Means for checking battery voltage level

• US 4,318,092 A
• Filed: 01/25/1980
• Issued: 03/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ensign, Thomas C., Cowles, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myer, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US06/115,340
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 340/661, 340/660, 340/664, 324/133, 324/72.5, 324/96, 324/433, 73/190 R
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

Means for checking the voltage level of a battery used in an apparatus including an operational amplifier powered from the battery and an indicating means operatively connected to the output of the operational amplifier. The indicating means provides a replace battery indication which is presented when the battery is in a replacement condition and the amplifier is operated at saturation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining whether a battery is in a replacement condition including an operational amplifier powered from the battery and indicating means operatively connected to the output of the operational amplifier, said operational amplifer having an input for signals obtained independent of the battery, said operational amplifier requiring a signal of one polarity at said input for operation of said indicating means, said indicating means providing a perceptible response when an input signal of said one polarity is applied to said input, said perceptible response including a replace battery indication which is provided when the voltage of the battery is less than a predetermined level and a saturation signal of said one polarity and independent of the battery is then applied to said input of said operational amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes a meter movement and a meter face, said meter face having a reference position relative to and within the movement of said meter movement for signals of said one polarity for providing said replace battery indication.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes a light source which presents said replace battery condition, said light source energized in response to operation of said operational amplifier at saturation only so long as the battery is not in a replacement condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes a switch means for operatively connecting said light source to the output of said operational amplifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

6. An improved heat scanner circuit including an operational amplifier having an input and for operation requiring a voltage supply of one polarity available from a first battery and voltage supply of the opposite polarity from a second battery;

a signal means operatively connected to the input of the operational amplifier and capable of providing either a positive or negative signal to the operational amplifier to cause the amplifier to operate at saturation;

an indicating means operatively connected to the output of the amplifier, the indicating means including a meter movement and meter face, the improvement including two replace battery reference positions provided at said meter face, one of said reference positions established relative to the position the meter movement assumes when the first battery presents a predetermined unacceptable voltage while a saturating signal of one polarity that is independent of the first and second batteries is applied to said input of said operational amplifier, said one reference position being reached by less movement of the meter in the same direction than that which is obtained in response to a saturating signal of said one polarity applied when said first battery presents a voltage that is greater than the acceptable voltage for said first battery, and said other of said reference positions established relative to the position the meter movement assumes when the second battery presents said predetermined unacceptable voltage while a saturating signal of the opposite polarity that is independent of the first and second batteries is applied to said input of said operational amplifier, said other reference position being reached by less movement of the meter in the same direction than that which is obtained in response to a saturating signal of said opposite polarity applied when said second battery presents a voltage that is greater than the predetermined unacceptable voltage for said second battery.