Patent Publication Number: US-2021175733-A1

Title: Power management system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 108144746, filed Dec. 6, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a power management system and a power management method, and more particularly to a power management system with a charging management unit for dynamically detecting the electric quantities of plural battery units and a system consumption power level of a main system in order to dynamically adjust the priorities of charging the plural battery units and the charging capacities of the respective battery units. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, a main system (e.g., a POS main system) is connected with plural peripheral devices. If the number of the peripheral devices is increased and the consumption power levels of the peripheral devices are high, the main system is usually equipped with a power management system. For example, the power management system of the main system comprises plural battery units and a high-specification adapter. 
     However, the conventional power management system still has some drawbacks. For example, since the cost of the high-specification adapter is high, the conventional power management system is not cost-effective. Since the peripheral device with high consumption power level (e.g., the printer) is usually not operated for a long time, the surplus electric power is not fully used and wasted. In other words, the installation cost is high. 
     Moreover, according to conventional charging method, plural battery units are charged by the adapter sequentially. That is, after a first battery unit is charged to be in the saturation state by the power management system, a next battery unit is charged. Moreover, different battery units are charged at the same charging capacity. For example, all battery units are charged at a fixed charging capacity (e.g., a current in the range between 0.2C and 0.5C). In such way, the performance of the adapter is impaired, and the total time period of charging the plural battery units is largely increased. 
     For overcoming the above drawbacks, there is a need of providing a novel, intelligent and high-efficiency power management system in order to effectively enhance the overall charging performance of plural battery units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a power management system and a power management method. Firstly, a charging management unit dynamically detects electric quantities of plural battery units and a system consumption power level of a main system. Then, the charging management unit calculates a system surplus supply power level according to the system supply power level and the system consumption power level. Consequently, the system surplus supply power level is effectively utilized, and the charging capacities to be provided to the plural battery units are dynamically adjusted. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a power management system for a main system is provided. The power management system at least includes plural battery units and a charging management unit. The charging management unit is electrically connected with the plural battery units to dynamically detect electric quantities of the respective battery units and a system consumption power level of the main system. A charging rule is executable by the charging management unit. The charging management unit calculates a system surplus supply power level according to a system supply power level and the system consumption power level. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts charging capacities of the respective battery units according to at least one of the electric quantities, the system surplus supply power level and the charging rule. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit stops providing the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is higher than the system supply power level and higher than a set value. 
     In an embodiment, the set value is 105% of the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is lower than the set value. 
     In an embodiment, the set value is 105% of the system supply power level, wherein according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically decreases the charging capacity of at least one of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is 101%˜104% of the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically increases the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is lower than the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, the charging rule contains a charging mode, wherein the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacity of each battery unit when the charging management unit is in the charging mode. 
     In the charging mode, a single battery unit of the plural battery units is charged at a time. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacity of each battery unit according to a charging sequence and a charging efficiency of each battery unit. 
     In the charging mode, a group of at least two battery units of the plural battery units is charged at a time. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the battery units in each group according to a charging sequence of each group of the plural battery units and a percentage of total electric quantities of the battery units in each group with respect to total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. 
     In the charging mode, the plural battery units are simultaneously charged. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the battery units according to a percentage of the electric quantity of each battery unit with respect to total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. 
     In an embodiment, the charging management unit stops providing, dynamically decreases, maintains or dynamically increases the charging capacities of the respective battery units, so that the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the respective battery units. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a power management method for a main system, a charging management unit and plural battery units is provided. The main system, the charging management unit and the plural battery units are electrically connected with each other. The power management method at least includes the following steps. Firstly, electric quantities of the respective battery units and a system consumption power level of the main system are dynamically detected. Then, the charging management unit calculates a system surplus supply power level according to a system supply power level and the system consumption power level. Then, the charging management unit dynamically adjusts charging capacities of the respective battery units according to at least one of the electric quantities, the system surplus supply power level and a charging rule. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit stops providing the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is higher than the system supply power level and higher than a set value. 
     In an embodiment, the set value is 105% of the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is lower than the set value. 
     In an embodiment, the set value is 105% of the system supply power level, wherein according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically decreases the charging capacity of at least one of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is 101%˜104% of the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, according to the charging rule, the charging management unit dynamically increases the charging capacities of the respective battery units if the system consumption power level is lower than the system supply power level. 
