SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECHARGING A BATTERY EXPOSED TO A HARSH ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
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1. A battery charger, for recharging a rechargeable battery, said battery charging including:
- a current source for applying a charging current to the battery;
a plurality of circuit components to which the battery is selectively connected as part of processes for performing state-of-health evaluations of the battery; and
a processor for;
regulating the charging of the battery by said current source;
selectively connecting the battery to said circuit components to perform the battery state-of-health evaluations; and
, based on the signals output by the components, determine the battery state-of-health, said processor being configured to;
read from the battery data indicating if the battery has been exposed to a harsh environment;
if the battery data indicates the battery was not exposed to a harsh environment (458), as part of the charging process, selectively connecting the battery to circuit components so that a partial state-of-health evaluation is performed on the battery; and
if the battery data indicates that the battery was exposed to a harsh environment, as part of the charging process, selectively connecting the battery to circuit components so that a full state-of-health evaluation is performed on the battery, the full state-of-health evaluation including the partial state-of-health evaluation and a further state-of-health evaluation of the battery.
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Abstract
A rechargable battery with an internal microcontroller. The microcontroller contains a memory in which data regarding the environment to which the battery is exposed are stored. These data are read by a processor integral with the charger used to charge the battery. If these data indicates the battery may have been subjected to a harsh environment for an excessive period of time, the charger performs a complete state of health evaluation of the battery.
1117 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A battery charger, for recharging a rechargeable battery, said battery charging including:
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a current source for applying a charging current to the battery;
a plurality of circuit components to which the battery is selectively connected as part of processes for performing state-of-health evaluations of the battery; and
a processor for;
regulating the charging of the battery by said current source;
selectively connecting the battery to said circuit components to perform the battery state-of-health evaluations; and
, based on the signals output by the components, determine the battery state-of-health, said processor being configured to;
read from the battery data indicating if the battery has been exposed to a harsh environment;
if the battery data indicates the battery was not exposed to a harsh environment (458), as part of the charging process, selectively connecting the battery to circuit components so that a partial state-of-health evaluation is performed on the battery; and
if the battery data indicates that the battery was exposed to a harsh environment, as part of the charging process, selectively connecting the battery to circuit components so that a full state-of-health evaluation is performed on the battery, the full state-of-health evaluation including the partial state-of-health evaluation and a further state-of-health evaluation of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A battery, said battery including:
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a housing;
at least one rechargeable cell disposed in said housing;
a terminal assembly attached to said housing and connected to the at least one rechargeable cell for storing charge in the cell and withdrawing current from the cell;
an environment sensor disposed in said housing that generates an environmental signal upon the occurrence of an environmental event;
a processor disposed in said housing that receives the environmental signal and that includes a memory, the processor configured to store in the memory data representative of environmental event as measured by said environmental sensor, where the processor is connected to the at least one rechargeable cell for energization by said cell and is configured so as to have;
a normal operating mode during which the processor draws a first current from the battery; and
a first power down mode when the processor draws a second current from the battery, the second current being less than the first current;
wherein said processor is further configured so that when said processor is in the first power down mode, the processor monitors the environment signal and, if the environmental signal indicates the occurrence of an environment event, said processor transitions from the first power down mode to the normal mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A powered surgical tool system, said system including:
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a powered surgical tool, said tool including;
a power generating unit;
a surgical attachment for performing a surgical/medical procedure that is actuated by said power generating unit;
a control circuit for regulating actuation of the power generating unit that is configured to generate data regarding the operation of the tool and write data to a memory external to said tool;
a battery that is removably attachable to said powered surgical tool, the battery having;
at least one rechargeable cell for energizing said tool power generating unit; and
a memory that, upon attachment of said battery tool is capable of storing data written thereto by said tool control circuit; and
a static unit separate from said is provided for removably receiving the battery, the static unit having a device (298) for reading from the data in the battery memory, including the data stored regarding operation of the power tool. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification