Patent ID: 8237411

Claim:
An electronic device capable of being powered by a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells, said electronic device comprising: a monitoring circuit for monitoring a voltage level from each of said plurality of battery cells, said monitoring circuit comprising: an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of said plurality of battery cells and convert each said analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of a voltage level of each said battery cell; and a processor configured to receive each said digital signal and to provide a safety alert signal based on at least one of said digital signals, wherein said processor is further configured to generate a first signal configured to increase said resolution level of said ADC in response to a condition representative of an open circuit voltage condition of a first battery cell, and a second signal to decrease said resolution level of said ADC in response to a condition representative of an under-voltage condition of a second battery cell.