     In an embodiment, the charging rule contains a charging mode, wherein the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacity of at least one of the plural battery units when the charging management unit is in the charging mode. 
     In the charging mode, a single battery unit of the plural battery units is charged at a time. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacity of each battery unit according to a charging sequence and a charging efficiency of each battery unit. 
     In the charging mode, a group of at least two battery units of the plural battery units is charged at a time. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the battery units in each group according to a charging sequence of each group of the plural battery units and a percentage of total electric quantities of the battery units in each group with respect to total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. 
     In the charging mode, the plural battery units are simultaneously charged. The charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the battery units according to a percentage of the electric quantity of each battery unit with respect to total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. 
     In an embodiment, the charging management unit stops providing, dynamically decreases, maintains or dynamically increases the charging capacities of the respective battery units, so that the charging management unit dynamically adjusts the charging capacities of the respective battery units. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  schematically illustrate a flowchart of a power management method for the power management system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. In the following embodiments and drawings, the elements irrelevant to the concepts of the present invention are omitted and not shown. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  schematically illustrate a flowchart of a power management method for the power management system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the power management system  100  is applied to a main system  200 . The power management system  100  is electrically connected with an adapter  210  to receive a system supply power level Pin. The power management system  100  comprises plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and a charging management unit  120 . The charging management unit  120  is electrically connected with the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and the main system  200 . The charging management unit  120  can dynamically detect the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and the system consumption power level Pc of the main system  200 . 
     Preferably but not exclusively, the system supply power level Pin is 65 watts, 90 watts, 120 watts, 150 watts or 180 watts. 
     The system consumption power level Pc is the system consumption power level of the main system  200  in a specified operation time point. For example, the system consumption power level Pc contains the power consumption level of the at least one peripheral device (not shown) electrically connected with the main system  200  in a normal working state and the power consumption level of the electronic components in the main system  200 . 
     According to the system supply power level Pin and the system consumption power level Pc, the charging management unit  120  calculates a system surplus supply power level  121 . In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  are charged in an intelligent manner according to the system surplus supply power level  121 . Consequently, the overall performance of charging the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  is enhanced and the main system  200  operation remains normal. 
     Particularly, a charging rule  122  is executable by the charging management unit  120 . The charging rule  122  includes a charging mode  1221 . Before the main system  200  is enabled, the charging mode  1221  can be selected or adjusted by the system user. Consequently, during the operation period of the main system  200 , the charging management unit  120  can dynamically adjust the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  according to at least one of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n , the system surplus supply power level  121  and the charging rule  122 . 
     In accordance with the method of dynamically adjusting the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n , the charging management unit  120  stops providing, dynamically decreases, maintains or dynamically increases the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  (e.g., the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn are increased or decreased flexibly), and the charging management unit  120  dynamically adjusts the sequence of charging the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n . Moreover, the charging management unit  120  can periodically (e.g., at a specified time interval such as 10 ms) acquires the consumed power conditions of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  (e.g., the electric quantities A 1 ˜An) and the system consumption power level Pc of the main system  200  in a dynamic detecting manner or an active polling manner. 
     Preferably but not exclusively, the main system  200  is a point-of-sale (POS) system in the commercial sales place or a medical equipment. 
       FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  schematically illustrate a flowchart of a power management method for the power management system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The power management method for the power management system  100  applied to the main system  200  at least comprises the following steps. 
     In a step S 1 , the main system  200  is enabled. While the step S 1  is performed, a step S 7  is optionally performed. In the step S 7 , the system user may set and select at least a portion of the charging rule  122  before the main system  200  is enabled. 
     In a step S 2 , the charging rule  122  is read. 
     In a step S 3 , the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and the system consumption power level Pc of the main system  200  are dynamically detected. 
     In a step S 4 , the charging management unit  120  calculates a system surplus supply power level  121  according to the system supply power level Pin and the system consumption power level Pc. 
     In a step S 5 , the charging management unit  120  executes the charging rule  122  according to at least one of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An and the system surplus supply power level  121 . 
     In a step S 6 , the main system  200  is disabled. 
