Electrochromic thin film state-of-charge detector for on-the-cell application
First Claim
1. A method of forming an electrochromic thin film, battery state-of-charge detector, said method comprising:
- providing a substrate suitable for affixment to a battery;
depositing a first electrically conductive pattern on said substrate;
depositing an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer on said substrate;
depositing a second electrically conductive pattern on at least one of said electrochromic layer and said electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of said electrically conductive materials is a material through which said electrochromic material can be viewed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tester for use in determining the voltage and state-of-charge of a battery. The tester can be permanently mounted on the battery and employs an electrochromic cell which changes visual appearance, for example, color or intensity of color when electrically connected across the terminals of a battery. The electrochromic cell undergoes an oxidation/reduction reaction on direct application of the DC potential of the battery. The color of the electrochromic cell can be compared with a color comparison chart to determine the condition of the battery.
The tester can be permanently electrically connected to the battery or, preferably, can be connected momentarily to determine the state of the battery.
60 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming an electrochromic thin film, battery state-of-charge detector, said method comprising:
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providing a substrate suitable for affixment to a battery; depositing a first electrically conductive pattern on said substrate; depositing an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte layer on said substrate; depositing a second electrically conductive pattern on at least one of said electrochromic layer and said electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of said electrically conductive materials is a material through which said electrochromic material can be viewed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19)
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11. A method of forming labeled batteries, each comprising an integral battery and electrochromic thin film state-of-charge detector, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of batteries, each battery having a first terminal, a second terminal, and an exterior surface; providing a web of label substrate; applying repeated label graphics on said web of label substrate; applying repeated label testers at each label graphics, comprising the steps of; a) depositing a thin layer of a first electrically conductive material on said web of label substrate; b) depositing an electrochromic material and an ionically conductive electrolyte on said first electrically conductive material; c) applying to said electrochromic material and said electrolyte a thin layer of a second electrically conductive material, wherein at least one of said electrically conductive materials is a material through which said electrochromic material can be viewed, to thereby form said electrochromic thin film state-of-charge detector; d) providing a first electrical conductor for connecting said first electrically conductive material to said first terminal of said battery, and providing a second electrical conductor for connecting said second electrically conductive material to said second terminal of said battery; separating said web into individual labels and detectors; and affixing each said electrochromic thin film state-of-charge detector and label to said exterior surface of one of said batteries to thereby form each integral battery and electrochromic thin film state-of-charge detector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of forming an electrochemichromic thin film state-of-charge detector for on-the-cell application, said method comprising:
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providing a label substrate; depositing a layer of a first electrically conductive material on said substrate; depositing a layer of an electrochemichromic material on said first electrically conductive material; and applying a layer of a second electrically conductive material on said electrochemichromic material, whereby said layers are in a stacked arrangement.
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18. A method for preparing a label having a battery condition taster for a battery, said battery including a first and a second external terminal, comprising the following steps:
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providing a label substrate as a film; forming on said substrate a layer of a first electronically conductive material; applying so as to contact said first electronically conductive material an electrochromic material and an ionically conductive electrolyte; applying so as to contact said electrochromic material and said electrolyte a layer of a second electronically conductive material, to thereby form said battery condition tester; and providing on said substrate a first electrically conductive means for connecting one of said first and second electronically conductive materials of said battery condition tester to one external terminal of said battery and a second electrically conductive means for connecting the other electronically conductive material to the other external terminal of said battery, and mounting said label substrate to said battery in a manner to be left there in place and to connect at least one of said first and second electrically conductive means to one of said battery terminals and whereby said tester is disposed on said battery; said substrate being provided in the form of a web, said web being printed with repeat graphics to form many labels, and a tester for each label, and including the step of separating individual labels from said web and then practicing said step of mounting an individual label to a battery.
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Specification