Battery voltage tester for end of cell
First Claim
1. An integral battery and state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
- a battery having a first end and a second end, and a first and a second external terminal of opposite polarity;
a state-of-charge indicating device affixed to and disposed substantially in its entirety upon one of said first end and said second end, said device comprising;
a flexible member covering a portion of each of said first and second terminal;
an indicating material on one surface of said flexible member; and
conductive means on said flexible member in association with said indicating material and positioned for electrical contact with said first and second external terminals such that pressure on said flexible member will cause said conductive means to complete an electrical circuit between said first and second external terminals on said battery causing said indicating material to change optical absorption to an extent depending on the state-of-charge of said battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery is provided with an end-of-cell voltage indicating device which can be used to indicate the state-of-charge of the battery. The indicating device has a flexible substrate of the same peripheral configuration as the battery. The substrate has an indicating coating on one surface which is in thermal or electrical contact with a conductive circuit pattern which can be temporarily connected between the terminals of the battery on application of pressure to an indicated spot on the surface of the substrate. The conductive circuit means causes the indicating coating to undergo a visible change which is representative of the state-of-charge or voltage of the battery. A dual end-switched, integral battery and state-of-charge indicating device having two switches disposed on one end of the battery is also disclosed.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An integral battery and state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a battery having a first end and a second end, and a first and a second external terminal of opposite polarity; a state-of-charge indicating device affixed to and disposed substantially in its entirety upon one of said first end and said second end, said device comprising; a flexible member covering a portion of each of said first and second terminal; an indicating material on one surface of said flexible member; and conductive means on said flexible member in association with said indicating material and positioned for electrical contact with said first and second external terminals such that pressure on said flexible member will cause said conductive means to complete an electrical circuit between said first and second external terminals on said battery causing said indicating material to change optical absorption to an extent depending on the state-of-charge of said battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery having an integral state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a conductive housing containing the active components of said battery; a first conductive cover attached to one end of said housing, said first conductive cover being electrically connected to said housing and forming the positive terminal for said battery; a second conductive cover for closing the opposite end of said housing, said second conductive cover being electrically insulated from said housing, said second conductive cover forming the negative terminal for said battery; a state-of-charge indicating device disposed substantially in its entirety upon and affixed to said second conductive cover, said indicating device having a circular form, said indicating device comprising; a flexible member shaped to conform to said second conductive cover; a layer of thermochromic material on one surface of said member; a shaped conductive pattern on the surface of said thermochromic material, said conductive pattern having first and second end portions; a layer of electrical insulating material on said conductive pattern, said insulating material having an opening so as to leave exposed at least one of said first and second end portions of said conductive pattern so that when pressure is applied to the surface of said flexible member above said first and second end portions of said conductive pattern one of said end portions will contact said positive terminal while the other end portion contacts said negative terminal causing said conductive pattern to heat and change the color of said thermochromic material thereby indicating the state-of-charge of said battery. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A battery having an integral state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a housing containing the active components of said battery, said housing defining a first battery end and a second battery end opposite said first battery end; a first conductive member on said housing forming a first external terminal for said battery; a second conductive member on said housing forming a second external terminal for said battery; a state-of-charge indicating device having a generally circular form, said indicating device secured to and overlying substantially in its entirety one of said first battery end and said second battery end, said device disposed adjacent said first and second conductive members, said device comprising; a flexible member disposed on said housing in contact with a portion of one of said first and second conductive members and over a part of the other conductive member; an indicating coating on one surface of said flexible member; a conductive pattern in thermal contact with said indicating coating, said conductive pattern having a first end adjacent said first conductive member and a second end adjacent said second conductive member; a layer of insulation covering all but the first and second ends of said conductive pattern so that pressure applied to the surface of said flexible member above said first and second ends of said conductive pattern will cause said conductive pattern to be electrically connected between the external terminals of said battery causing said conductive pattern to heat and said indicating coating to exhibit a visual change which can be related to the state-of-charge of said battery. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17)
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14. A battery having a integral state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a housing for containing the active components of said battery, said housing defining a first battery end and a second battery end opposite said first battery end; a first conductive portion of said housing forming a first external terminal for said battery; a second conductive portion of said housing forming a second external terminal for said battery; a generally circular, flexible substrate affixed to and overlying substantially in its entirety one of said first battery end and said second battery end, said substrate disposed on said housing such that said substrate covers a portion of said first and second external terminals; a layer of electrochromic material covering a portion of said substrate; a first electrically conductive means in electrical contact with said electrochromic material; a second electrically conductive means in electrical contact with said electrochromic material; a layer of electrical insulating material covering said first end and second electrically conductive means with the exception of the end portions thereof, so that pressure on said flexible substrate will cause at least one of said end portions of said first and second electrically conductive means to come into electrical contact with at least one of said first and second external terminals thereby applying a DC potential to said electrochromic material causing it to change color or optical absorption to an extent indicative of the state-of-charge of said battery.
