State of charge indicator
First Claim
1. A state of charge indicator for testing the state of charge of a battery selectively connected to an operating load, said state of charge indicator comprising means for sensing if the battery is connected to the operating load, timing means for sensing how long the battery is connected to the operating load, a test load, means for connecting said test load to the battery in response to indication from said load connection sensing means of disconnection of the battery from the operating load after indication from said timing means that the battery was connected to the operating load for a predetermined period of time, and means for producing in response to said test load being connected to the battery a signal indicating the state of charge of the battery.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing a visual signal of the state of charge of a battery selectively connected and disconnected from an external load. A test load is connected to the battery for a predetermined period of time to draw a current pulse from the battery when the battery is disconnected from the external load. Simultaneously, the voltage of the battery is measured. The measured voltage is converted to a digital signal, and the digital signal is transmitted to a storage means. The stored signal is then transmitted to a visual display device.
-
Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A state of charge indicator for testing the state of charge of a battery selectively connected to an operating load, said state of charge indicator comprising means for sensing if the battery is connected to the operating load, timing means for sensing how long the battery is connected to the operating load, a test load, means for connecting said test load to the battery in response to indication from said load connection sensing means of disconnection of the battery from the operating load after indication from said timing means that the battery was connected to the operating load for a predetermined period of time, and means for producing in response to said test load being connected to the battery a signal indicating the state of charge of the battery.
- 13. A method of testing the state of charge of a battery, said method comprising the steps of connecting the battery to a first load, sensing how long the battery is connected to the first load, disconnecting the battery from the first load and connecting a second load to the battery after the battery has been connected to the first load for a predetermined period of time, and producing, in response to the second load being connected to the battery, a signal indicating the state of charge of the battery.
Specification