Battery charger with automatic customer notification system

• US 20050206346A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Smith, Clark E.
• Application Number:
  US10/804,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206346A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

A battery charger with an automatic customer notification system is provided. The battery charger includes battery charging circuitry which is configured to couple to a battery, and to provide a charging signal to the battery. The battery charger also includes communication circuitry, coupled to the charging circuitry, that is configured to transmit a signal to an external device upon receipt of a charge status code form the battery charging circuitry.

Claims

1. A battery charger comprising:

battery charging circuitry configured to couple to a battery, and to provide a charging signal to the battery; and

communication circuitry, coupled to the charging circuitry, configured to transmit a signal to an external device upon receipt of a charge status code form the battery charging circuitry.

2. The battery charger of claim 1 including a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the battery.

3. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the charge status code indicates that the battery charge is complete.

4. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the charge status code is indicative of a time remaining for the battery to be completely charged.

5. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to provide a user with an audio alert.

6. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to provide a user with a visual alert.

7. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to vibrate.

8. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a two-way pager.

9. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a cell phone configured to provide a text message regarding a charge status of the battery.

10. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the signal, that the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, is a radio frequency signal.

11. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the signal, that the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, is an infrared signal.

12. A method comprising:

providing battery charging circuitry configured to couple to a battery, and to provide a charging signal to the battery; and

providing communication circuitry, coupled to the charging circuitry, configured to transmit a signal to an external device upon receipt of a charge status code form the battery charging circuitry.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the battery.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the charge status code indicates that the battery charge is complete.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the charge status code is indicative of a time remaining for the battery to be completely charged.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to provide a user with an audio alert.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to provide a user with a visual alert.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a pager configured to vibrate.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a two-way pager.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the external device, to which the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the signal, is a cell phone configured to provide a text message regarding a charge status of the battery.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal, that the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, is a radio frequency signal.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the signal, that the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, is an infrared signal.