Electrochemical Composition Detection Device and Method Thereof

• US 20090192726A1
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osmialowski, Steve E., Crawford, John D., Hoffman, Peter F., Spartano, David A., Huang, Frank F., Jakubiak, Adam R.
• Application Number:
  US12/244,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/27
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3644 Constructional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A lighting system is provided that includes at least one lighting device, at least one connector, and a plurality of external power sources. The lighting device includes at least one lighting source, and an internal power source supplying a first electrical current to illuminate the lighting source. The connector electrically connects to the lighting device. The external power sources include at least first and second external power sources that are adapted to be electrically connected to the lighting device by the connector. The first external power source supplies a second electrical current to the lighting device to illuminate the lighting source and the second external power source supplies a third electrical current to illuminate the lighting source, such that the internal power source and one of the plurality of external power sources each supply electrical current to illuminate the lighting source at different times.

Claims

1. An electrochemical composition detection device comprising:

hardware circuitry adapted to electrically connect to a power source having an electrochemical composition; and

a processor in electrical communication with said hardware circuitry, and configured to determine at least two voltage potentials of said power source under different operating conditions, and an internal resistance of said power source, wherein said electrochemical composition of said power source is determined based upon said determined voltage potentials and said determined internal resistance.

2. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein said determined voltage potentials comprise an open circuit voltage potential and a closed circuit voltage potential.

3. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 2, wherein said internal resistance of said power source is determined based upon said determined open circuit voltage potential, said determined closed circuit voltage potential, and a determined electrical current supplied to a load.

4. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein said power source is at least one comprising of:

a lithium power source;

an alkaline power source;

a nickel metal hydride power source;

a lithium ion power source; and

a lead acid power source.

5. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical detection device determines said electrochemical composition of said power source further as a function of a recovery time of said power source after a load is applied to said power source, such that the recovery time is a time period that said power source takes to recover in voltage.

6. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical composition of said power source is determined further as a function of recovery time of said power source and a determined decimal equivalent of said internal resistance.

7. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 6, wherein said decimal equivalent of said internal resistance is a function of said determined internal resistance, an open circuit voltage potential of said power source, and a closed circuit voltage potential of said power source.

8. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein the hardware circuitry is adapted to electrically connect to a plurality of power sources, and at least a portion of said plurality of power sources have different electrochemical compositions, such that said electrochemical composition device determines said electrochemical composition of each of said plurality of power sources.

9. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical composition device is utilized in one of:

a lighting device;

a cellular phone;

a personal digital assistant;

a multimedia player; and

a recharger device.

10. The electrochemical composition detection device of claim 1 further comprising, in electrical communication with said hardware circuitry, at least one of a display screen, an audio speaker, and at least one indicator light source.

11. A lighting device comprising:

hardware circuitry adapted to electrically connect to a power source having an electrochemical composition;

at least one lighting source in electrical communication with said hardware circuitry, and configured to emit light; and

an electrochemical composition detection device in electrical communication with said hardware circuitry, and configured to determine said electrochemical composition of said power source.

12. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein said electrochemical composition detection device is configured to determine a voltage potential of said power source, and an internal resistance of said power source, such that said electrochemical composition of said power source is determined based upon said determined voltage potential and said determined internal resistance.

13. The lighting device of claim 12, wherein said determined voltage potential is at least one of an open circuit voltage potential and a closed circuit voltage potential.

14. The lighting device of claim 13, wherein said internal resistance of said power source is determined based upon said determined voltage open circuit potential, said determined closed circuit voltage potential, and a determined electrical current supplied to a load.

15. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein said power source is at least one comprising of:

a lithium power source;

an alkaline power source;

a nickel metal hydride power source;

a lithium ion power source; and

a lead acid power source.

16. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein said electrochemical composition detection device determines said electrochemical composition of said power source further as a function of a recovery time of said power source after a load is applied, such that the recovery time is a time period that said power source takes to recover in voltage.

17. The lighting device of claim 16, wherein said electrochemical composition of said power source is determined further as a function of recovery time of said power source and a determined decimal equivalent of said internal resistance.

18. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the hardware circuitry is adapted to electrically connect to a plurality of power sources, and at least a portion of said plurality of power sources have different electrochemical compositions, such that said electrochemical detection device determines said electrochemical composition of each of said plurality of power sources.

19. The lighting device of claim 11 further comprising, in electrical communication with said hardware circuitry, at least one of a display screen, an audio speaker, and at least one indicator light source.

20. A method of determining an electrochemical composition of a power source, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of voltage potentials of a power source under different operating conditions;

determining an internal resistance of said power source; and

determining an electrochemical composition of said power source based upon said determined voltage potentials of said power source and said determined internal resistance of said power source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of determining said plurality of voltage potentials comprises determining an open circuit voltage potential and a closed circuit voltage potential.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining an internal resistance of said power source comprises utilizing said determined open circuit voltage potential, said determined closed circuit voltage potential, and a determined electrical current supplied to a load.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is utilized in at least one of:

a lighting device;

a cellular phone;

a personal digital assistant;

a multimedia player; and

a recharger device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining said electrochemical composition comprises determining an electrochemical composition of a plurality of power sources, when at least a portion of said plurality of power sources have different electrochemical compositions.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

applying a load to said power source for a time period;

determining a recovery time for said voltage potential of said power source to recover following said time period; and

determining said electrochemical composition of said power source further as a function of said recovery time.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of determining said electrochemical composition further as a function of said recovery time further comprises determining a decimal equivalent of said internal resistance.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said power source is at least one of:

a lithium power source;

an alkaline power source;

a nickel metal hydride power source;

a lithium ion power source; and

a lead acid power source.