Reusable battery indicator with electrical lock and key

• US 10,151,802 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Riemer, Joern, Pavlinsky, Robert, Bourilkov, Jordan, Specht, Steven J., Turco, George, Coronado, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US15/340,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/0011 Cancer antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/86 Viral vectors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6886 for cancer immunoassay for cancer G01N33/574
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/574 for cancer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 : prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 : having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 : Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 : Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 : with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism having a connector and a retainer. The connector and the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and between the voltage sensor and the can. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

Claims

1. A combination reusable battery indicator and battery cell comprising:

a reusable battery indicator including a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information;

a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor;

an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and

a connection mechanism having a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals, wherein the reusable battery indicator includes a part of an electrical lock and key assembly; and

a battery cell including another part of the electrical lock and key assembly located on an outer surface thereof,

wherein the electrical lock and key assembly includes a split matching antenna network.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the split matching antenna network includes a printed component on the battery cell.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the printed component comprises one of a carbon film resistor or a capacitor.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the split matching antenna network includes a wireless module antenna that requires the presence of the printed component to function.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the printed component comprises a split capacitor.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the split capacitor comprises a first conductive plate on the antenna and a second conductive plate on the battery cell.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise flexible wires with end loops that are sized and shaped to fit around the positive terminal of the battery cell and around the negative terminal of the battery cell, respectively.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the flexible wires produce a spring force that biases the flexible wires into an attached position.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein at least one of the flexible wires comprises a conductive magnet to provide retention force between the at least one flexible wire and the battery terminal.

10. A combination reusable battery indicator and battery cell comprising:

a reusable battery indicator including a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information;

a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor;

an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and

a connection mechanism having a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals, wherein the reusable battery indicator includes a part of an electrical lock and key assembly; and

a battery cell including another part of the electrical lock and key assembly located on an outer surface thereof,

wherein the electronic lock and key assembly includes an optical sensor on the reusable battery indicator and an optical pattern on the battery, and

wherein the optical pattern comprises a luminous coating.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the optical pattern comprises one of an ID reflective pattern, text, and a symbol.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the luminous coating is fluorescent.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light generator capable of producing an LED flash.

14. A combination reusable battery indicator and battery cell comprising:

a reusable battery indicator including a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information;

a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor;

an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and

a connection mechanism having a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals, wherein the reusable battery indicator includes a part of an electrical lock and key assembly; and

a battery cell including another part of the electrical lock and key assembly located on an outer surface thereof,

wherein the electrical lock and key assembly includes a capacitive coupling connection, and

wherein the capacitive coupling connection includes a label capacitive connection on the battery cell.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the label capacitive connection is a foil paid with micro-piercings.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein the reusable battery indicator includes a foil pad with a deformable conductive polymer.

17. The combination of claim 14, wherein the label capacitive connection comprises one of a conductive strip and a ring.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the capacitive connection is formed by an adhesive metal and a conductive ink.