Flexible resistive heat battery tester and holder

• US 4,726,661 A
• Filed: 04/03/1986
• Issued: 02/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert M Parker
• Original Assignee: Robert M Parker
• Inventors: Parker, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, David
• Application Number:
  US06/848,025
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 350/331 R, 350/336, 350/341, 350/351, 350/320, 340/815.01, 428/1, 324/96, 324/104, 324/106, 324/435, 324/437
• US Class Current: 349/199
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/403 using passive display devices, e.g. liquid crystal display or Kerr effect display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/15 Indicating the presence of current
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• 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 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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.

Claims

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, 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.

2. The tester of claim 1, additionally including a layer of absorber material positioned on said substrate so as to be behind said liquid crystal material.

3. The tester of claim 1, additionally including a scale positioned on said substrate adjacent said liquid crystal material for providing a read out corresponding to the measure of change in color of the liquid crystal material.

4. The tester of claim 1, additionally including a protective coating positioned over at least the pattern of electrically conductive material except at the terminal end points thereof.

5. The tester of claim 1, wherein said pattern of electrically conductive material includes a portion of reduced cross-section located adjacent said liquid crystal material.

6. The tester of claim 5, wherein said portion of reduced cross-section is selected from the group of configurations consisting of a straight line, a single wedge or a double wedge.

7. The battery tester of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal material is located on one side of said substrate and said patterns of conductive material is located on an opposite side of said subtrate.

8. The tester of claim 1, wherein said substrate is constructed of flexible, transparent material.

9. The teste of claim 8, wherein said flexible, transparent material is selected from the group of materials consisting of paper and polymers consisting of polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyester, cellulose and polyamide.

10. The battery tester of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal material is selected from the group consisting of cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl oleyl carbonate, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl acetate, cholesteryl nanoate, cholesteryl oleate, and cholesteryl caprylate.

11. The tester of claim 1, in combination with a holder for retaining an associated battery to be tested,

said pair of wing sections of said substrate being constructed so that end portions thereof can be inserted into said holder,

whereby contact of said terminal end points of said pattern of conductive material, located on said end portions of said pair of wing sections, with terminals of an associated battery retained in said holder causes flow of electrical current through said conductive material and heating and color change of said liquid crystal material.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said holder includes a pair of flexible side sections,

said pair of wing sections of said substrate being positioned in said holder so as to be adjacent said flexible side sections of said holder,

whereby pressing of said flexible side sections of said holder toward each other causes said terminal end points on said pair of wing sections of said substrate to contact terminals of an associated battery retained in said holder, causing heating and color change of said liquid crystal material.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said holder is positioned on said substrate.

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:

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.

15. The tester of claim 14, wherein said holder has a bottom section configured to cooperate with a configuration of an associated battery to be retained therein for testing.

16. The tester of claim 14, wherein said holder is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, cardboard and cloth.

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:

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.

18. The tester of claim 17, wherein said holder comprises a pair of flexible side sections and an interconnecting section defining a bottom of said holder.

19. The tester of claim 18, wherein said pair of flexible side sections include a curved portion and the interconnecting section includes a cooperating curved portion configured to fit the contour of an outer surface of an associated battery to be tested.

20. The tester of claim 17, wherein said liquid crystal material is selected from the group consisting of cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl oleyl carbonate, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl acetate, cholesteryl nanoate, cholesteryl oleate, and cholesteryl caprylate.

21. The tester of claim 17, wherein said pattern of electrically conductive material is formed of a binder base and a material selected from the group consisting of silver, nickel and carbon.

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:

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.

23. The tester of claim 22, wherein said substrate of said tester assembly has an elongated configuration with said one of said pair of end terminals of said pattern of conductive material being located adjacent one end of said substrate and another of said pair of end terminals of said pattern of conductive material being located adjacent an opposite end of said substrate.

24. The tester of claim 23, wherein said liquid crystal material is located so as to be in near but spaced relation with said opposite end of said substrate.