Method of detecting battery pack type and mobile electronic device

• US 6,577,883 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ueda, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Application Number:
  US09/626,001
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455/572, 455/550, 455/557, 455/559, 455/575, 455/90, 320/150, 320/152, 320/156, 320/157, 320/138
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method of detecting the type of a battery pack in a mobile electronic device is provided, which detects the type of a battery pack connected in a mobile electronic device even if no dedicated terminals are provided to a battery pack. (a) A first battery pack connectable to the body is provided. (b) A second battery pack connectable to the body and different in characteristic from the first pack is provided. Each of the first and second packs has a battery cell, first and second terminals respectively connected to high- and low-potential side terminals of the cell, a third terminal, and a temperature detection element connected across the first and second terminals. (c) The body is provided with fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals connectable respectively to the first, second, and third terminals of the first or second battery pack. The body has a resistive voltage divider circuit connected among the fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals. (d) The first or second pack is connected to the body in such a way that the fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals of the body are connected to the first, second, and third terminals of the first or second battery pack, respectively. (c) An output voltage of the divider is detected to thereby generate a detection result. (f) Whether the first or second pack is connected to the body is detected based on the detection result.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the type of a battery pack in a mobile electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first battery pack connectable to a body of a mobile electronic device;

said first battery pack having a battery cell, a first terminal connected to a high-potential side terminal of said cell, a second terminal connected to a low-potential side terminal of said cell, a third terminal, and a temperature detection element connected across said second and third terminals;

(b) providing a second battery pack connectable to said body of said device;

said second battery pack being different in characteristic from said first battery pack;

said second battery pack having a battery cell, a first terminal connected to a high-potential side terminal of said cell, a second terminal connected to a low-potential side terminal of said cell, a third terminal, and a temperature detection element connected across said first and second terminals;

(c) providing said body of said device with a fourth terminal connectable to said first terminal of said first or second battery pack, a fifth terminal connectable to said second terminal of said first or second battery pack, a sixth terminal connectable to said third terminal of said first or second battery pack;

said body of the device having a resistive voltage divider circuit connected among said fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals;

(d) connecting said first or second battery pack to said body of said device in such a way that said fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals of said body of said device are connected to said first, second, and third terminals of said first or second battery pack, respectively;

(e) detecting an output voltage of said resistive voltage divider of said body of said device, generating a detection result; and

(f) judging whether said first or second battery pack is connected to said body of said device based on said detection result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second battery packs comprises

a circuit for detecting whether or not said battery cell is in its normal condition; and

a switch for stopping an output of said battery cell if said battery cell is not in its normal condition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said body of said device comprises first, second, and third comparators having threshold values different from each other, and a discrimination circuit for discriminating between said first and second battery packs;

and wherein said first, second, and third comparators compares the output of said resistive voltage-divider circuit with their threshold values, generating an comparison result signal to said discrimination circuit;

and wherein said discrimination circuit discriminates between said first and second battery packs based on said comparison result signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said comparison result signal is a combination of three logic signals from said first, second, and third comparators.

5. A mobile electronic device comprising:

(a) a first battery pack connectable to a body of a mobile electronic device;

said first battery pack having a battery cell, a first terminal connected to a high potential side terminal of said cell, a second terminal connected to a low-potential side terminal of said cell, a third terminal, and a temperature detection element connected across said second and third terminals;

(b) a second battery pack connectable to said body;

said second battery pack being different in characteristic from said first battery pack;

said second battery pack having a battery cell, a first terminal connected to a high-potential side terminal of said cell, a second terminal connected to a low-potential side terminal of the said, a third terminal, and a temperature detection element connected across said first and second terminals;

(c) said body of said mobile electronic device having a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal, and a resistive voltage divider circuit connected among said fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals;

said first terminal of said first or second battery pack being connectable to said fourth terminal of said body, said second terminal of said first or second battery pack being connectable to said fifth terminal of said body, said third terminal of said first or second battery pack being connectable to said sixth terminal of said body;

(d) an output voltage of said resistive voltage divider of said body being detected to generate a detection result, when said first or second battery pack is connected to said body in such way that said fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals of said body are connected to said first, second, and third terminals of said first or second battery pack, respectively; and

(c) whether said first or second battery pack is connected to said body is judged based on said detection result.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein each of said first and second battery packs comprises

a circuit for detecting whether or not said battery cell is in its normal condition; and

a switch for stopping an output of said batter cell if said battery cell is not in its normal condition.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said body comprises first, second, and third comparators having threshold values different from each other, and a discrimination circuit for discriminating between said first and second battery packs;

and wherein said first, second, and third comparators compares the output of said resistive voltage-divider circuit with their threshold values, generating an comparison result signal to said discrimination circuit;

and wherein said discrimination circuit discriminates between said first and second battery packs based on said comparison result signal.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said comparison result signal is a combination of three logic signals from said first, second, and third comparators.