Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrolyte properties – Using a battery testing device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-05-15
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrolyte properties
Using a battery testing device
C429S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232782
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to battery testers that are incorporated in, or on battery cell labels or packaging.
Know types of batter testers that are placed on batteries are so called “thermochromic” types. In a thermochromic battery tester, a thermochromic display is placed as a narrow, elongated region of a label. The display is typically a single narrow and elongated region. The thermochromic battery tester operates by a consumer depressing a manual switch. Once the switch is depressed the consumer connects an anode of the battery to a cathode of the battery and can read the relative power remaining in the battery. The connection goes through a silver conductor that has a variable width so that the resistance of the conductor also varies along its length. As current travels through the silver conductor, the current generates heat that changes the color of a thermochromic ink in the thermochromic display over the silver conductor. The thermochromic display is arranged as a gauge to indicate the relative capacity of the battery. The higher the current the more heat is generated and the more the gauge will change to indicate that the battery is good.
In order to test the battery the display needs to be aligned so that the consumer can read it. Also, sometimes the switch can be hard for people to depress and it becomes difficult to tell whether the tester worked or not or whether the battery is good or bad. This can be confusing to a consumer. Depressing the switch makes a direct relatively high conductance connection between the anode and cathode of the cell which can draw significant power and reduce battery lifetime.
SUMMARY
According to an aspect of the invention, a battery includes a battery tester including a display that is disposed around a substantial portion of the circumference of the battery.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, a battery operated electronic device includes a case that houses electronic components that comprise the electronic device, said case including a door that opens up to a battery compartment, with the door having at least a transparent window portion in the door.
One or more of the following advantages may be provided from aspects of the invention.
The battery tester display is incorporated over an entire circumference of a battery label or cover. A consumer does not have to hold the battery in one orientation to look at the display. The display is visible from any orientation. An additional advantage is that if the battery tester is a passive tester, not requiring the consumer to close a manual switch, the consumer can merely look at the battery from any angle and tell whether the battery is good or bad condition or how much capacity might be left in the battery. A still further advantage is that the consumer can look at the battery in its original packaging to tell whether the battery is good or bad condition or how much capacity might be left in the battery.
A still further advantage is that when the battery is disposed in an electronic device, and if the electronic device is built with a transparent window exposing the battery compartment, the capacity left in the battery can be determined by merely looking at the battery through the window. Thus, the consumer can determine whether the battery is good or bad condition or how much capacity might be left in the battery without removing the battery from the electronic device. This is a useful advantage particular since it allows the battery to be examined under a load condition and obviates the need to remove the battery from devices where the battery might be somewhat difficult to reach. The consumer can know immediately if the device is bad or if the batteries are bad.
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Gordon Eric S.
Kacprowicz Mark
Klein David N.
Lynch Anne T.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Luk Lawrence
The Gillette Company
Wong Peter S.
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