subject: A Better Gauge on Battery Life [print this page] Texas Instruments (TI), based in Dallas, has developed a battery-gauge chip that can tell mobile-phone users down to the minute how much talking or standby time they have left--a degree of accuracy much greater than that provided by existing battery gauges. Such a precise gauge could allow smart-phone developers to squeeze more energy out of the battery, potentially increasing by half or more the amount of time that it lasts between charges. The new TI gauge is more accurate than today's gauges, which measure a battery's voltage, because it measures a number of electrical properties. Voltage-only-based gauges are erratic and unreliable because voltage doesn't fall steadily as the battery is discharged. What's more, the voltage changes as the battery ages and experiences different temperatures. It also varies with different power demands on the battery. The TI gauge is more accurate--to within 1 percent of the actual energy left in the battery--because it measures electrical properties besides voltage. Most important, it measures a feature of battery cells that is at the root of the voltage changes that make today's gauges unreliable. This feature, called impedance, is a measure of the opposition to current flow, and it changes with temperature, battery age, and the power demands on a battery. Knowing the changes in impedance allows the chip to reinterpret voltage changes, keeping it from being fooled by voltage changes caused by these factors. For example, when a person makes a call, the voltage drops as soon as the phone transmits the signal. A conventional gauge would interpret this as a sudden drop in the amount of energy left in the battery, which could engage battery-saving measures in power-management software. The new gauge would recognize that the cell still has plenty of energy. The approach also works with low voltages caused by cell age. The new gauge chip, which is incorporated either into the circuit boards of a phone or directly into a battery pack, could be particularly useful in smart phones. Some phone users have to assume that after the gauge has reached the halfway point, the battery could die at any moment. What's more, poor battery gauges make it difficult to employ power-management software on phones that could extend battery capacity. Power-management software slows down processors, turns off the camera's flash, and dims the screen to save the battery once it's low. It may also save data and shut down applications just before the battery dies. Such software, however, may engage power-saving measures too soon if it relies on an inaccurate battery gauge, resulting in sluggish device performance while there is still plenty of charge. Get Your Satisfaction Online Shopping If you are looking for the best brand new Dell Laptop batteries at the most preferred price, you have come to the right place. We provide the highest quality boolclass for the lowest price with the highest level of service, all in a secure and convenient platform. We give you many reasons to shop with us, including: Our Quality: We believe that our customers should receive the highest quality Laptop battery for Dell at the lowest prices. We stand by and guarantee the quality of our battery. Our Price: At website, you always pay the lowest price. We make this sure by offering our Best Price Guarantee on all our Dell Laptop battery. Our Service: We have a dedicated team of customer service executives who are eager to help you save time and money by sharing their knowledge and expertise on Dell Laptop batteries and related products. Your Satisfaction: Your absolute satisfaction is our top objective. We stand by the quality and offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all our products. Our products also carry a 12-month full repair or replacement warranty for any form of manufacturing defects. Thank you for stopping by yourself and hope you have an enjoyable shopping experience!
