Battery pack chemistry detection and identification system and method

• US 6,181,102 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Brink, Gregory Dean, Andrews, Jonathan Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/191,685
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 307/125
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• 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 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 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery chemistry identification system and method that identifies the chemistry of an installed battery pack which may be one of a number of battery packs having different battery chemistries. The battery packs have electrical and physical interfaces that are functionally interchangeable. The battery packs include one or more distinguishing features in either or both aspects of the interface. The identification system includes a sensor appropriate for detecting the feature(s) and, based on the presence or absence of those distinguishing feature(s), determines which battery pack and, hence, which battery chemistry, is installed in the battery-powered device. In one particular embodiment, the system determines whether a battery installed in a battery-powered device having multiple use models is a commonly available industry standard battery pack or a customized battery pack. The industry standard battery pack has a first battery chemistry and a standard mechanical and electrical battery interface. The standard mechanical interface enables the battery pack to mechanically interoperate with an appropriately configured battery pocket while the standard electrical interface enables the battery pack to electrically interoperate with the battery pocket, typically including terminals through which energy is delivered to the device. The customized battery pack has a second battery chemistry different than the first battery chemistry and a custom interface. The custom interface includes the standard mechanical and electrical battery interfaces with the addition of one or more distinguishing feature(s). The system detects the presence or absence of the feature(s) and generates a battery chemistry indication accordingly.

Claims

1. A battery-powered portable defibrillator having a plurality of use models each having associated therewith a characteristic power consumption time and duration, the device comprising:

a battery pocket constructed and arranged to receive and operate with an industry standard battery pack having a first battery chemistry and standard mechanical and electrical battery interfaces, and a customized battery pack having a second battery chemistry different than said first battery chemistry and a custom interface comprising said standard mechanical battery interface, said standard electrical battery interface and one or more distinguishing features different than said standard battery interface;

a battery chemistry identification system constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing features and for generating a battery chemistry indication signal indicative of said battery chemistry of a battery pack installed in said battery pocket; and

circuitry that adjusts the operation of the defibrillator to a use model appropriate for the battery pack inserted into the battery pocket.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable defibrillator.

3. The defibrillator of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery management system for managing said installed battery pack in accordance with said battery chemistry indication signal.

4. The defibrillator of claim 3, wherein said battery management system charges and discharges said installed battery pack in accordance with said use model and said battery chemistry of said installed battery pack.

5. The defibrillator of claim 1, wherein said first battery chemistry is lead acid that enables said industry standard battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a first use model.

6. The defibrillator of claim 5, wherein said second battery chemistry is lithium (Li) that enables said customized battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a second use model.

7. The defibrillator of claim 5, wherein said second battery chemistry is nickel cadmium (NiCd) that enables said customized battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a second use model.

8. The defibrillator of claim 5, wherein said identification system comprises:

a sensing device constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said distinguishing feature(s); and

a controller operationally coupled to said sensing device for generating said battery pack chemistry identification signal based on said presence or absence of said distinguishing feature(s).

9. The defibrillator of claim 5, wherein said distinguishing feature is located on said standard mechanical interface of said customized battery pack.

10. The defibrillator of claim 5, wherein said distinguishing feature is located on said standard electrical interface of said customized battery pack.

11. The defibrillator of claim 1,

wherein said first battery chemistry enables said industry standard battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a first use model, and

wherein said second chemistry enables said customized battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a second use model.

12. The defibrillator of claim 1,

wherein said standard electrical battery interface comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein said device includes corresponding contacts to electrically contact the battery pack terminals when said industry standard and said customized battery pack is installed in the device;

wherein said one or more distinguishing features comprises said negative terminal of said customized battery pack has a dimension different that said negative terminal of said industry standard battery pack;

wherein said sensing device comprises a third electrical contact disposed within the battery pocket constructed and arranged to distinguish between said negative terminal of said industry standard battery pack and said negative terminal of said customized battery pack when said customized battery pack is installed in said battery pocket.

13. The defibrillator of claim 1,

wherein said standard electrical battery interface comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein said device includes corresponding contacts to electrically contact the battery pack terminals when said industry standard and said customized battery pack is installed in the device, and

wherein said one or more distinguishing features comprises a third electrical terminal disposed on a surface of the customized battery pack, and

wherein said sensing device comprises a third electrical contact disposed within the battery pocket constructed and arranged to contact said third electrical terminal when said customized battery pack is installed in said battery pocket.

14. The defibrillator of claim 13,

wherein said third electrical contact and one of said positive or negative terminals form a unitary terminal,

wherein said third contact is disposed immediately adjacent to said corresponding contact.

15. The defibrillator of claim 13,

wherein said distinguishing feature comprises reflective coating position on said battery pack;

and

wherein said battery chemistry identification system comprises a photodetector constructed and arranged to detect said reflective coating when said customize battery pack is installed in said defibrillator.

16. A customized battery pack offering a different use model than an industry standard battery pack, the customized battery pack, comprising:

a mechanical interface substantially the same as that provided by a industry standard battery pack;

an electrical interface substantially the same as that provided by said industry standard battery pack;

a battery chemistry different than said industry standard battery pack; and

one or more distinguishing features located on one of said mechanical and electrical interfaces, wherein said distinguishing features are not provided on said industry standard battery interface so as to indicate the use model appropriate to a device adapted to receive the customized battery pack, wherein said one or more distinguishing features includes a reflective coating positioned one of either mechanical or electrical interface to be detected by a photodetector located in the device adapted to receive the customized battery pack.

17. The battery pack of claim 16, wherein said battery chemistry of said industry standard battery pack is lead acid and wherein said battery chemistry of said custom battery pack is lithium.

18. The battery pack of claim 16, wherein said battery chemistry of said industry standard battery pack is lead acid and wherein said battery chemistry of said custom battery pack is nickel cadmium (NiCd).