Battery discharge apparatus with light activated battery discharge circuit

• US 6,900,615 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mathews Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mathews Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Kamenoff, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/452,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/127, 320/129, 320/135, 429/61, 429/111, 136/291, 136/293
• US Class Current: 320/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007188 the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters

Abstract

An apparatus and method for discharging a battery includes a battery discharge circuit contained within the battery that, when actuated, discharges the battery. A light sensing circuit is operatively connected to the battery discharge circuit and actuates the battery discharge circuit after exposing to light the light sensing circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging a battery comprising:

a battery discharge circuit contained within the battery that when actuated, discharges the battery; and

a light sensing circuit operatively connected to the battery discharge circuit that actuates the battery discharge circuit after the light sensing circuit is exposed to light.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a primary or rechargeable battery.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sensing circuit is mounted within the battery, said battery having an opening for exposing the light sensing circuit to light, and a removable opaque cover positioned over the opening that blocks light from passing onto the light sensing circuit, and upon removal exposes the light sensing circuit to light.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, and further comprising a watertight lens positioned at the opening to prevent water from passing into the battery, while allowing light through the opening upon removal of the cover.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cover comprises a removable label adhesively secured onto the battery.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a latch circuit that latches the battery discharge circuit in an ON condition to maintain battery discharge when the light sensing circuit is no longer exposed to light.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising an arming circuit that arms the light sensing circuit for operation after battery assembly.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said arming circuit comprises one of a switch, a jumper, or a circuit card on which the light sensing circuit is mounted, said circuit card having a breakable tab that upon breaking, arms the light sensing circuit.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light sensing circuit comprises one of a light dependent resistor and operational amplifier connected thereto that switches on the battery discharge circuit after the light dependent resistor is exposed to light.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery discharge circuit further comprises a light emitting diode that is operative for indicating activation.

11. An apparatus for discharging a battery, wherein the battery comprises a battery casing having a opening through which light can pass, and at least one cell contained within the battery casing, said apparatus comprising:

a battery discharge circuit contained within the battery casing and operatively connected to the cell such that when actuated, discharges the cell; and

a light sensing circuit contained within the battery casing and operatively connected to the battery discharge circuit and positioned to receive light that passes through the opening for actuating the battery discharge circuit after the light sensing circuit is exposed to light.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising a watertight lens positioned at the opening to prevent water from passing into the battery, but allowing light to pass through the opening.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising a removable cover positioned over the opening for blocking light from passing into the opening.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising a latch circuit that latches the battery discharge circuit in an ON condition to maintain battery discharge when the light sensing circuit is no longer exposed to light.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising an arming circuit that arms the light sensing circuit for operation after battery assembly.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said arming circuit comprises one of a switch, jumper, or circuit card on which the light sensing circuit is mounted, said circuit card having a breakable tab that upon breaking, arms the light sensing circuit.

17. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said light sensing circuit comprises a light dependent resistor and operational amplifier connected thereto that switches on the battery discharge circuit after the light dependent resistor is exposed to light.

18. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said battery discharge circuit further comprises a light emitting diode that is operative for indicating activation.

19. A method of discharging a battery comprising the step of exposing to light a light sensing circuit that is operatively connected to a battery discharge circuit contained within the battery for actuating the battery discharge circuit and discharging the battery.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the light sensor is contained within the battery, and further comprising the step of removing an opaque cover that permits light to pass onto the light sensing circuit.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of removing the opaque cover comprises the step of removing a label from the battery.

22. A method according to claim 19, and further comprising the step of latching the battery discharge into an ON condition to maintain battery discharge when the light sensing circuit is no longer exposed to light.

23. A method according to claim 19, and further comprising the step of arming the light sensing circuit after battery assembly.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of arming comprises one of the step of actuating a switch, removing a jumper, or breaking a tab on a circuit board on which the light sensing circuit is mounted.

25. A method according to claim 19, and further comprising the step of exposing a light dependent resistor operatively connected to an operational amplifier that switches on the battery discharge circuit after exposing to light the light dependent resistor.

26. A method according to claim 19, and further comprising the step of illuminating a light emitting diode for indicating activation.