Battery with electrochemical tester
First Claim
1. A condition indicator for an electrochemical power source, said indicator comprising an anode active layer, a cathode active layer and an electrolyte layer, said electrolyte layer contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode active layers, said condition indicator being geometrically designed to provide a predetermined selective discharge pattern whereby the discharge reaction begins at a first region of one of said anode and cathode active layers and continues therefrom towards remote regions thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell and a related state of charge indicator comprising an electrochemically generated display. The state of charge indicator comprises two electrical contacts and an electrochemically generated display connected therebetween. The display comprises an electrochemical cell that may be permanently connected to a main cell in a parallel configuration via the contacts. The condition of the main cell may thus be continuously displayed on the indicator.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A condition indicator for an electrochemical power source, said indicator comprising an anode active layer, a cathode active layer and an electrolyte layer, said electrolyte layer contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode active layers, said condition indicator being geometrically designed to provide a predetermined selective discharge pattern whereby the discharge reaction begins at a first region of one of said anode and cathode active layers and continues therefrom towards remote regions thereof.
- 2. A condition indicator for an electrochemical power source, said indicator comprising an anode active layer, a cathode active layer and an electrolyte layer, said electrolyte layer contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode active layers, wherein at least a portion of one of said anode and cathode active layers being laterally spaced from the other.
- 5. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator in contact with said electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell comprising an outer surface, a negative terminal and a positive terminal and said indicator comprising a laminate comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte contacting at least a portion of both said cathode and anode layers, wherein the anode layer and cathode layer are laterally spaced apart so that no portion of the anode layer overlaps any portion of the cathode layer.
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17. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator in contact with said electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell comprising an outer surface, a negative terminal and a positive terminal and said indicator comprising a laminate comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte contacting at least a portion of both said cathode and anode layers;
- wherein the anode layer and cathode layer are laterally spaced apart so that no portion of the anode layer overlaps any portion of the cathode layer;
said indicator further comprising a color or indicia layer which is revealed when one of said cathode and anode active layers is electrochemically discharged;
wherein the anode layer comprises zinc; and
wherein the cathode layer comprises a mixture of a cathode active material and about 10 percent by weight of a conducting agent, the cathode active material selected from the group consisting of CoO2, NiO2 and lambda MnO2, and said conducting agent selected from the group consisting of carbon black and graphite; and
wherein the electrolyte comprises an electrolytic film having a conductivity of at least 1×
10-7 ohm-1 cm-1 and a thickness of between 0.05 and 0.25 mm, said electrolytic film comprising a porous polymeric film retaining a liquid electrolyte solution within the pores of said polymeric film, said polymeric film selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile, the liquid electrolyte solution comprising an ionic salt dissolved in an organic solvent, said ionic salt selected from the group consisting of LiCF3 SO3, LiClO4, Zn(CF3 SO3)2 and Zn(ClO4)2, LiN(CF3 SO2)2 and combinations thereof and the organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof.
- wherein the anode layer and cathode layer are laterally spaced apart so that no portion of the anode layer overlaps any portion of the cathode layer;
Specification