Battery charging system having means for distinguishing between primary and secondary batteries
First Claim
1. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a nonrechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:
- a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivery electrical energy;
indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery;
a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts arranged for engagement with the first and second external load terminals respectively when said rechargeable battery is connected to the charger, said first and second charging contacts each engageable by one of a pair of load terminals of a non-rechargeable battery; and
enabling means in said charging device for sensing the presence of the indicia means on the rechargeable battery and in response thereto enabling said charging mode, whereby the charger will be enabled to deliver charge current only by batteries of the rechargeable type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging system is provided including a charger and a rechargeable battery of "standard" size and configuration. The rechargeable battery bears a special indicia that is sensed by the charger as a precondition to enabling the charging circuit of the charger. The indicia-bearing battery can thus be used in place of "standard" non-rechargeable batteries in battery using products of various sorts, but non-rechargeable batteries, lacking the special indicia, cannot be charged in the charger. Potential damage to the charger or product and other adverse effects associated with charging of non-rechargeable batteries is thus avoided.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a nonrechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:
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a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivery electrical energy; indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery; a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts arranged for engagement with the first and second external load terminals respectively when said rechargeable battery is connected to the charger, said first and second charging contacts each engageable by one of a pair of load terminals of a non-rechargeable battery; and enabling means in said charging device for sensing the presence of the indicia means on the rechargeable battery and in response thereto enabling said charging mode, whereby the charger will be enabled to deliver charge current only by batteries of the rechargeable type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charging current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising;
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a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery; a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load; indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger, thereby preventing delivery of charging current to non-rechargeable batteries; and means for isolating said indicia means from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish between rechargeable secondary and non-rechargeable primary batteries of substantially similar size and configuration, comprising in combination:
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a charging device including a battery charging circuit for delivering charging current to a received battery; a rechargeable secondary battery having load terminals for delivering electrical energy; means for providing an initiating signal to a battery received in said charging device; means associated with said rechargeable secondary battery for generating and transmitting to said charging device an information signal in response to said initiating signal; and means associated with said charging device for permitting the delivery of charging current to fully charge the rechargeable secondary battery only in response to said information signal from said rechargeable secondary battery, said permitting means further including means for preventing the delivery of charging current to a battery of the non-rechargeable type not providing said information signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charging current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising;
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a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery; a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load; and indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger and for permitting charging current to flow through said rechargeable battery via a current path other than through said indicia means.
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22. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charger current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising:
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a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery; a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load; and indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger, thereby preventing delivery of charging current to non-rechargeable batteries and permitting the delivery of charging current to said load terminals of said rechargeable battery, said load terminals receiving said charging current directly from said battery charger.
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23. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:
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a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy; indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery; a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts; and enabling means in said charger for sensing the presence of the indicia means of the rechargeable battery and in response thereto for enabling the flow of charging current through said rechargeable battery via a current path other than through said indicia means, whereby the charger will be enabled to deliver charge current only by batteries of the rechargeable type.
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24. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both of said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:
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a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy; indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing a signal distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery; a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode; and enabling means in said charging circuit of said charging device for enabling said circuit to operate in said second charging mode, said enabling means including a switch disposed within said charging device and connected in said charging circuit, said switch having a first non-conducting mode for maintaining said circuit in said first non-charging mode and a second conducting mode for maintaining said circuit in said second charging mode respectively, said switch operable in said second conducting mode in response to said signal from said indicia means.
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25. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:
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a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy; indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery; means disposed on said rechargeable battery for isolating said indicia means from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device; a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode; and enabling means in said charging device for sensing the presence of the indicia means on the rechargeable battery and in response thereto enabling said charging mode.
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Specification