Electrical battery including apparatus for current sensing

• US 4,680,527 A
• Filed: 08/06/1986
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moy, Wayne K., Benenati, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/894,217
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-4, 320/43, 320/44, 320/35, 320/48, 429/7, 429/9, 429/98, 429/99, 429/163, 429/93
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrical battery is provided which includes a current sensing resistor situated in series with a plurality of battery cells located within a housing. The respective ends of the plurality of cells are coupled to positive and negative contacts on an external surface of the battery. The respective ends of the current sensing resistor are coupled to first and second sensing contacts on the external surface of the battery. A battery structure is thus provided which is capable of supplying electrical energy while permitting sensing of the magnitude of electrical current drawn from the battery.

Claims

1. A multicell battery adapted for interconnection to an energy consuming electronic device comprising:

a battery housing having an external surface;

a plurality of cells coupled together in series and situated in said housing and including positive and negative electrical terminals at opposed ends of said plurality of cells;

first and second electrical contacts situated on the external surface of said battery housing and coupled to said positive and negative terminals, respectively;

a first resistor connected in series between two adjacent cells of said plurality of cells to form the connection between said adjacent cells, said resistor having opposed ends, and

third and fourth electrical contacts situated on the external surface of said battery housing, each coupled to a respective end of said first resistor.

2. The battery of claim 1 including a second resistor coupling one end of said first resistor to said third contact.

3. The battery of claim 2 including a third resistor coupling the remaining end of said first resistor to said fourth contact.