Abstract: Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods that increase the accuracy of voltage-based fuel gauges and allow the use of voltage-based fuel gauges to detect current, and particularly excessive current from a battery without the use of a sense resistor. When used with a coulomb counter, the outputs of a voltage-based fuel gauge and a coulomb counter may be combined in a manner that allows the combination to provide better performance that either alone may provide. Various embodiments and methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods that increase the accuracy of voltage-based fuel gauges and allow the use of voltage-based fuel gauges to detect current, and particularly excessive current from a battery without the use of a sense resistor. When used with a coulomb counter, the outputs of a voltage-based fuel gauge and a coulomb counter may be combined in a manner that allows the combination to provide better performance that either alone may provide. Various embodiments and methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for time constrained retrieval of sensor data includes a sensor monitor system coupled to a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is coupled to a device having a variety of variable parameters to be sensed at intervals within a given timeframe. When at least some of the parameter values are relatively stable within the intervals, the sensor monitor system selectively requests parameter values from only a subset of the sensors at one or more intervals. However, preferably, a parameter value is obtained for each parameter at least once within the timeframe. In such a case, a current set of parameter values includes the most recently obtained parameter values for each parameter, regardless of the interval from which each parameter value was obtained.

Abstract: An opto-isolator circuit for providing isolation between a bi-directional, I2C transmission line and a pair of single-direction transmission lines. The opto-isolator circuit includes a bi-directional port for receiving data from, and providing data to, the bi-directional transmission line. The circuit further includes an output path that has (i) a first buffer for receiving outgoing data from the bi-directional port, (ii) a first opto-isolator for receiving the outgoing data from an output of the first buffer, and (iii) a second buffer for receiving the outgoing data from an output of the first opto-isolator and providing the outgoing data to an output port. The circuit also includes an input path, that has (i) a third buffer for receiving incoming data from an input port, (ii) a second opto-isolator for receiving the incoming data from an output of the third buffer, and (iii) a fourth buffer for receiving the incoming data from an output of the second opto-isolator.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack and a method of managing operations of a rechargeable battery pack. Sensing elements are provided to sense and to generate analog signals representing battery parameters, and an analog-to-digital converter is used to convert those analog signals to digital signals. A processor uses those digital signals to perform various routines. The processor switches the analog-to-digital converter from a disabled state, in which the analog-to-digital conversions are not performed, to an abled state under defined conditions.