Electrical device having a discriminating, rechargeable battery system
First Claim
1. An electrical device for use with a first battery having an electrical terminal that includes a predetermined feature or a second battery having an electrical terminal lacking said predetermined feature, comprising:
- a load circuit;
a discharge contact connectable to said load circuit and couplable with said electrical terminal of either said first battery or said second battery;
a charger circuit;
a charging contact connectable to said charger circuit and couplable with said electrical terminal of said first battery to allow a charging current to be provided to said first battery from an outside power source; and
an inhibitor cooperable with said predetermined feature to allow the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said first battery and to prevent the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said second battery whereby only said first battery may receive said charging current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a portable electrical device with a discriminating, rechargeable battery system is provided. The rechargeable battery system includes a load circuit connected to a discharge contact adapted to electrically couple to an electrical terminal on a battery to receive power therefrom whereby either a first battery having a predetermined feature or a second battery lacking the predetermined feature may be coupled thereto. The system further includes a charger circuit connected to a charging contact adapted to electrically couple to the same electrical terminal on the battery to provide a charging current to the battery from an outside power source. An inhibitor is associated with the charger circuit and is adapted to cooperate with the predetermined feature to only allow the coupling of the charging contact with the electrical terminal of the first battery thereby preventing the coupling of the charging contact with the electrical terminal of the second battery. As such, only a battery having the predetermined feature may receive the charging current.
30 Citations
53 Claims
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1. An electrical device for use with a first battery having an electrical terminal that includes a predetermined feature or a second battery having an electrical terminal lacking said predetermined feature, comprising:
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a load circuit; a discharge contact connectable to said load circuit and couplable with said electrical terminal of either said first battery or said second battery; a charger circuit; a charging contact connectable to said charger circuit and couplable with said electrical terminal of said first battery to allow a charging current to be provided to said first battery from an outside power source; and an inhibitor cooperable with said predetermined feature to allow the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said first battery and to prevent the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said second battery whereby only said first battery may receive said charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50)
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11. A discriminating, rechargeable battery system for use in an electrical device, comprising:
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a first battery having a predetermined feature; a load circuit; a discharge contact coupled to said load circuit and to either an electrical terminal of said first battery or an electrical terminal of a second battery lacking said predetermined feature; a charger circuit; a charging contact coupled to said charger circuit and to said electric terminal to provide a charging current thereto from an outside power source; and an inhibitor associated with said charger circuit adapted to cooperate with said predetermined feature to allow the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said first battery and to prevent the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said second battery whereby only said first battery may receive said charging current. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53)
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22. A battery receptacle for use with a first battery having a predetermined feature or a second battery lacking said predetermined feature, comprising:
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a non-conductive support; a discharge contact mounted to said support adapted to electrically couple to an electrical terminal of either said first battery or said second battery; a charging contact mounted to said support adjacent said discharge contact; and an inhibitor mounted to said support and disposed between said discharge contact and said charging contact, said inhibitor being cooperable with said predetermined feature to allow the coupling of said charging contact with the electrical terminal of said first battery and to prevent the coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said second battery. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A battery receptacle for use with a plurality of first batteries each having a predetermined feature and a plurality of second batteries each lacking said predetermined feature, comprising:
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a non-conductive support forming a plurality of battery accepting slots each capable of accepting therein one of said plurality of first batteries or one of said plurality of second batteries, at least one of said plurality of battery accepting slots having a discharge contact mounted to said non-conductive support, said discharge contact being adapted to electrically couple to an electrical terminal of either one of said plurality of first batteries or one of said plurality of second batteries which may be disposed within said one of said plurality of battery accepting slots; a charging contact mounted to said non-conductive support; and an inhibitor associated with said charging contact and cooperable with said predetermined feature to permit coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said one of said plurality of first batteries and to prevent coupling of said charging contact with said electrical terminal of said one of said plurality of second batteries. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. The combination with a battery having a negative terminal at one end and a positive terminal at its opposed end, said positive terminal including a nubbin;
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a battery receptacle having a negative terminal contact couplable with said negative terminal, first and second positive terminal contacts couplable with said positive terminal, and an inhibitor disposed between said first and second positive terminal contacts, said inhibitor being configured to prevent the coupling of said second positive terminal contact and said positive terminal unless said nubbin has a predetermined configuration. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification