Voltage measuring sheet

• US 4,835,476 A
• Filed: 11/28/1986
• Issued: 05/30/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Three Tec Davis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Three Tec Davis Incorporated
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Kunisaku
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fuller, Leon K.
• Application Number:
  US06/936,077
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 324/435, 324/106, 324/104, 324/426, 350/330, 350/331 R, 350/350 R, 350/351
• US Class Current: 324/435
• 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 voltage measuring sheet which is capable of qualitatively measuring the existing strength of condition of batteries has an electrically conductive layer and a temperature-sensitive decoloring type coloring layer which are provided on a transparent substrate. The sheet further has contacts defined by the conductive layer which are brought into contact with two electrodes, respectively, of a battery which is to be measured. In addition, a scale pattern is disposed underneath the coloring layer. Thus, it is possible to simplify the arrangement and hence production of the sheet and facilitate the reading of indication on the sheet.

Claims

1. A voltage measuring sheet consisting essentially of:

a substrate;

a first layer of an electrically conductive material provided on a portion of said substrate;

a second layer of a temperature-sensitive decoloring type coloring agent provided on a portion of said substrate; and

a scale pattern disposed underneath said second layer of coloring agent, whereby the heat generated in the first layer of conductive material causes a change in color of the second layer of the coloring agent so as to be observed through the substrate.

2. A voltage measuring sheet according to claim 1, particularly designed to test the strength of batteries, in which the substrate is transparent and the temperature-sensitive decoloring agent changes color by becoming transparent substantially proportional to a voltage output of the battery tested.

3. A voltage measuring sheet according to claim 2 where the second layer of temperature-sensitive decoloring agent consists essentially of a mixture of a crystal violet lactone dye, a nonyl phenol developer and N-myristyl alcohol as a wax, whereby the decoloring agent has a bluish color at room temperature and becomes transparent at 40°

C.