Battery/discriminating method, drycell battery pack, and electronic device

• US 6,154,004 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Yoshinari
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US08/788,195
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 429/178, 429/1, 429/90, 320/149, 320/161, 320/165, 320/162, 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/106
• 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 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/588 outside the batteries, e.g. incorrect connections of terminals or busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/597 Protection against reversal of polarity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/06 Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature 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 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/12 Precharging analysis, e.g. determining presence of battery

Abstract

A battery discriminating method discriminates between smart battery packs and dry cell battery packs with a simple structure. A dry cell battery pack is composed of a case for storing a plurality of dry batteries connected in series, positive and negative electrodes which are provided in the case and connected to the series-connected dry batteries, and a resistance element of which one end is connected to the series-connected dry batteries and the other end is connected to a terminal provided in the case. A predetermined voltage is supplied to a terminal for discriminating the battery of a battery pack via a resistor, and the voltage value of this terminal detected to discriminate the type of the battery pack according to the detected voltage value.

Claims

1. A battery discriminating method for discriminating a battery pack having first, second and third terminals and a plurality of dry battery cells, said first and second terminals corresponding to positive and negative electrodes of said battery pack, respectively, and said third terminal being connected via a first resistor to an electric connecting point between cells, said method comprising:

connecting a second resistor between the third terminal and the second terminal;

detecting a voltage on the third terminal at said third terminal resulting from the connected resistor; and

determining a type of said battery pack based on the detected voltage value.

2. The battery discriminating method according to claim 1, wherein the detected voltage value is approximately equal to a portion of a voltage value that is generated by said battery pack such that the type of said battery pack is determined to be a dry cell battery pack comprised of a plurality of series-connected battery cells.

3. The battery discriminating method according to claim 2, wherein said portion of the generated voltage value is approximately equal to another voltage value that is generated by a battery cell in said plurality of series-connected battery cells.

4. The battery discriminating method according to claim 1, wherein the detected voltage value is approximately equal to a voltage value that is output by a voltage regulator located in a device receiving power from said battery pack such that the type of said battery pack is determined to be a non-dry cell battery pack.

5. The battery discriminating method according to claim 4, further comprising transmitting communication information to the determined non-dry cell battery pack such that the non-dry cell battery pack is determined to be a microprocessor-based battery pack when a response to the transmitted communication information is received.