Mnemonic system for indicating battery charge

• US 5,917,306 A
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amperex Technology Limited (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischl, Steven R., Deslyper, Amy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/067,475
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, D13/103, D13/107, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Described is a system for indicating the state of charge of a battery comprising a safety cover with an opening and a battery which can be placed in the safety cover in two orientations. One marking on the battery indicates the battery has been charged and the other marking indicates the battery has been discharged. Only one of the markings shows through the opening when the safety cover is placed on the battery in one orientation, and only the other marking shows through the marking when the safety cover is placed on the battery in the other orientation. The mnemonic system is easy to manufacture and easy to use.

Claims

1. A system for indicating the state of charge of a battery comprising:

(a) a safety cover with an opening;

(b) a battery that can be placed in the safety cover in two orientations;

(c) two markings on the battery, one of which indicates the battery is charged, the other which indicates the battery is discharged, where only one of the markings shows through the opening when the safety cover is placed on the battery in one orientation, and only the other marking shows through the opening when the safety cover is placed on the battery in the second orientation.

2. An system of claim 1, where the battery is a battery for an electronic device selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, radios, and computers.

3. The system of claim 1, where the safety cover has a snap-lock feature for latching onto the battery.