Maker Pro
Maker Pro

idea for battery level indicator

J

John Doe

Jan 1, 1970
0
I do not doubt this has already been implemented, so I'm not
suggesting it is novel.

Why don't analogue battery level indicators show full until the
battery discharges to a certain point? Then they could (maybe) change
colors and then begin decreasing from full.

In other words...

.... start with a battery level indicator bar

.... have that bar remain the same color and appearance until the
battery level drops to 50% or whatever

.... at that point, change the color to red/whatever, and begin
indicating further discharge by decreasing the length of the bar

The problem is real estate and LED electricity usage. That way you can
use a shorter bar and change the bar's appearance only when the
battery level is important. Most people can remember that they have
recently charged the device. Before taking the device on a long trip
or whatever, it should be left in the charger anyway. In other words,
knowing that the device is full or nearly full is mostly useless, so
there is no need to waste the space and energy by indicating that. The
user mainly needs to know when to start looking for a charger.

Too many devices do not give enough warning before the battery needs
to be charged.
 
I

IanM

Jan 1, 1970
0
John said:
I do not doubt this has already been implemented, so I'm not
suggesting it is novel.

Why don't analogue battery level indicators show full until the
battery discharges to a certain point? Then they could (maybe) change
colors and then begin decreasing from full.

In other words...

... start with a battery level indicator bar

... have that bar remain the same color and appearance until the
battery level drops to 50% or whatever

... at that point, change the color to red/whatever, and begin
indicating further discharge by decreasing the length of the bar

The problem is real estate and LED electricity usage. That way you can
use a shorter bar and change the bar's appearance only when the
battery level is important. Most people can remember that they have
recently charged the device. Before taking the device on a long trip
or whatever, it should be left in the charger anyway. In other words,
knowing that the device is full or nearly full is mostly useless, so
there is no need to waste the space and energy by indicating that. The
user mainly needs to know when to start looking for a charger.

If its a LED bar graph its not an analog level indicator. Provided its
reasonably consistent, the continuous drop of the indicated amount
remaining is extremely valuable as its easy to estimate time remaining.
LED bar graphs are power hogs. A non-backlit LCD one can have
negligable power consumption and much finer segments in less space and a
single tricolour LED to flash (low duty cycle) amber then red for low
battery and green when charging then steady green when in float mode at
full charge can alert the user while remaining energy efficient.
Too many devices do not give enough warning before the battery needs
to be charged.


NOTHING is worse than a gauge which indicates full till the battery is
over half gone if you are away from base or easy charging. I have a
couple of devices that do that and they are all a PITA and result in me
carrying spare batteries. Ever driven on a long trip with a fuel gauge
that showed full when it wasn't then started dropping suddenly? Its
always so much fun wondering if you can make the next service station .
.. .

No doubt someone will like the idea - after all it got into a camera and
some hand-held radios I use, but I'd suggest they've never been more
than an hour from the nearest mains socket!
 
J

John Doe

Jan 1, 1970
0
IanM said:
John Doe wrote:

If its a LED bar graph its not an analog level indicator.

I do not feel like playing semantics. Whatever it takes, think
"analog display".
Provided its reasonably consistent, the continuous drop of the
indicated amount remaining is extremely valuable as its easy to
estimate time remaining.

That depends on size, Jack. Apparently you missed the point.
LED bar graphs are power hogs.

That is might be one reason why size matters. The main reason is
electronic device screen real estate.
A non-backlit LCD one can have negligable power consumption

That's good unless you are constrained by space, or if the device
sucks energy. I probably should not have suggested the meter power
consumption would matter.
NOTHING is worse than a gauge which indicates full till the
battery is over half gone if you are away from base or easy
charging.

So make it when the battery is half gone.
I have a couple of devices that do that and they are all a PITA
and result in me carrying spare batteries. Ever driven on a long
trip with a fuel gauge that showed full when it wasn't then
started dropping suddenly?

I am not talking about dropping suddenly. I am talking about
efficient use of meter size/space on an electronic device.

When you are driving on a long trip between gas stations, you fill
up your tank first. Watching the fuel gauge during the first half of
the trip between gas stations is nearly pointless. In fact, few
people pay attention to the gas gauge until it indicates less than
half full.

That analogy is weak because a car dashboard has lots of space and
has no problem with meter size.
Its always so much fun wondering if you can make the next service
station . . .

Get a car with better electronics, a bigger gas tank, or one that
gets better mileage.
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"John Doe is a Fucking TROLLING LIAR"
Why don't analogue battery level indicators show full until the
battery discharges to a certain point?

** They already do - you stinking LIAR.

All the popular re-chargeable cell types have near constant voltage
discharge.


The problem is real estate and LED electricity usage.


** 100% WRONG .

The problem is that simple ( electronic) battery guages do not indicate
remaining capacity.

Too many devices do not give enough warning before the battery needs
to be charged.


** A state of charge / remaining capacity meter for any of the popular
re-chargeable cell types is an impossible thing to build. So they do not
exist.

Piss off - you FUCKING WANKER .



...... Phil
 
J

John Doe

Jan 1, 1970
0
This foulmouthed regular troll must be related to Rod Speed...
 
Top