SECONDARY CELLS WITH DISTINGUISHING PHYSICAL FEATURES

• US 20100090654A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Techtium Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Techtium Ltd.
• Inventors: Saar, Amnon, Manor, Dror, Breiting, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/520,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• 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: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/559 Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells H01M50/553 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/14 Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5066 Type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An overall standard sized battery having a physical characteristic for differentiation between rechargeable and non-rechargeable types, and a corresponding feature in the battery cavity of an electronic device, such that the electronic device can discern this physical characteristic. A mechanical modification may be made to the standard size rechargeable batteries. This is detected by the electronic product, and enables the product to easily distinguish between standard primary batteries and rechargeable batteries having the same overall standard size dimensions. The product is configured to safely recharge only secondary batteries. Possible mechanical modifications to the battery include: the size and/or shape of the positive tip or the negative end of the battery; the cross-sectional shape of the barrel of the battery; an added notch or projection on the battery; and extension or shortening the length of the battery. Detection methods may be mechanical, optical, electrical or magnetic.

Claims

1. A system for providing battery power to an electronic device having a battery cavity, said system comprising:

a battery having at least one physical characteristic other than its chemistry for differentiation between rechargeable and non-rechargeable types; and

a corresponding feature of said battery cavity adapted to differentiate between said battery types by means of said physical characteristic.

2. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is the external shape of said battery.

3. A system according to claim 2 and wherein said external shape is an essentially rectangular barrel, and said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is either of a micro-switch and an opto-electric circuit activated by said essentially rectangular barrel.

4. A system according to claim 2 and wherein said battery has a generally cylindrical body, and said external shape is a projection from said generally cylindrical barrel, and said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is any one of a micro-switch and an opto-electrical circuit activated by said projection.

5. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said electronic device comprises charging circuits which are applied to said battery only when said corresponding feature discerns that said physical characteristics are those associated with a rechargeable battery.

6. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is the size of the positive contact of said battery.

7. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a two-part contact adapted to provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only to a battery having a positive contact of at least a predetermined diameter.

8. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a two-part contact adapted to provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only to a battery having a positive contact of less than a predetermined diameter.

9. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is either one of the size and shape of the negative contact of said battery.

10. A system according to claim 9 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a two-part contact adapted to provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only to a battery having a negative contact of less than a predetermined diameter.

11. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is a partial coverage of the negative base of said battery by an insulating layer.

12. A system according to claim 11 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a negative contact adapted to provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only to a battery having said partial coverage of the negative base of said battery by an insulating layer.

13. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is the length of said battery.

14. A system according to claim 13 and wherein said length is different from that of a standard battery, and said corresponding feature in said electronic device is either of a micro-switch and an opto-electric circuit activated by a battery of said different length.

15. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is the presence of a magnetized material mounted in or on said battery.

16. A system according to claim 15 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a magnetic field detection element adapted to provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only to a battery having said magnetized material associated with it.

17. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said physical characteristic is a region of electrical conductivity on the generally insulating outer surface of said battery.

18. A system according to claim 17 and wherein said corresponding feature of said battery cavity is a pair of electrical contacts which are connected and thus provide an enabling signal to provide recharging current only by a battery having said region of electrical conductivity on its generally insulating outer surface.

19. A system according to claim 3 and wherein said opto-electric circuit comprises an emitter and a photodetector, and said circuit is closed when a battery having a predetermined reflective part of its surface is inserted into said cavity, such that light from said emitter is reflected into said photodetector.

20. A system according to claim 3 and wherein said opto-electric circuit comprises an emitter and a photodetector, and said circuit is closed when a battery having a predetermined modified shape is inserted into said cavity, such that light from said emitter is transmitted into said photodetector.

21-23. -23. (canceled)