     As mentioned above, the charging rule  122  in the charging management unit  120  is read after the main system  200  is enabled. Then, the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and the system consumption power level Pc of the main system  200  that are electrically connected with the charging management unit  120  are acquired by the charging management unit  120  in a dynamic detecting manner or an active polling manner. The system consumption power level Pc at least contains the power consumption level of the at least one peripheral device (not shown) electrically connected with the main system  200  in a normal working state and the power consumption level of the electronic components in the main system  200 . For example, the at least one peripheral device includes a printer, a thermal receipt printer, a monitor and any other appropriate peripheral device that is electrically connected with the main system  200 . 
     Then, the charging management unit  120  calculates the system surplus supply power level  121  according to the system consumption power level Pc and the system supply power level Pin. Then, the charging management unit  120  executes the charging rule  122  according to at least one of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An and the system surplus supply power level  121 . Consequently, the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  are dynamically adjusted according to the charging rule  122 . 
     The examples of the step S 5  of executing the charging rule  122  may be illustrated with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is the flowchart illustrating the steps of executing the charging rule  122 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the step S 5  of executing the charging rule  122  includes the following situations. 
     In a first situation, the system consumption power level Pc is higher than the system supply power level Pin, and the system consumption power level Pc is at least 105% of the system supply power level Pin (Step S 511 ). Under this circumstance, the charging management unit  120  stops charging the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  (Step S 512 ). 
     In a second situation, the system consumption power level Pc is higher than the system supply power level Pin, but the system consumption power level Pc is lower than 105% of the system supply power level Pin (Step S 521 ). Under this circumstance, the charging mode  1221  is executed, and at least one of the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  is dynamically decreased (Step S 522 ). 
     In a third situation, the system consumption power level Pc is equal to or lower than the system supply power level Pin (Step S 531 ). Under this circumstance, the charging management unit  120  executes the charging mode  1221  according to at least one of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An and the system surplus supply power level  121  in order to dynamically adjust (e.g., maintain, increase or decrease) the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  (Step S 532 ). For example, if the system consumption power level Pc is equal to or lower than the system supply power level Pin and the system consumption power level Pc is equal to or higher than 95% (or 93% or 97%) of the system supply power level Pin, the current charging mode is maintained. Whereas, if the system consumption power level Pc is lower than 95% of the system supply power level Pin, the charging mode  1221  is executed and the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  are increased. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . After the step S 5 , the step S 3  is repeatedly done. In a step S 3 , the charging management unit  120  dynamically detects the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  and the system consumption power level Pc of the main system  200 . Since the charging management unit  120  continuously detects the electric quantities A 1 ˜An in the step S 3  and the charging management unit  120  continuously executes the charging rule  122  in the charging management unit  120  in the step S 5 , the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  are dynamically adjusted. 
     As mentioned above, if the system consumption power level Pc is higher than the system supply power level Pin of the adapter  210  and the system consumption power level Pc is equal to or higher than 105% (or 103%, 107%, 110% or 115%) of the system supply power level Pin, the charging management unit  120  stops charging the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n . That is, the charging management unit  120  stops providing the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn to the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n.    
     Alternatively, if the system consumption power level Pc is higher than the system supply power level Pin of the adapter  210  but the system consumption power level Pc is lower than 105% of the system supply power level Pin (e.g., 101%˜104% or 101%˜103% of the system supply power level Pin), the charging management unit  120  immediately decreases at least one of the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  according to the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n.    
     For example, if the system consumption power level Pc is 101%˜104% of the system supply power level Pin, the charging management unit  120  immediately decreases the charging currents of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n . For example, the charging current is decreased from 1000 mAh to 800 mA. 
     Alternatively, if the system consumption power level Pc is lower than the system supply power level Pin, the charging management unit  120  intelligently charges the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  according to the system surplus supply power level  121 . That is, the charging management unit  120  dynamically adjusts (e.g., maintains, increases or decreases) the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  according to the electric quantities A 1 ˜An of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n.    
     For example, if some of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An are lower than 50%, the charging management unit  120  dynamically increases the charging capacities of the corresponding battery units. For example, the charging current is increased from 10 mAh to 20 mA. If some of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An are in the range between 50% and 80%, the charging management unit  120  maintains the charging capacities of the corresponding battery units. If some of the electric quantities A 1 ˜An are higher than 80%, the charging management unit  120  dynamically decreases the charging capacities of the corresponding battery units. For example, the charging current is decreased from 10 mAh to 5 mA. Since the charging management unit  120  dynamically adjusts the charging capacities B 1 ˜Bn of the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  according to the system surplus supply power level  121 , the battery charging quality and the power management quality are effectively enhanced. 
