BATTERY TESTER
First Claim
1. A battery tester configured to engage a stem of a power tool battery, the battery tester comprising:
- a housing having a cavity configured to receive the stem of the power tool battery;
a plurality of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the cavity, the contacts configured to biasingly engage corresponding battery electrodes on the stem;
a processor mounted within the housing in communication with the battery through the electrically conductive contacts, the processor configured to measure a voltage level of the battery;
a loading circuit configured to electrically load the battery;
one or more indicators disposed on or in the housing and controlled by the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to activate the loading circuit for a predetermined period of time to measure a voltage level of the battery while under load, and activate the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life; and
wherein the housing does not have a motor or a battery charger.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery tester engages a power tool battery and includes a housing having a cavity for receiving a stem of the power tool battery. The battery tester has a plurality of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the cavity and is configured to engage corresponding battery electrodes on the stem. A processor is mounted within the housing and communicates with the battery through the electrically conductive contacts. The processor measures a voltage level of the battery, and a loading circuit electrically loads the battery during measuring. One or more indicators are controlled by the processor. The processor activates the loading circuit for a predetermined period of time to measure a voltage level of the battery while under load, and then activates the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life. The battery tester is a stand-alone device where housing does not have a motor or a battery charger.
107 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A battery tester configured to engage a stem of a power tool battery, the battery tester comprising:
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a housing having a cavity configured to receive the stem of the power tool battery; a plurality of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the cavity, the contacts configured to biasingly engage corresponding battery electrodes on the stem; a processor mounted within the housing in communication with the battery through the electrically conductive contacts, the processor configured to measure a voltage level of the battery; a loading circuit configured to electrically load the battery; one or more indicators disposed on or in the housing and controlled by the processor; wherein the processor is configured to activate the loading circuit for a predetermined period of time to measure a voltage level of the battery while under load, and activate the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life; and wherein the housing does not have a motor or a battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 26)
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13. A stand-alone battery tester configured to engage a slide-type a power tool battery, the battery tester comprising:
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a housing having a connector configured to slidingly receive battery terminals of the slide-type power tool battery; a plurality of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the connector, the conductive contacts configured to biasingly engage the corresponding battery terminals; a processor mounted within the housing in communication with the battery through the electrically conductive contacts, and configured to measure a voltage level of the battery; a loading circuit configured to electrically load the battery; one or more indicators disposed on or in the housing and controlled by the processor; wherein the processor is configured to activate the loading circuit for a predetermined period of time and measure a voltage level of the battery while under load, and activate the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life; and wherein the housing does not have a motor or a battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27)
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21. A battery tester configured to engage a stem of a power tool battery, the battery tester comprising:
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a housing having a cavity configured to receive the stem of the power tool battery; a plurality of electrically conductive contacts disposed in the cavity, the contacts configured to biasingly engage corresponding battery electrodes on the stem; a processor mounted within the housing in communication with the battery through the electrically conductive contacts; a voltage divider configured to provide a scaled voltage signal to an input of the processor, the scaled voltage signal corresponding to remaining battery life; a loading circuit configured to electrically load the battery; one or more indicators disposed on or in the housing and controlled by the processor; wherein the processor is configured to activate the loading circuit for a first predetermined period of time to measure a voltage level of the battery while under load; wherein the processor is configured to activate the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life, and deactivate the indicators after a second predetermined period of time; and wherein the housing does not have a motor or a battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A battery testing circuit configured to receive a battery voltage level when coupled to a stem of a power tool battery, the battery testing circuit comprising:
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a processor having an input configured to receive the battery voltage level; a regulated power supply configured to provide regulated power to the processor; a loading switch operatively coupled to the processor; a load coupled between the battery and the loading switch, wherein the processor is configured to activate the loading switch for a predetermined period of time to operatively couple the load between the battery and ground so as to load the battery; one or more visible indicators controlled by the processor; and wherein the processor is configured to measure a voltage level of the battery while under load, and activate the indicators to provide a visual indication of remaining battery life.
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Specification