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

• US 6,437,536 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• 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): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/755,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/112
• 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 battery cell packs with a simple structure. A dry battery cell pack is composed of a case for storing a plurality of dry batteries connected in series, plus and minus electrodes which are provided in the case and connected to the poles of the series-connected dry batteries, and a resistance element of which one end is connected to a predetermined connecting point of 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, comprising:

a case for storing a plurality of series-connected non-rechargeable battery cells having a positive electrode and a negative electrode at respective ends;

first, second and third terminals located in said case, said first and second terminals corresponding to said positive and negative electrodes respectively; and

a resistive element having one end connected to said third terminal and having other end connected to an intermediate point in said plurality of series-connected non-rechargeable battery cells,

whereby a voltage across said third terminal and one of said first and second terminals indicates a dry cell type battery pack.

2. The dry battery cell according to claim 1, wherein a voltage value at said other end is substantially equal to a preselected voltage value generated by a battery cell in said plurality of series-connected battery cells.

3. A dry battery cell pack comprising:

a plurality of non-rechargeable battery cells being connected in series;

a housing which accommodates the non-rechargeable battery cells in series;

a positive electrode 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 terminal provided between the one corner and the other corner of the housing for electrically connecting via a resistance to an intermediate connection point of the non-rechargeable battery cells in series and for outputting a predetermined voltage to indicate a type of batteries.

4. A dry battery cell pack according to claim 3, wherein said terminal is adjacent to the negative terminal.