Battery pack with capacity and pre-removal indicators

• US 5,898,290 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Beard, Paul, Grabon, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Law, Patrick B.
• Application Number:
  US08/711,447
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/48, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, 307/116, 323/904
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1408 by using cryptography for digital transmission H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

A battery capacity monitoring system readily indicates the remaining capacity of an uninserted battery pack upon an operator'"'"'s request. Such request may involve the touching of one or more contacts disposed on the battery pack. The battery pack also includes a display and a communication means for communicating capacity information to the device in which it may be installed. The communication means may also be used to display status when the battery pack is not inserted. When inserted a device, the battery pack and device participate to determine time estimates for remaining battery life based on known device loading characteristics and current battery capacity. An operator viewing such information may more adequately determine the usage value of the current battery charge. Moreover, the battery pack and corresponding device are configured to detect the beginning of the process of removing a battery pack. In response, the device saves operational states and data before losing power. Such stored information may be restored upon insertion of another battery pack into the device, permitting the operator to continue where they left off.

Claims

1. A battery pack that may be inserted by an operator into an electronic device to supply power to the electronic device, the battery pack comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable battery, disposed within the housing, having a current charge useable by the electronic device when inserted therein;

at least one terminal disposed on the housing;

a sensing circuit that detects the operator making contact with the at least one terminal;

a display disposed on the housing; and

a control circuit responsive to the detection of the sensing circuit by delivering to the display information regarding the current charge of the rechargeable battery.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal disposed on the housing comprises a single terminal, and the sensing circuit monitors capacitance associated with the single terminal to detect the operator'"'"'s contact.

3. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the at least one terminal disposed on the housing comprises a pair of terminals, and the sensing circuit detects creation of a current pathway through the operator between the pair of terminals.

4. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the control circuit computes usage time estimates when the battery pack is inserted in the electronic device based on the loading characteristics of the electronic device.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of contact terminals disposed on the housing to provide power delivery to the electronic device when the battery pack is inserted therein.

6. The battery pack of claim 5 wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of variable length contacts that engagingly couple with the plurality of contact terminals of the battery pack to provide pre-removal indications to the electronic device of impending power loss.

7. The battery pack of claim 5 further comprising a wireless transceiver for coupling battery charge information to the electronic device.

8. The battery pack of claim 7 wherein the display comprises at least a portion of the wireless transceiver.

9. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein, when the battery pack is coupled with the electronic device, the control circuit causes the delivery of current charge information to the electronic device to permit computation by the electronic device of remaining capacity time estimates based on the loading characteristics of the electronic device.

10. A battery pack that may be inserted by an operator into an electronic device to supply power to the electronic device, the battery pack comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable battery, disposed within the housing, having a current charge useable by the electronic device when inserted therein;

a first, second and third contact disposed on the housing to engagingly couple to the electronic device when the battery pack is inserted into the electronic device;

the first and second contacts engagingly coupling with the electronic device to deliver power to the electronic device; and

the third contact engagingly coupling with the electronic device that, during the process of removing the battery pack from the electronic device, delivers a pre-removal indication prior to the uncoupling of the first and second contacts from the electronic device.

11. The battery pack of claim 10 wherein the third contact is sized and positioned to deliver a pre-removal indication.

12. The battery pack of claim 10 wherein the third contact is shorter than the first and second contacts.

13. The battery pack of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one terminal disposed on the housing;

a sensing circuit that detects the operator making contact with the at least one terminal;

a display disposed on the housing; and

a control circuit responsive to the detection of the sensing circuit by delivering to the display information regarding the current charge of the rechargeable battery.

14. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein the at least one terminal disposed on the housing comprises a single terminal, and the sensing circuit monitors capacitance associated with the single terminal to detect the operator'"'"'s contact.

15. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein the at least one terminal disposed on the housing comprises a pair of terminals, and the sensing circuit detects creation of a current pathway through the operator between the pair of terminals.

16. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein the control circuit computes usage time estimates when the battery pack is inserted in the electronic device based on the loading characteristics of the electronic device.

17. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein, when the battery pack is coupled with the electronic device, the control circuit causes the delivery of current charge information to the electronic device to permit computation by the electronic device of remaining capacity time estimates based on the loading characteristics of the electronic device.