Flexible resistive heat battery tester and holder
First Claim
1. A battery tester for dry cell batteries, particularly adapted for "button-type" batteries, in which the passage of electrical current from an associated battery being tested causes color change in the tester proportional to the electrical energy of the battery being tested, said battery tester comprising:
- a flexible substrate having a body section and a pair of oppositely located outwardly extending wing sections having a different width than said body section, said pair of wing sections being constructed so as to bend with respect to said body section and toward one another,a pattern of electrically conductive material positioned on said substrate and which extends across said body section of said substrate and has a terminal end point on each of said pair of wing sections of said substrate, anda quantity of cholesteric liquid crystal material positioned on said body section and in alignment with a section of said pattern of electrically conductive material, said crystal material being of the type which changes color upon heating thereof,whereby upon bending at least said pair of wing sections of said substrate and placing said terminal end points of said pattern of electrically conductive material on opposite terminals of an associated battery to be tested, electrical current flows through said conductive material causing a heating and color change of said liquid crystal material proportional to the electrical energy of an associated battery being tested.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for testing a battery, particularly a small, "button-type" battery, such as those used in hearing aids, calculators, watches and the like, comprising a flexible, transparent substrate on which is deposited a conductive material, which may taper outwardly in opposite directions or in a single direction, from a central point from one side to a pair of outer terminals. A layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material is then deposited on the substrate. A layer or band of a black light absorbing material the opposite side from the black absorber layer. The conductive material is an epoxy cement-based conductor, preferably silver, printed or painted directly on to the substrate. An indicator scale is located along sections of the tapered conductive material. To test a dry cell battery, the terminal ends of the conductive material are placed in contact with the battery terminals, causing a current to flow which heats the conductive material, the heat generated being the most intense at the central point and radiating outwardly. The heat is transferred through the thin substrate to the liquid crystal layer which results in a color change in the liquid crystal. The traverse of the color change along the length of the indicator scale, outwardly from the center point, is proportional to the current or voltage output or the condition of the battery to be tested and can be read on the indicator scale which is calibrated accordingly.
56 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A battery tester for dry cell batteries, particularly adapted for "button-type" batteries, in which the passage of electrical current from an associated battery being tested causes color change in the tester proportional to the electrical energy of the battery being tested, said battery tester comprising:
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a flexible substrate having a body section and a pair of oppositely located outwardly extending wing sections having a different width than said body section, said pair of wing sections being constructed so as to bend with respect to said body section and toward one another, a pattern of electrically conductive material positioned on said substrate and which extends across said body section of said substrate and has a terminal end point on each of said pair of wing sections of said substrate, and a quantity of cholesteric liquid crystal material positioned on said body section and in alignment with a section of said pattern of electrically conductive material, said crystal material being of the type which changes color upon heating thereof, whereby upon bending at least said pair of wing sections of said substrate and placing said terminal end points of said pattern of electrically conductive material on opposite terminals of an associated battery to be tested, electrical current flows through said conductive material causing a heating and color change of said liquid crystal material proportional to the electrical energy of an associated battery being tested. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery tester for dry cell batteries, particularly adapted for "button-type" batteries, in which the passage of electrical current from an associated battery being tested causes color change in the tester proportional to the electrical energy of the battery being tested, said battery tester comprising:
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a holder for retaining an associated battery to be tested, said holder being unattached to said tester and having a pair of flexible side sections, said tester including; a flexible substrate having a body section and a pair of outwardly extending wing sections having a different width than said body section, a pattern of electrically conductive material positioned on said substrate which extends across said body section of said substrate and has a terminal end point on each of said pair of wing sections of said substrate, and a quantity of cholesteric liquid crystal material positioned on said body section and in alignment with a section of said pattern of electrically conductive material, said crystal material being of the type which changes color upon heating thereof, whereby upon bending at least said pair of wing sections of said substrate and placing said terminal end points of said pattern of electrically conductive material on opposite terminals of an associated battery to be tested, electrical current flows through said conductive material causing a heating and color change of said liquid crystal material proportional to the electrical energy of an associated battery being tested. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A tester for "button-type" dry cell batteries, such as those utilized in hearing aids, watches, and calculators, which utilizes material that changes color when electrical current from an associated battery being tested passes therethrough, said tester consisting of:
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a holder for retaining an associated "button-type" battery to be tested, and a tester assembly unattached to said holder including; a flexible substrate, a pattern of electrically conductive material having a pair of spaced apart end terminals positioned on one side of said substrate, and a quantity of liquid crystal material positioned on an opposite side of said substrate so as to be in alignment with a section of said pattern of conductive material; said tester assembly cooperating with said holder such that said flexible substrate can be bent so that said end terminals of said pattern of conductive material contact opposite terminals of an associated battery retained in said holder when pressure is applied to said substrate and said holder to cause current to flow through said pattern of conductive material which causes heating and change of color of said liquid crystal material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tester for "button-type" dry cell batteries, such as those utilized in hearing aids, watches, and calculators, which utilizes material that changes color when electrical current from an associated battery being tested passes therethrough, said tester consisting of:
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a holder for retaining an associated "button-type" battery to be tested, and a tester assembly, said tester assembly including; a flexible substrate, a pattern of electrically conductive material having a pair of spaced apart end terminals positioned on one side of said substrate, and a quantity of cholesteric liquid crystal material positioned on an opposite side of said substrate so as to be in alignment with a section of said pattern of conductive material; said holder comprising a block of material having an opening therein, said holder being positioned on one end of said substrate of said tester assembly such that one of said pair of end terminals of said pattern of conductive material is located in said opening of said block; said tester assembly cooperating with said holder such that said flexible substrate can be bent so that said end terminals of said pattern of conductive material contact opposite terminals of an associated battery retained in said holder when pressure is applied to said substrate and said holder to cause current to flow through said pattern of conductive material which causes heating and change of color of said liquid crystal material. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification