Battery check apparatus

• US 5,527,630 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Hidenori, Nagata, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/216,627
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 429/61, 429/92, 429/93, 354/468, 354/484
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

This invention relates to a battery check apparatus comprising an effecting circuit for effecting the power supply battery to decrease an internal resistance of the battery power supply and a check circuit for checking a battery life of the power supply battery after the operation of the effecting circuit.

Claims

1. A battery check apparatus, comprising:

(A) decreasing means for decreasing an internal resistance of a battery;

(B) checking means for checking the battery the internal resistance of which has been decreased by said decreasing means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decreasing means comprises means for connecting a load to the battery.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the load comprises a d.c. load.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the load comprises an a.c. load.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the load comprises a unit driven by the battery.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the load comprises a flashlight unit.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the load comprises a load different from a unit driven by the battery.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load a number of times.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

10. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a number of times to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking a capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function a number of times.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking the capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking the capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition thereof.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition for application according to a temperature.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a temperature.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a battery which does not contain mercury compounds.

24. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a battery whose internal resistance is high at its initial use.

25. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply battery comprises a battery used for a camera.

26. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for activating the battery.

27. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for removing internal oxidation of the battery.

28. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the checking means comprises erroneous determination preventing means for preventing the capacity of the battery from being determined incorrectly during functioning of said decreasing means.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the erroneous determination preventing means comprises a capacitor.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said erroneous determination preventing means comprises a diode.

31. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said erroneous determination preventing means comprises a diode.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said erroneous determination preventing means comprises a resistor.

33. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said erroneous determination preventing means comprises a resistor for regulation.

34. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said erroneous determination preventing means comprises a resistor.

35. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the erroneous determination preventing means comprises resistors for regulation.

36. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises a capacitor.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said checking means comprises a diode.

38. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said checking means comprises a resistor.

39. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said checking means comprises a resistor for regulation.

40. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises a diode.

41. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises a resistor.

42. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said checking means comprises a resistor for regulation.

43. An apparatus for which a battery is used, comprising:

(A) decreasing means for decreasing an internal resistance of a battery;

(B) checking means for checking the battery the internal resistance of which has been decreased by said decreasing means.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the decreasing means comprises means for connecting a load to the battery.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the load comprises a d.c. load.

46. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the load comprises an a.c. load.

47. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the load comprises a unit driven by the battery.

48. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the load comprises a flashlight unit.

49. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the load comprises a load different from a unit driven by the battery.

50. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load a number of times.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

52. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

53. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a number of times to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

54. An apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

55. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for affecting the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

56. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking a capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function a number of times.

57. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

58. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said checking means comprises means for checking the capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

59. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition thereof.

60. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application.

61. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining for application according to a temperature.

62. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

63. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a temperature.

64. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

65. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the battery comprises a battery which does not contain mercury compounds.

66. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the battery comprises a battery whose internal resistance is high at its initial use.

67. A camera, comprising:

(A) decreasing means for decreasing an internal resistance of a battery;

(B) checking means for checking the battery the internal resistance of which has been decreased by said decreasing means.

68. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the decreasing means comprises means for connecting a load to the battery.

69. Art apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the load comprises a d.c. load.

70. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the load comprises an a.c. load.

71. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the load comprises a unit driven by the battery.

72. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the load comprises a flashlight unit.

73. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the load comprises a load different from a unit driven by the battery.

74. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load a number of times.

75. An apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

76. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for connecting the load for a period of time.

77. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a number of times to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

78. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

79. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for employing the battery for a period of time to decrease the internal resistance thereof.

80. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking a capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function a number of times.

81. An apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking the capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

82. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said checking means comprises means for checking the capacity of the battery after causing said decreasing means to function for a period of time.

83. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition thereof.

84. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application.

85. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition for application according to a temperature.

86. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a condition for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

87. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a temperature.

88. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said decreasing means comprises means for determining a period of time for application according to a number of times for using the battery.

89. A camera according to claim 67, wherein the battery comprises a battery which does not contain mercury compounds.

90. A camera according to claim 67, wherein the battery comprises a battery whose internal resistance is high at its initial use.