Condition tester for a battery
First Claim
1. A condition indicator for an electrochemical power source, said condition indicator comprising an electrolytic cell having essentially no electromotive force (e.m.f.) of its own, said electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, said electrolyte electrically contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode, and said condition indicator further comprising an auxiliary cell electrically connected in series to the electrolytic cell, wherein the auxiliary cell is an electrochemical power generating cell, and wherein said power source is an electrochemical cell other than the auxiliary cell, the electrochemical power source comprising a positive and a negative terminal whereinsaid electrochemical power source is electrically connected to the auxiliary cell with one of (i) and (ii) being in effect, said (i) being the positive terminal of said electrochemical power source electrically connected to the cathode of the auxiliary cell and said (ii) being the negative terminal of said electrochemical power source electrically connected to the anode of the auxiliary cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tester for determining the condition of an electrochemical power source, e.g. a battery or main cell, is disclosed. The tester may comprise an electrolytic (coulometric) cell connected in series to a auxiliary cell. The auxiliary cell is a miniature electrochemical power cell. The electrolytic (coulometric) cell may have no electromotive force of its own and may comprise an anode and cathode of the same material, desirably silver, with an electrolyte contacting at least a portion of both the anode and cathode. The tester may be permanently connected in parallel to a main cell being tested and is thin enough to be integratable into a label for the main cell. As the main cell discharges, the electrolytic cell anode clears proportionally to the discharge of one of the electrodes of the main cell to provide a continuous visually discernible indication of the state of charge of the main cell.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A condition indicator for an electrochemical power source, said condition indicator comprising an electrolytic cell having essentially no electromotive force (e.m.f.) of its own, said electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, said electrolyte electrically contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode, and said condition indicator further comprising an auxiliary cell electrically connected in series to the electrolytic cell, wherein the auxiliary cell is an electrochemical power generating cell, and wherein said power source is an electrochemical cell other than the auxiliary cell, the electrochemical power source comprising a positive and a negative terminal whereinsaid electrochemical power source is electrically connected to the auxiliary cell with one of (i) and (ii) being in effect, said (i) being the positive terminal of said electrochemical power source electrically connected to the cathode of the auxiliary cell and said (ii) being the negative terminal of said electrochemical power source electrically connected to the anode of the auxiliary cell.
- 3. The combination of a battery and a battery condition indicator, wherein said battery comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal and said condition indicator comprises an electrolytic cell having essentially no electromotive force (e.m.f.) of its own, said electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, said electrolyte electrically contacting at least a portion of both said anode and cathode, said condition indicator being permanently electrically connected to the battery, wherein said condition indicator further comprises an auxiliary cell electrically connected in series to the electrolytic cell, wherein the auxiliary cell is an electrochemical cell other than the battery, said auxiliary cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte contacting at least a portion of said auxiliary cell anode and cathode, wherein the battery is electrically connected to the auxiliary cell with one of (i) add (ii) being in effect, said (i) being the positive terminal of the battery electrically connected to the cathode of the auxiliary cell and said (ii) being the negative terminal of said battery electrically connected to the anode of the auxiliary cell, wherein at least one of said anode and cathode of the electrolytic cell being visible and wherein during discharge of said battery reaction begins at a first region of said visible electrode and continues therefrom towards remote regions thereof.
Specification