Method and apparatus for differentiating battery types
First Claim
1. A method of determining a battery'"'"'s type from a plurality of candidate cell types, the battery having positive and negative output voltage terminals, the candidate cell types comprising a first cell type and a second cell type, the method comprising:
- measuring the series resistance of the battery between the positive and negative output voltage terminals thereof;
determining whether the series resistance of the battery lies within a predetermined range of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of both the first and second cell types;
when the series resistance of the battery is determined to lie within .the predetermined range of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of both the first and second cell types, the method further comprising the steps of;
measuring the voltage of the battery between the positive and negative output voltage terminals thereof;
determining whether the voltage of the battery lies within a first predetermined range of voltages exhibited by batteries of the first cell type whose series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values;
determining whether the voltage of the battery lies within a second predetermined range of voltages exhibited by batteries of the second cell type whose series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values;
identifying the battery as having the first cell type if the series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values and the voltage is within the first range of voltages; and
identifying the battery as having the second cell type if the series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values and the voltage is within the second range of voltages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The cell type of a battery is determined by characterizing the series resistance behavior of various cell types to determine ranges of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of a particular cell type. The series resistance of a battery of unknown cell type is then measured. If the series resistance measurement is determined to be within a range of series resistance values exhibited exclusively by a cell type, the battery is identified as having that cell type. However, for batteries whose series resistance measurements are within a non-exclusive range of series resistance values, a second cell type discharge characteristic such as battery voltage is also characterized to differentiate between the cell types. The second discharge characteristic of these batteries is also measured and used to identify the cell type.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of determining a battery'"'"'s type from a plurality of candidate cell types, the battery having positive and negative output voltage terminals, the candidate cell types comprising a first cell type and a second cell type, the method comprising:
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measuring the series resistance of the battery between the positive and negative output voltage terminals thereof; determining whether the series resistance of the battery lies within a predetermined range of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of both the first and second cell types; when the series resistance of the battery is determined to lie within .the predetermined range of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of both the first and second cell types, the method further comprising the steps of; measuring the voltage of the battery between the positive and negative output voltage terminals thereof; determining whether the voltage of the battery lies within a first predetermined range of voltages exhibited by batteries of the first cell type whose series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values; determining whether the voltage of the battery lies within a second predetermined range of voltages exhibited by batteries of the second cell type whose series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values; identifying the battery as having the first cell type if the series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values and the voltage is within the first range of voltages; and identifying the battery as having the second cell type if the series resistance is within the predetermined range of series resistance values and the voltage is within the second range of voltages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for differentiating battery cell types, comprising:
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battery series resistance testing means connected to voltage output terminals of a battery for determining a series resistance value of the battery by sensing a voltage differential at the voltage output terminals resulting from application of a non-time varying current differential; battery voltage testing means connected to the voltage output terminals of the battery for determining a voltage value of the battery; means for determining whether the series resistance value and the voltage value lie within a range of series resistance and voltage values associated with a cell type to identify the battery as being of that cell type. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for distinguishing between interchangeable candidate cell types of a battery, comprising:
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a passive series resistance measurement circuit for providing an indication of a series resistance of the battery without external excitation by sensing a first differential magnitude caused as a result of imposing a non-time-varying second differential of known magnitude to the battery, the series resistance being related to a ratio of a voltage differential to a current differential; a voltage measurement circuit for providing an indication of a voltage of the battery; and a battery cell type identification circuit in communication with the passive series resistance measurement circuit and the voltage measurement circuit for identifying the cell type of the battery based on the series resistance and voltage indications. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification