Battery monitor for unobstrusive installation with a battery connector
First Claim
1. A wafer-like device for sensing characteristics of a battery having a positive post and a negative post extending from a surface thereof, said device comprising:
- a generally flat substrate having first and second openings therein for receiving the positive and negative posts of the battery;
sensor means carried by the substrate for detecting characteristics of the battery;
port means carried by the substrate for providing a connection to external equipment for transmitting information detected by the sensor means;
conductive means for making electrical connection between the posts and at least the sensor means; and
said device being constructed so that it is insertable over the posts of the battery such that it lies essentially parallel to the battery surface with the posts extending through the openings in the substrate and making contact with the conductive means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring the environment of a battery. The device takes the form of a generally flat wafer-like substrate having openings therein for receiving the posts of the battery. The device is arranged so that it is sandwiched between the battery and its connector when the female receptacles of the connector are mated with the posts. Circuitry on the wafer contains a memory for recording information about the battery characteristics. This information can be read from the memory to provide knowledge about battery operating time, number of charge/discharge cycles, number and severity of deep-discharge cycles, total time spent in deep discharge, temperature fluctuations and G-loads applied to the battery. By taking advantage of the existing space between mated battery connectors, no additional mounting hardware or battery modifications are required.
75 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wafer-like device for sensing characteristics of a battery having a positive post and a negative post extending from a surface thereof, said device comprising:
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a generally flat substrate having first and second openings therein for receiving the positive and negative posts of the battery; sensor means carried by the substrate for detecting characteristics of the battery; port means carried by the substrate for providing a connection to external equipment for transmitting information detected by the sensor means; conductive means for making electrical connection between the posts and at least the sensor means; and said device being constructed so that it is insertable over the posts of the battery such that it lies essentially parallel to the battery surface with the posts extending through the openings in the substrate and making contact with the conductive means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wafer-like device for sensing operating characteristics of a battery having a positive post and a negative post extending from a surface thereof, with the battery providing power to electrical equipment by way of a connector having first and second female receptacles which fit over the positive and negative battery posts, said device comprising:
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a generally flat substrate having first and second openings therein for receiving the positive and negative posts of the battery; at least one electrical component carried by the substrate; sensor means, including the component, for sensing characteristics of the battery during use thereof; real time clock means for providing timing signals; memory means for storing the characteristics of the battery on a timed basis; an input/output port means carried by the substrate for providing a connection for transmitting information about the characteristics of the battery; first contact means for making electrical connection to the positive battery post; second contact means for making electrical connection to the negative battery post; conductive traces on the substrate for making electrical connection between the first and second contact means and at least the one component; said device being insertable over the posts of the battery with the posts extending through the openings in the substrate and making contact with the first and second electrical contact means; and said device being sufficiently thin so as to fit between adjacent faces of the battery and the connector while permitting the posts to mate with the receptacles of the connector, whereby the device uses the sensor means in conjunction with the clock means and the memory means for monitoring and recording characteristics of the battery during use thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for sensing characteristics of a battery having first and second posts extending from a surface of the battery, said method comprising:
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providing a wafer-like substrate having first and second holes therein corresponding to the first and second posts; providing a first conductive pattern surrounding the first hole for making removable sliding electrical contact with the first post; providing a second conductive pattern surrounding the second hole for making removable sliding electrical contact with the second post; providing at least one sensor means on the substrate for sensing characteristics of the battery during use; providing at least one memory means on the substrate for storing data about the battery during use; providing an input/output port on the substrate; providing conductive traces on the substrate for making electrical connection between the first and second conductive patterns, the sensor means, the memory means, and the input/output port; inserting the wafer-like substrate over the posts with the first and second conductive patterns making removable sliding contact with the posts as the posts extend through the openings in the device; mating a connector with the battery posts, with the substrate being sufficiently thin so as to fit between adjacent faces of the battery and the connector; using the sensor means to sense characteristics about the battery; storing data in the memory means about the sensed characteristics; removing the connector from the battery posts; removing the device from the battery posts; and reading the stored data through the input/output port carried by the substrate;
whereby information about the battery during use can be obtained. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification