Patent ID: 7466105
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising: a rechargeable battery; a full charge capacity circuit, coupled to said battery, which acquires a present full charge capacity which said battery has at the present time, the full charge capacity being a capacity in a state where said battery is fully charged, and the full charge capacity being decreased by repeatedly charging or discharging said battery; a total charge circuit, coupled to said battery, which acquires information indicating a total amount of charge provided to said battery in a time period from a start time of using said battery until the present full charge capacity is acquired; a first circuit, coupled to said battery, which performs battery management by fully discharging or fully charging said battery if the present full charge capacity is smaller than an expected full charge capacity that said battery should have depending on the information; and an expected capacity circuit, coupled to said total charge circuit and said first circuit, which calculates an expected capacity that is the expected full charge capacity, based on the full charge capacity at the start time of using said battery and the total amount of charge, wherein said first circuit performs the battery management, if the present full charge capacity acquired is smaller than the expected capacity calculated by said expected capacity circuit.