Patents by Inventor Ralph D. Smallwood

Ralph D. Smallwood has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7282891
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable battery (110) that takes into account the use patterns of the particular battery. A user may only discharge the battery a little and recharge it frequently which is a low capacity high life cycle use pattern, or discharge the battery almost completely and place the battery on charge less frequently indicating a high capacity low life cycle use pattern. Herein, a battery is installed in an electronic device wherein a battery discharge determination circuit and a discharge determination algorithm determine the discharge level of the battery when a charging circuit is placed on the battery. The measurement algorithm determines from the rechargeable battery discharge level measurement how to recharge the rechargeable battery. The measurement algorithm may also determine how to recharge the rechargeable battery based on a plurality of previous measurements stored either in the electronic device or the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Smallwood, Robert M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040124810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable battery (110) that takes into account the use patterns of the particular battery. A user may only discharge the battery a little and recharge it frequently which is a low capacity high life cycle use pattern, or discharge the battery almost completely and place the battery on charge less frequently indicating a high capacity low life cycle use pattern. Herein, a battery is installed in an electronic device wherein a battery discharge determination circuit and a discharge determination algorithm determine the discharge level of the battery when a charging circuit is placed on the battery. The measurement algorithm determines from the rechargeable battery discharge level measurement how to recharge the rechargeable battery. The measurement algorithm may also determine how to recharge the rechargeable battery based on a plurality of previous measurements stored either in the electronic device or the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph D. Smallwood, Robert M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5528666
    Abstract: A personal phone expansion system (10) includes a personal base station (12) and a plurality of portable units (18). The personal base (12) is connected to a phone line (16) and provides routing and switching between the phone line (16), the portable units (18), a full duplex speaker phone (24), and a voice messaging system (26). The voice messaging system (26), which is contained within the personal base station (12) provides full voice mail functions. The personal base station (12) communicates with the portable units (18) by radio signals through a wireless interface (32). The portable units (18) can be used as standard cellular telephones when outside the range of the personal base station (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Weigand, Ralph D. Smallwood, Matthew W. Taylor