Battery detecting device for a radio pager

• US 6,104,303 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Katada, Nobuyuki, Sone, Tomoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/613,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 340/635, 340/311.1, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 320/2, 320/48
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• 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 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/597 Protection against reversal of polarity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In a device applicable to a pager or similar electronic apparatus for detecting a thin disk-like primary battery which feeds power to a load circuit, a secondary battery is provided which is complementary to the primary battery. A receiving portion receives the primary battery and has a first contact terminal for contacting the positive electrode side of the battery, a second contact terminal for contacting the negative electrode side of the battery at one end and connected to ground at the other end, and a third contact terminal contacting the negative electrode side of the battery at one end. When the primary battery is inserted in the receiving portion in a predetermined orientation, a detecting unit determines that the battery is present on the basis of the contact of the second and third contact terminals via the negative electrode side of the battery.

Claims

1. A device having a circuit for detecting the presence or absence of a battery properly connected to said device, comprising:

a battery holder for receiving a primary battery, the battery holder having first, second and third electrodes, the first electrode being connected to a load circuit, the second electrode being connected to ground, the battery holder being structured and arranged such that when the primary battery is received therein, the primary battery connects the third electrode to the second electrode to thereby connect the third electrode to ground; and

a central processing unit connected to the third electrode of the battery holder for monitoring the presence or absence of ground at the third electrode and for stopping an operation of the device when the control processing unit determines the absence of ground at the third electrode.

2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, further including a secondary battery and a boosting circuit having an input connected to the second battery and an output connected to the load circuit and to the first electrode of the battery holder.