System and method for detecting performance components of a battery pack

• US 6,249,105 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Andrews, Neal, Brink, Gregory D., Burton, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/192,116
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/DIG.12, 320/DIG.13, 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 50/569 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack performance component detection system and method that identifies performance components of an installed battery pack which may be one of a number of battery packs each having a different performance component configuration. A performance component may be any operational component implemented in a battery pack other than the cells, that directly or indirectly affects the ability of a battery pack to support the power source requirements dictated by the operational mode of the battery-powered device. A performance component configuration is the particular combination of such performance components implemented in a battery pack. The battery packs have electrical and mechanical interfaces that are functionally interchangeable and include distinguishing feature(s) in either or both aspects of the battery interface that are uniquely associated with, and indicative of, the performance components implemented in the individual battery packs. The detection system includes one or more sensors appropriately configured and arranged to detect such distinguishing feature(s) and, based on the presence or absence of the feature(s), determines which performance components are implemented in the installed battery pack. The detection system may determine, for example, whether a battery pack installed in a battery-powered device is a commonly available industry standard battery pack having a first performance component configuration that is capable of supporting a first power source requirement, or a customized battery pack having a second performance component configuration capable of supporting a second power source requirement of the device. As used herein, an “industry standard” battery pack is any battery pack that generally is commonly available, whether it be due to a governmental regulation, industry-established standard, marketplace dominance or otherwise. In one application, the system determines whether battery pack installed in a portable defibrillator has a thermal fuse which limits the current draw, or a customized battery pack that does not.

Claims

1. A battery identification system that identifies performance components of one of a plurality of battery packs, each having functionally interchangeable electrical and physical interfaces and a distinguishing feature indicative of at least one implemented performance component, the system comprising:

a sensor device constructed and arranged to detect said distinguishing feature; and

a controller operationally coupled to said sensor that determines a battery performance configuration based on a presence or absence of said distinguishing feature, wherein said performance configuration comprises a combination of one or more performance components, other than the battery cells themselves, that directly or indirectly affects the ability of a battery pack to support the power source requirements dictated by an operational mode of a battery powered device to which the battery pack is connected, said controller outputting a signal that enables the adjusting of the operation of the device based on the battery performance configuration.

2. A battery performance component identification system, disposed within a battery pocket of a battery-powered device operational in accordance with a plurality of operational modes, based on a said installed battery pack selected from a commonly available industry standard battery pack or a customized battery pack, the industry standard battery pack having a first performance component configuration and a standard battery interface including a standard mechanical and a standard electrical battery interface, said customized battery pack having a second performance component configuration different than said first performance component including a set of performance components, other than the battery cells, that directly or indirectly affects the ability of the customized battery pack to support the power source requirements dictated by an operational mode of a battery powered device to which the customized battery pack is connected and a custom interface comprising said standard mechanical battery interface, said standard electrical battery interface and one or more distinguishing features not found in said standard battery interface, said battery performance component identification system comprising:

identification circuitry constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing features and for generating a battery pack performance component configuration identification signal identifying whether said installed battery pack has said first or said second performance component configuration; and

operational circuitry that adjusts the operation of the battery-powered device based on the identification signal.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein said first performance component configuration enables said industry standard battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a first mode of operation, and

wherein said second performance component configuration enables said customized battery pack to support reliable and efficient device operations in accordance with a second mode of operation.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said system further comprises:

a sensing device constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing features; and

a signal generating circuit electrically connected to said sensing device for generating said battery pack performance component configuration identification signal.

5. The system of claim 4,

wherein said one or more distinguishing features comprises a recess in said interface of said customized battery pack, wherein said industry standard battery pack does not include a corresponding recess;

and

wherein said sensing device comprises an electrical switch disposed within the battery pocket constructed and arranged to be activated by said standard interface of said industry standard battery pack and to be received within said recess of said interface of said customized battery pack when said customized battery pack is installed in said battery pocket.

6. The system of claim 5,

wherein said switch is a tact switch.

7. The system of claim 5,

wherein said switch comprises a spherical actuator, and

wherein said recess has a spherical shape adapted to receive said spherical actuator.

8. A battery-powered device having a plurality of modes of operation each having associated therewith a characteristic power source requirement, the device comprising:

a battery pocket constructed and arranged to receive and operate with an industry standard battery pack having a first performance component configuration and standard mechanical and electrical battery interfaces, and a customized battery pack having a second performance component configuration different than said first performance component configuration including a first set of performance components, other than the battery cells, that directly or indirectly affects the ability of the customized battery pack to support the power source requirements dictated by an operational mode of a battery powered device to which the battery pack is connected 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 performance component configuration identification system constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing features and for generating a battery performance component configuration indication signal indicative of said performance components of a battery pack installed in said battery pocket; and

a device management system that changes the mode of operation of the battery powered device based on the performance component configuration indication signal.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is a portable defibrillator.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

a device management system for determining said operational mode of said battery-powered device in accordance with said battery performance component configuration indication signal.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said identification system comprises:

a sensing device constructed and arranged to detect a presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing features; and

a controller operationally coupled to said sensing device for generating said battery pack performance component configuration identification signal based on said presence or absence of said one or more distinguishing feature.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said sensing device comprises an electrical switch disposed within the battery pocket constructed and arranged to be activated by said standard interface of said industry standard battery pack and to be received within a recess of said interface of said customized battery pack when said customized battery pack is installed in said battery pocket.

13. The system of claim 12,

wherein said switch is a tact switch.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein said switch comprises a spherical actuator, and

wherein said recess has a spherical shape adapted to receive said spherical actuator.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein said distinguishing feature is located on said standard mechanical interface of said customized battery pack.

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

17. A 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 first performance component configuration different than a second performance component configuration said industry standard battery pack; and

one or more distinguishing features indicative of said first performance component configuration located on one of said mechanical and electrical interfaces, wherein said distinguishing features are not provided on said industry standard battery interface,

wherein said performance component includes any operational component implemented in a battery pack, other than battery cells, that affects the ability of a battery pack to support the power source requirements of the device.

18. The system of claim 17,

wherein said distinguishing feature comprises a recess in said mechanical interface.

19. The system of claim 18,

wherein said recess is spherical in shape.