Utilizing portable electrical power sources

• US 20030034757A1
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Woodnorth, Douglas J.
• Application Number:
  US09/729,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• 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 10/48 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: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Information such as usage or acquisition terms of a portable electrical power source, such as a battery or a battery-powered device, is used to determine a fee. The information may be communicated to an external device, e.g., over the Internet, or to a vending apparatus which recharges the battery or dispenses a fresh battery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a battery to a user and,

communicating battery usage to a remote monitor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the usage is communicated by transmitting a signal representative of the usage over the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the usage is communicated by a wireless channel.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising communicating with the user based on the usage.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising communicating a bill based on the usage.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the bill is communicated to the user by the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising providing the battery to the user without a purchase fee.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising providing the battery in a device to a user without a purchase fee.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the device is a communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the usage is communicated by the device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery is a single use battery.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the battery usage is based on recharge cycles.

14. A method, comprising:

providing a battery or a battery-powered device to a user;

determining the usage of the battery or the device, and/or the terms of providing the battery or device; and

determining a fee based on the usage and/or the terms.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

communicating the usage and/or terms to an external monitor.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

transmitting the usage and/or terms over the Internet.

17. The method of claim 14 comprising:

recording the usage and/or terms in a module attached to the battery, the device, or a recharger for recharging the battery or device.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising:

providing a plurality of vending stations that dispense and/or recharge said battery or device, where the fee for replacement or recharging is based on the usage and/or said terms.

19. The method of claim 14 comprising:

providing a rechargeable battery or a device with a rechargeable battery.

20. The method of claim 14 comprising:

providing a single-use battery or battery-powered device with a single use battery.

21. A battery including an electronically readable identification module and a usage module.

22. The battery of claim 21 including a communication device facilitating communication of usage to an external device.

23. The battery of claim 21 further including a battery device detector that detects the device in which the battery is installed.

24. The battery of claim 23 wherein the detector verifies the installed device as a permissible device.

25. The battery of claim 21 including a disabler capable of disabling battery use.

26. The battery of claim 21 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

27. A battery having attached thereto an electrically readable terms module, including a representation of battery acquisition and/or recharge terms.

28. The battery of claim 27 including an identification module.

29. The battery of claim 27 including a communication device for facilitating communication to an external device.

30. The battery of claim 27 including a usage module.

31. The battery of claim 27 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

32. A vending station, comprising:

a device or battery recharging or dispensing apparatus; and

a terms module for determining the terms under which a battery or device will be recharged or dispensed.

33. The vending station of claim 32 including a module for determining from a battery or device previous terms under which the battery or device was provided to a user and/or recharged.

34. The vending station of claim 32 comprising an identification apparatus which determines whether a battery or device is suitable for recharge or replacement.

35. The vending station of claim 33 or 34 including a device or battery receiving apparatus that receives a battery or device from a user.

36. The vending station of claim 32 including a payment receptacle capable of receiving a prepaid card or a credit card.

37. A battery charging apparatus including a communication module capable of facilitating communication related to the use of the charger or a battery installed in the charger.

38. The charging apparatus of claim 37 including an identification module.

39. The charging apparatus of claim 37 including a verification module for verifying an installed battery/or device as a permissible battery and/or device.

40. The charging apparatus of claim 37 including a disabler.

41. An external monitor comprising:

a communication module adapted to receive a communication of battery identification and/or usage;

an account storage module to store the identification and usage information; and

a billing module to initiate billing based on the identification and usage information.

42. An external monitor including:

a communication module adapted to receive a communication of terms and/or usage of a battery and/or device; and

a transaction computer adapted to compute a fee based on the terms and/or usage.

43. A system for using a battery or battery-powered device, comprising:

a battery or battery-powered device having an identification module;

a battery usage and/or terms detector;

an external monitor capable of receiving identification and/or usage and/or terms information; and

a communication apparatus for communicating identification and usage to the external monitor.