Battery life determination
First Claim
1. A method for providing a battery low voltage warning comprising the steps of:
- electrically connecting a battery having at least one voltaic cell to a battery holder;
measuring an off-load voltage of the at least one voltaic cell; and
determining a suitable voltage threshold, only from the off-load voltage, at which the at least one voltaic cell is considered to be discharged; and
providing a warning when that threshold is reached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a battery low voltage warning for a range of batteries having various initial voltages. When a battery is inserted into a battery holder its initial off-load voltage is measured using a microprocessor. The microprocessor selects a suitable voltage threshold, at which the battery is considered to be discharged, from a predetermined number of voltage thresholds. The initial off-load voltage of the battery is used by the microprocessor as a basis for selecting a suitable threshold. An LED warning or the like is used to indicate that the threshold is reached in use. A measurement probe is shown which uses such a method and apparatus.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for providing a battery low voltage warning comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting a battery having at least one voltaic cell to a battery holder; measuring an off-load voltage of the at least one voltaic cell; and determining a suitable voltage threshold, only from the off-load voltage, at which the at least one voltaic cell is considered to be discharged; and providing a warning when that threshold is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for providing a battery low voltage warning comprising:
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a battery holder into which a battery is insertable, the battery comprising at least one voltaic cell; a voltage measuring device electrically connected to the at least one voltaic cell when the battery is inserted in the holder, and providing a measure of the off-load voltage of the at least one voltaic cell; a device determining the suitable voltage threshold at which the at least one voltaic cell is considered to be discharged, dependent only on the off-load voltage measured by the voltage measuring device; and a warning device providing a warning when that threshold is reached. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A measurement probe having apparatus for providing a battery low voltage warning comprising:
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a battery holder into which a battery is insertable, the battery comprising at least one voltaic cell; a voltage measuring device electrically connected to the at least one voltaic cell when the battery is inserted in the holder, and providing a measure of the off-load voltage of the at least one voltaic cell; a device determining a suitable voltage threshold at which the at least one voltaic cell is considered to be discharged, dependent only on the off-load voltage measured by the voltage measuring device; and a warning device providing a warning when that the suitable voltage threshold is reached.
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Specification