Method, apparatus, and system for power source failure prediction

Abstract

Some embodiments of a method, apparatus, and system for power source failure prediction are described. According to some embodiments, the system may include, among other things, a display device to draw power from a direct current power source, two or more electrical lines positioned on either side of the direct current power source to determine a voltage across the direct current power source, and a power source management unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage. In some embodiments, a cell monitoring unit may be coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage for the power source management unit, where the cell monitoring unit is capable of converting the measured voltage to a digital signal, measuring the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time, and providing information to the power source management unit. Other embodiments are described.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 two or more electrical lines positioned on either side of a direct current power source to determine a voltage across the direct current power source; and   a power source management unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power source management unit comprises a voltage measurement module having an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the measured voltage to a digital signal, and the voltage measurement module is configured to measure the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the voltage measurement module is further configured to compare the rate of change of the voltage with a threshold rate of change of the voltage and send an alert signal when the rate of change of the voltage approaches the threshold rate of change. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power source management unit is configured to measure the voltage during one or more power loading conditions of the direct current power source. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power source management unit further comprises:
 an analog front end coupled to the voltage measurement module, wherein the analog front end is coupled to a charge transistor to drive the charge transistor to charge the direct current power source, and the analog front end is coupled to a discharge transistor to drive the discharge transistor to facilitate operation of the computing platform;   a power gauging module coupled to the analog front end to determine how much electrical energy is stored in the direct current power source;   a protection module coupled to the analog front end to protect the direct current power source from a potential failure event; and   an interface coupled to the analog front end to interface with a system processor of the computing platform.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the protection module is configured to receive an alert signal from the voltage measurement module and signal the analog front end to drive the discharge transistor to substantially isolate the direct current power source. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the direct current power source includes a battery or a fuel cell or both. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the direct current power source is configured in one or more cells. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cell monitoring unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage for the power source management unit, wherein the cell monitoring unit is capable of converting the measured voltage to a digital signal, measuring the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time, and providing information to the power source management unit.   
   
   
       10 . A system, comprising:
 a display device to draw power from a direct current power source;   two or more electrical lines positioned on either side of the direct current power source to determine a voltage across the direct current power source; and   a power source management unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the power source management unit comprises a voltage measurement module having an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the measured voltage to a digital signal, and the voltage measurement module is configured to measure the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the voltage measurement module is further configured to compare the rate of change of the voltage with a threshold rate of change of the voltage and send an alert signal when the rate of change of the voltage approaches the threshold rate of change. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the power source management unit is configured to measure the voltage during one or more power loading conditions of the direct current power source. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the power source management unit further comprises:
 an analog front end coupled to the voltage measurement module, wherein the analog front end is coupled to a charge transistor to drive the charge transistor to charge the direct current power source, and the analog front end is coupled to a discharge transistor to drive the discharge transistor to facilitate operation of the computing platform;   a power gauging module coupled to the analog front end to determine how much electrical energy is stored in the direct current power source;   a protection module coupled to the analog front end to protect the direct current power source from a potential failure event; and   an interface coupled to the analog front end to interface with a system processor of the computing platform.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the protection module is configured to receive an alert signal from the voltage measurement module and signal the analog front end to drive the discharge transistor to substantially isolate the direct current power source. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the direct current power source includes a battery or a fuel cell or both. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the direct current power source is configured in one or more cells. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a cell monitoring unit coupled to the two or more electrical lines to measure the voltage for the power source management unit, wherein the cell monitoring unit is capable of converting the measured voltage to a digital signal, measuring the rate of change of the voltage over a period of time, and providing information to the power source management unit.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system includes a mobile computing platform or a server computing platform. 
   
   
       20 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring a voltage of a direct current power source in a power loading condition over a period of time;   determining an actual rate of change in equivalent resistance of the direct current power source from more than one measured voltage;   comparing the actual rate of change with a threshold rate of change; and   issuing an alert when the actual rate of change approaches the threshold rate of change.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 continuing to monitor the voltage.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 storing the alert, the measured voltage, or the actual rate of change.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining an updated threshold rate of change.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 stopping the monitoring for a period of time.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the alert is issued when the actual rate of change is substantially equal to or greater than the threshold rate of change. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining the power loading condition or the period of time.