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16. A combination battery and a state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a battery having a first end and a second end and first and second conductive portions forming external terminals of opposite polarity; a state-of-charge indicating device having a circular form, affixed to and overlying substantially in its entirety one of said first end and said second end, said device comprising; a flexible layer forming a substrate; a plurality of layers of thermochromic material on said substrate, said thermochromic layers exhibiting a change in color or change in optical absorption at different temperatures; a conductive pattern in thermal contact with said plurality of thermochromic layers, said conductive pattern having a first and a second end portion which on application of pressure to said substrate will complete an electrical circuit between said conductive pattern and said external terminals on said battery thereby causing said conductive pattern to heat and in turn cause said plurality of thermochromic layers to change color or optical absorption in relation to the state-of-charge of said battery. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. In a battery having a first end and a second end and a first external terminal and a second external terminal of opposite polarity, an integral battery state-of-charge indicator comprising:
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a flexible member disposed upon and affixed to one of said first end and said second end, substantially the entirety of said flexible member overlying said one of said first end and said second end, said member conforming generally in shape to the end upon which it is disposed; thermochromic indicating material on one surface of said flexible member; and conductive means on said flexible member in association and in thermal contact with said indicating material and positioned for electrical contact with said first and said second external terminals, such that pressure on said flexible member will cause said conductive means to complete an electrical circuit between said first and said second external terminals on said battery causing said indicating material to change optical absorption to an extent depending on the state-of-charge of said battery. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An integral battery and state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a battery having a first and a second end, and a first and a second external terminal of opposite polarity; a state-of-charge indicating device affixed to said battery, said device comprising; a first switch disposed upon one of said first end and said second end, said first switch for establishing electrical connection with one of said first and said second external terminals; a voltage indicator disposed upon and affixed to said battery; a first electrical conductor providing electrical connection between said first switch and said voltage indicator, said first electrical conductor extending from said first switch on one end of said battery to said indicator disposed on said battery; a second switch disposed upon the same end of said battery that said first switch is disposed upon, said second switch for establishing electrical connection with the other of said first and said second external terminals; and a second electrical conductor providing electrical connection between said second switch and said voltage indicator, said second electrical conductor extending from said second switch on said one end of said battery to said indicator disposed on said battery. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An integral battery and state-of-charge indicating device comprising:
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a battery having a first end and a second end, and a first and a second external terminal of opposite polarity; a state-of-charge indicating device affixed to and disposed substantially in its entirety upon one of said first end and said second end, said device comprising; a flexible member disposed proximate to a portion of each of said first and second terminals; an indicating material on one surface of said flexible member; and conductive means on said flexible member in association with said indicating material, said conductive means comprising a first end portion and a second end portion wherein said first end portion is in electrical contact with said first external terminal of said battery and said second end portion is positioned for electrical contact with said second external terminal such that pressure on said flexible member will cause said conductive means to complete an electrical circuit between said first and second external terminals on said battery causing said indicating material to change optical absorption to an extent depending on the state-of-charge of said battery.
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Specification