Method for Ensuring Safe Use of a Battery Pack After Impact
First Claim
1. A battery pack comprising:
- a battery;
an impact sensor capable of generating an impact signal in response to a detection of an impact on said battery pack;
a processor capable of generating impact information based on said impact signal, wherein said processor continues to count a number of charging times to said battery after said impact information has been generated; and
a memory capable of storing said impact information and said number of charging times, wherein said memory is referred by said processor to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that said battery is charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when said battery pack is attached to said battery charger, and said battery is prohibited to be charged when said number of said counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of said impact information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery, an impact sensor, a processor and a memory. The impact sensor is capable of generating an impact signal in response to a detection of an impact on the battery pack. The processor is capable of generating impact information based on the impact signal, and processor continues to count a number of charging times to the battery after the generation of the impact information. The memory is capable of storing the impact information and the number of charging times. The processor can refer to the memory to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that the battery can only be charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when the battery pack is attached to the battery charger. The charging to the battery stops when the number of the counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of the impact information.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A battery pack comprising:
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a battery; an impact sensor capable of generating an impact signal in response to a detection of an impact on said battery pack; a processor capable of generating impact information based on said impact signal, wherein said processor continues to count a number of charging times to said battery after said impact information has been generated; and a memory capable of storing said impact information and said number of charging times, wherein said memory is referred by said processor to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that said battery is charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when said battery pack is attached to said battery charger, and said battery is prohibited to be charged when said number of said counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of said impact information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a system load; a battery bay for removably accommodating therein a battery pack, wherein said battery bay includes a battery; a battery charger for charging said battery; a controller for controlling said battery charger; and an external power supply terminal for connecting an AC adapter which supplies electric power to the system load and said battery charger, wherein said battery pack comprises; an impact sensor capable of detecting an impact to thereby output an impact signal, a processor capable of generating impact information based on the impact signal, and further counting the number of charging times to the secondary battery after the impact information has been generated; and a memory capable of storing said impact information and said number of charging times, wherein said memory is referred by said processor to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that said battery is charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when said battery pack is attached to said battery charger, and said battery is prohibited to be charged when said number of said counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of said impact information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling charging of a battery in a system having a battery pack for accommodating said battery, said method comprising:
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detecting an impact to said battery pack to generate impact information; offering a number of allowable charging times that is allowed after said impact information has been generated and an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity upon occurrence of an impact; counting a number of charging times to said battery after the generation of said impact information; and charging said battery up to said allowable charge capacity until said number of charging times reaches said number of allowable charging times, while prohibiting said charging to said battery when said number of charging times reaches said number of allowable charging times after said impact information has been generated.
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Specification