 | 1982-01-20 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | A power circuit for an electronic timepiece |
| GB2243503A (en) * | 1990-04-28 | 1991-10-30 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Lighting circuit for vehicular discharge lamp |
| US5107138A (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1992-04-21 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Integrated circuit with battery serving as power source having CMOS analog and digital circuits and regulated stepped up voltage source |
| GB2258572A (en) * | 1991-08-08 | 1993-02-10 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Battery power supply with voltage step-up circuit |
| US5412308A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-05-02 | Hewlett-Packard Corporation | Dual voltage power supply |
| WO1998053378A1 (en) * | 1997-05-23 | 1998-11-26 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Monolithic dc to dc converter |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5179508A (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 1993-01-12 | International Business Machines Corp. | Standby boost converter |
| JP3747381B2 (en) * | 1994-11-10 | 2006-02-22 | 富士通株式会社 | Power supply control circuit for electronic devices with built-in batteries |
| US5825165A (en) * | 1996-04-03 | 1998-10-20 | Micro Linear Corporation | Micropower switch controller for use in a hysteretic current-mode switching regulator |
-
2000
- 2000-03-18 GB GB0006491A patent/GB2360366B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2079498A (en) * | 1980-07-31 | 1982-01-20 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | A power circuit for an electronic timepiece |
| US5107138A (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1992-04-21 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Integrated circuit with battery serving as power source having CMOS analog and digital circuits and regulated stepped up voltage source |
| GB2243503A (en) * | 1990-04-28 | 1991-10-30 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Lighting circuit for vehicular discharge lamp |
| GB2258572A (en) * | 1991-08-08 | 1993-02-10 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Battery power supply with voltage step-up circuit |
| US5412308A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-05-02 | Hewlett-Packard Corporation | Dual voltage power supply |
| WO1998053378A1 (en) * | 1997-05-23 | 1998-11-26 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Monolithic dc to dc converter |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| Electronic Engineering, October 1997, pages 51 - 54 * |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8080904B2 (en) * | 2003-03-06 | 2011-12-20 | Eosystem Co., Ltd. | Power supply and night vision device using the power supply |
| GB2412796A (en) * | 2004-09-02 | 2005-10-05 | Teknek Electronics Ltd | Power supply with rechargeable cell and voltage booster |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2360366B (en) | 2004-12-01 |
| GB0006491D0 (en) | 2000-05-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20080318 |