Battery discriminating method, dry cell battery pack, and electronic device

• US 6,291,967 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• 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): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/702,937
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/DIG.12, 320/165, 429/7, 429/178, 429/1
• 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 is detected to discriminate the type of the battery pack according to the detected voltage value.

Claims

1. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method for discriminating if a terminal on a dry battery cell pack is used as a communication terminal or not, the dry battery cell pack having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and the terminal, said discriminating method comprising the steps of:

connecting the terminal through a predetermined resistance to the negative terminal;

detecting a first voltage on the terminal and generating first voltage data in accordance with the detected first voltage;

disconnecting the terminal from the negative terminal;

detecting a second voltage on the terminal and generating second voltage data in accordance with the detected second voltage; and

communicating with the terminal on the dry battery cell pack if the second voltage data indicates that the detected second voltage is over 2.0 volts.

2. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating with the terminal on the dry battery cell pack if the first voltage data and the second voltage data indicate that the detected second voltage is almost twice as large as the detected first voltage.

3. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method for discriminating if a terminal on a dry battery cell pack is used as a communication terminal or not, the dry battery cell pack having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and the terminal between the positive and the negative electrode, said discriminating method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first voltage on the terminal and generating first voltage data; and

communicating with the terminal if the first voltage data indicates the first voltage data is over 2.0 volts.

4. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the terminal through a predetermined resistance to the negative terminal;

detecting a second voltage on the terminal and generating second voltage data; and

communicating with the terminal if the first voltage data and the second voltage data indicate that the detected first voltage is almost twice as large as the detected second voltage.

5. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method for discriminating if a terminal on a dry battery cell pack is used as a communication terminal or not, the dry battery cell pack comprising a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a housing which accommodates the battery cells in series, a positive terminal provided on one corner of the housing for electrically connecting to a positive terminal of the battery cells in series, a negative electrode provided on another corner of the housing for electrically connecting to a negative terminal of the battery cells in series, and a communication terminal provided between the one corner and the other corner of the housing for electrically connecting through a resistance to a connection point of the battery cells in series and for outputting a predetermined voltage to indicate a type of batteries, the dry battery cell pack discriminating method comprising:

detecting a first voltage on the terminal and generating first voltage data; and

communicating with the terminal if the first voltage data indicates the first voltage data is over 2.0 volts.

6. A dry battery cell pack discriminating method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the terminal through a predetermined resistance to the negative terminal;

detecting a second voltage on the terminal and generating second voltage data; and

communicating with the terminal if the first voltage data and the second voltage data indicate that the detected first voltage is almost twice as large as the detected second voltage.