Battery pack with photo means for enabling integral circuitry

• US 6,265,844 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Wakefield, Ivan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/109,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/114, 320/DIG.18, 429/90, 439/347
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• 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 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack provides electrical power to an electrical or electronic device. The battery pack includes a case removably receivable on an electrical or electronic device. A battery cell is disposed in the case. Battery terminals are mounted to the case and are operatively connected to the cell for mating with corresponding terminals on the device, in use, to connect the cell to the device. A photodetector is mounted to the case for receiving a wireless control signal. A control circuit is operatively connected to the photodetector and the battery cell for controlling operation of the battery pack responsive to the wireless control signal.

Claims

1. A battery pack for providing electrical power to an electrical or electronic device, comprising:

a case removably receivable on an electrical or electronic device;

a battery cell disposed in said case;

battery terminals mounted to said case and operatively connected to said cell for mating with corresponding terminals on the device;

a photodetector mounted to said case for receiving a wireless control signal;

a control circuit operatively connected to the photodetector and the battery cell for controlling operation of the battery pack responsive to the wireless control signal.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a switch connected between the battery cells and the terminal for selectively connecting the cell to the terminals.

3. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein the control circuit controls operation of the switch to selectively enable or disable the battery pack.

4. The battery pack of claim 2 further comprising a bypass circuit connected across the switch providing an impedance in series with said cell.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising an operating element housed in the case and the control circuit controls operation of the operating element.

6. The battery pack of claim 5 wherein the operating element comprises an indicator light.

7. The battery pack of claim 5 wherein the operating element comprises a vibrator.

8. The battery pack of claim 5 wherein the operating element comprises a display displaying information about the battery pack.

9. The battery pack of claim 5 wherein the operating element comprises a photo emitter for transmitting a wireless signal regarding information about the battery pack.

10. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the photodetector decodes the wireless control signal.

11. A battery pack for providing electrical power to an electrical or electronic device, comprising:

a case removably receivable on an electrical or electronic device;

a battery cell disposed in said case;

battery terminals mounted to said case and operatively connected to said cell for mating with corresponding terminals on the device, in use, to connect the cell to the device;

a photodetector mounted to said case for receiving a wireless control signal;

a photo emitter mounted to said case for transmitting a wireless signal regarding information about the battery pack; and

a control circuit operatively connected to the photodetector, the photo emitter and the battery cell for controlling operation of the battery pack responsive to a received wireless control signal and controlling operation of the photo emitter.

12. The battery pack of claim 11 further comprising a switch connected between the battery cells and the terminal for selectively connecting the cell to the terminals.

13. The battery pack of claim 12 wherein the control circuit controls operation of the switch to selectively enable or disable the battery pack.

14. The battery pack of claim 12 further comprising a bypass circuit connected across the switch to supply a continuous low current level to the terminals.

15. The battery pack of claim 11 further comprising an operating element housed in the case and the control circuit controls operation of the operating element.

16. The battery pack of claim 15 wherein the operating element comprises an indicator light.

17. The battery pack of claim 15 wherein the operating element comprises a vibrator.

18. The battery pack of claim 15 wherein the operating element comprises a display displaying information about the battery pack.

19. The battery pack of claim 11 wherein the detector decodes the wireless control signal.