Apparatus and method for testing and indicating battery charge and functionality
First Claim
1. A device for testing a battery comprising:
- (a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts;
(b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the contacts, and the other end of the conditioning resistor being connected to the other of the contacts; and
(c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;
the electrical circuit further comprising a switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit.
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Abstract
A device for rapidly testing a battery includes a conditioning resistor and a depressible momentary type switch interposed in series between the conditioning resistor and the battery terminals, such that the closing of the switch allows current flow through the conditioning resistor in approximately the full amount the battery can generate when fully charged. In parallel with the conditioning resistor are a number of sets of voltage dividers and comparators working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference. Each comparator has an associated indicator light such that all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at full capacity, but less than all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at less than full capacity.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A device for testing a battery comprising:
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(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts; (b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the contacts, and the other end of the conditioning resistor being connected to the other of the contacts; and (c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;
the electrical circuit further comprising a switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit.
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2. A device for rapidly testing a battery comprising:
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(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts; (b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery that would draw approximately the full current the battery can generate when fully charged, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the contacts, and its other end being connected to the other of the contacts; and (c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;
the electrical circuit further comprising a depressible momentary type switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for rapidly testing a battery comprising:
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(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts, the electrical contacts of the tester having at least a partially textured surface such that the mating of the tester contacts with the battery contacts causes sufficient friction to wipe away any debris present on the battery contacts; (b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery, that would draw approximately the full current the battery can generate when fully charged, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the tester contacts, and its other end being connected to the other of the tester contacts; and (c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;
the electrical circuit further comprising a depressible momentary type switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit;
the electrical circuit further comprising a plurality of sets of voltage dividers and comparators working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference, each comparator having an associated indicator light such that all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at full capacity, but less than all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at less than full capacity. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification