Moisture barrier for battery with electrochemical tester
First Claim
1. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component;
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte in operative association with each other; and
wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing;
the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell; and
wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visually discernible indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The combination of a main electrochemical cell (or battery cell) and a battery tester connected to the cell is disclosed. The battery tester is moisture sensitive, typically of the electrochemical type having a film-like construction comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte layer therebetween. The tester may be applied against the cell'"'"'s outer surface. A moisture vapor barrier film is applied over the tester and adhesively secured to the cell'"'"'s surface. The moisture barrier film is flexible, optically clear or at least translucent, and has a very low moisture vapor transmission rate. The moisture vapor barrier is preferably composed of mica film, but may desirably also be a film of polyparaxylylene or glass coated polymer. A hydrophobic hot melt, solvent-based or reactive thermosetting adhesive may be employed to bond the moisture vapor barrier film to the cell'"'"'s surface. The moisture barrier film prevents ambient moisture from passing to the tester and interfering with its operation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component;
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte in operative association with each other; and
wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing;
the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell; and
wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visually discernible indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
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5. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component;
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell including a film-laminate comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and
wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing;
the combination further comprising a moisture barrier protecting said indicator cell; and
wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visual indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
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6. The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component;
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and
wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; and
wherein said cell condition indicator has a thickness of less than about 10 mils (0.25 mm) and is electrically connected in parallel to said electrochemical cell, the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell, and wherein at least one of the electrodes of said indicator cell becomes altered as said electrochemical cell discharges and whereby observation of the resulting altered electrode through said moisture barrier provides a visual indication of the state of charge of the electrochemical cell. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal;
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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 film-laminate including an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte in operative association with each other; and
wherein said anode layer is electrically connected to said negative terminal and said cathode layer is electrically connected to said positive terminal;
the combination further comprising a moisture barrier film covering the indicator, a hydrophobic adhesive layer between at least a portion of the moisture barrier film and electrochemical cell outer surface to bond the moisture barrier film to said electrochemical cell wherein the moisture barrier film has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.02 gm H2 O×
mm/(m2 ×
24 hrs) and said adhesive layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate less than about 2 gm H2 O×
mm/(m2 ×
24 hrs). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- said electrochemical cell comprising an outer surface, a negative terminal and a positive terminal and said indicator comprising a film-laminate including an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte in operative association with each other; and
Specification