     In the step S 7 , the system user may set and select at least a portion of the charging rule  122  before the main system  200  is enabled. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the step S 7  of setting and selecting at least a portion of the charging rule  122  includes the following situations 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the step S 7  comprises the following steps. 
     In a step S 71 , the system supply power level Pin of the adapter  210  is selected. For example, the system supply power level Pin is 65 watts, 90 watts, 120 watts, 150 watts or 180 watts according to the system user&#39;s selection and setting. 
     In a step S 72 , the utilization efficiency of the adapter  210  is selected. 
     In a step S 73 , the charging mode  1221  is selected. 
     Particularly, in the step S 73 , the system user selects one of plural charging modes  1221  in different situations. 
     In a first situation, the charging mode  1221  of charging a single battery unit at a time is selected (Step S 7411 ). Then, the sequence of charging each of the plural battery units is selected (Step S 7412 ), and the charging efficiency of each battery unit is selected (Step S 7413 ). 
     In a second situation, the charging mode  1221  of charging one group of two battery units at a time is selected (Step S 7421 ). Then, the sequence of charging each group of two battery units of the plural battery units is selected (Step S 7422 ), and the charging capacity weight of each group of two battery units is selected (Step S 7423 ). 
     In a third situation, the charging mode  1221  of simultaneously charging plural battery units is selected (Step S 7431 ). Then, the charging capacity weight of each battery unit is selected (Step S 7432 ). 
     After the charging mode  1221  (i.e., a portion of the charging rule  122 ) is selected and set by the system user, the charging rule  122  is stored into the charging management unit  120  (Step S 75 ). Consequently, the charging rule  122  can be executed and used by the charging management unit  120 . 
     As mentioned above, the system user may set and select at least a portion of the charging rule  122 . In an embodiment, the charging mode  1221  of charging a single battery unit at a time is selected. In another embodiment, the charging mode  1221  of charging one group of at least two battery units (e.g., three battery units or four battery units) at a time is selected. That is, the at least two battery units in the same group are simultaneously charged. Alternatively, the charging mode  1221  of simultaneously charging plural battery units is selected. 
     In the Step S 7412 , the sequence of charging each of the plural battery units is selected. In the step S 7422 , the sequence of charging each group of two battery units of the plural battery units is selected. That is, the priorities of charging the plural battery units  111 ˜ 11   n  (i.e., the battery charging priorities) are determined according to the weight of each battery unit or each group of battery units or the electric quantities of the plural battery units. 
     Moreover, according to the charging mode, the subsequent charging condition is selected and adjusted. For example, when the single battery unit is charged in the step S 7413 , the charging capacity may be adjusted according to the electric quantity of the single battery unit. For example, the charging capacity is dynamically increased to implement a fast charging process, the charging capacity is maintained to implement a normal charging process, or the charging capacity is dynamically decreased to implement a slow charging process. 
     When the fast charging process is implemented, the original charging capacity is increased by 100%, 80% or 50%. When the normal charging process is implemented, the charging capacity is maintained. When the slow charging process is implemented, the original charging capacity is decreased by 80%, 50% or 30%. 
     In the step S 7423  and the step S 7432 , the charging capacity weight of each battery unit is selected and calculated according to the type of the battery units. For example, the charging capacity weight is determined according to the percentage or the fraction of the total electric quantities of the battery units in a specified type with respect to the total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. Consequently, the charging management unit dynamically provides the corresponding charging capacity to the single battery unit or each group of battery units according to the corresponding charging capacity weight. For example, the charging capacities are provided to each group of battery units or the plural battery units according to the percentage or the fraction of the total electric quantities of the battery units in each group with respect to the total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units or the percentage or the fraction of the electric quantity of each single battery unit with respect to the total electric quantities of all of the plural battery units. 
     Afterwards, the charging rule  122  is stored. Consequently, the charging rule  122  can be read and used by the charging management unit  120 . 
     From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the power management system and the power management method. Firstly, the electric quantities of the plural battery units and the system consumption power level of the main system are dynamically detected. Secondly, the system surplus supply power level is calculated according to the system supply power level and the system consumption power level. Then, the charging capacities to be provided to the plural battery units are dynamically adjusted according to the system surplus supply power level and the electric quantities of the respective battery units. Consequently, the battery charging quality and the power management quality are effectively enhanced. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.