BATTERY HAVING A BUILT-IN CONTROLLER
First Claim
1. A battery comprising:
- (a) a container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
(b) a battery cell disposed within said container, said cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a cell voltage measured across said positive and said negative electrodes of said cell;
(c) a controller electrically coupled between said electrodes of said cell and said terminals of said container to form, from the cell voltage, an output voltage across the positive and negative terminals of the container; and
(d) a circuit responsive to a predetermined condition of said battery, the circuit being operable to uncouple the output voltage of the controller from the terminals of the container upon detection of said predetermined condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-cell battery having a built-in controller is disclosed that extends the run time of the battery. The controller may extend the run time of the battery, for example, by converting the cell voltage to an output voltage that is greater than a cut-off voltage of an electronic device, by converting the cell voltage to an output voltage that is less than the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell of the battery, or by protecting the electrochemical cell from current peaks. The controller may also include a ground bias circuit that provides a virtual ground so that a converter may operate at lower cell voltages. The battery may be a single-cell battery, a universal single-cell battery, a multiple-cell battery or a multiple-cell hybrid battery. The individual cells of the multiple-cell battery may be connected in series or parallel. In addition, the individual cells may have a controller in each cell that is capable of performing one or more functions to extend the run time of the cell.
132 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A battery comprising:
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(a) a container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
(b) a battery cell disposed within said container, said cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a cell voltage measured across said positive and said negative electrodes of said cell;
(c) a controller electrically coupled between said electrodes of said cell and said terminals of said container to form, from the cell voltage, an output voltage across the positive and negative terminals of the container; and
(d) a circuit responsive to a predetermined condition of said battery, the circuit being operable to uncouple the output voltage of the controller from the terminals of the container upon detection of said predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multiple-cell battery comprising:
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a first container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
a first battery cell disposed within said first container, said first battery cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a battery cell voltage measured across said positive and said negative electrodes of the first battery cell;
a first controller electrically coupled between the electrodes of said first battery cell and the terminals of said first container to create a first container output voltage measured across said first container positive and negative terminals;
a second container electrically coupled to said first container, said second container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
a second battery cell disposed within said second container, said second battery cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a battery cell voltage measured across said positive and said negative electrodes of the second battery cell;
a second controller electrically coupled between said electrodes of said second battery cell and said terminals of said second container to create a second container output voltage measured across said second container positive and negative terminals; and
a circuit responsive to a predetermined condition of said multiple cell battery, the circuit being electrically coupled to one of the first and second controllers to uncouple the respective one of the first and second container output voltages from the terminals of the respective one of the first and second containers upon detection of said predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for extending the useful life of a battery comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a battery including;
(i) a container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and
(ii) a battery cell disposed within said container, said cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a cell voltage measured across said positive and said negative electrodes of said cell;
the method being characterized by;
(b) electrically coupling a controller between said electrodes of said cell and said terminals of said container to form, from the cell voltage, an output voltage across the positive and negative terminals of the container;
(c) in response to detection of a predetermined condition of the battery, uncoupling the output voltage of the controller from the terminals of the container. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification