Battery tester including flexible substrate and polyacetilynic material

• US 4,702,564 A
• Filed: 04/03/1986
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert M Parker
• Original Assignee: Robert M Parker
• Inventors: Parker, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, David
• Application Number:
  US06/847,947
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 350/331 R, 350/341, 350/346, 350/336, 350/351, 350/320, 324/96, 324/104, 324/106, 324/435, 324/437, 428/1, 340/815.1
• US Class Current: 349/199
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/403 using passive display devices, e.g. liquid crystal display or Kerr effect display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/15 Indicating the presence of current
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• 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 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device for testing a battery, particularly a small, portable battery, comprising a flexible, transparent substrate on which is deposited a narrow band of a black light absorbing material. A conductive material, which may taper outwardly in opposite directions from a central point to a pair of outer terminals, is then deposited atop the substrate on the same side of the substrate as the absorber layer or on the opposite side of the substrate as the absorber layer. A layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material is then deposited on the substrate on the opposite side from the black absorber layer or over the absorber layer. The conductive material is an epoxy cement-based conductor, preferably silver, printed or painted directly on to the substrate. An indicator scale is located along sections of the conductive material. To test a dry cell battery, the terminal ends of the conductive material are placed in contact with the battery terminals, causing a current to flow which heats the conductive material, the heat generated being the most intense at the central point and radiating outwardly. The heat is transferred through the thin substrate to the liquid crystal layer which results in a color change in the liquid crystal. The traverse of the color change along the length of the indicator scale, outwardly from the center point, is proportional to the current or voltage output or the condition of the battery to be tested and can be read on the indicator scale which is calibrated accordingly. The tester also includes means for determining the amp-hours or life of a battery.

Claims

1. A battery tester which utilizes liquid crystal material that changes color proportional to the current produced by a battery being tested, said tester comprising:

a substrate constructed of flexible material;

at least one pattern of electrically conductive material having terminal end sections located on said substrate; and

at least one layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material located on said substrate and in alignment with and extending along a portion of said conductive material pattern;

said substrate being constructed of material of sufficient flexibility to enable said terminal end sections of said electrically conductive material to be placed in contact with the terminals of an associated battery;

scale means having calibration markings thereon for indicating the strength of an associated battery; and

whereby contact of said terminal end sections with terminals of an associated battery to be tested causes a current to flow through said condutive material which causes portions of said conductive material to heat, the heat being transferred to said liquid crystal material causing said liquid crystal material to change color proportional to the current flowing through said conductive material.

2. The battery tester of claim 1, further including a layer of absorber material located on a portion of said substrate and underneath said liquid crystal material.

3. The battery tester of claim 1, further including a scale located on said substrate and extending substantially parallel to at least portions of said pattern.

4. The battery tester of claim 1, further including a pair of different patterns of electrically conductive material superimposed on one another and separated from one another by a layer of insulative material.

5. The battery tester of claim 4, wherein said patterns of electrically conductive material are located on one side of said substrate, and wherein said liquid crystal material is located on an opposite side of said substrate.

6. The battery tester of claim 5, wherein said substrate is constructed of transparent material.

7. The battery tester of claim 5, additionally including a layer of absorber material located between said substrate and said liquid crystal material.

8. The battery tester of claim 5, additionally including a scale located on said substrate adjacent to and extending along at least a portion of said layer of liquid crystal material.

9. The battery tester of claim 5, additionally including a protective coating over at least said patterns of conductive material except at the location of said terminal end sections of said patterns.

10. The battery tester of claim 1, additionally including means for determining amp-hours of an associated battery to be tested, said means being located along a section of said liquid crystal material.

11. The battery tester of claim 10, wherein said means includes a quantity of polyacetylenic material.

12. The battery tester of claim 1, wherein said pattern of electrically conductive material includes at least one contact point located intermediate said terminal end sections thereof.

13. The battery tester of claim 12, wherein said pattern of conductive material includes at least a pair of generally L-shaped sections at least one generally U-shaped section, each of said L-shaped sections having a base portion and an arm portion, said U-shaped section having a base portion and a pair of arm portions, said U-shaped section being positioned intermediate said L-shaped sections and having each of said arm portions connected at an outer end thereof to an outer end of an arm portion of said L-shaped section, said terminal end sections of said pattern of conductive material being located in said base portions of said L-shaped section, said contact point being located in said base portion of said U-shaped section.

14. The battery tester of claim 13, wherein said layer of liquid crystal material is located along one of said arm portions of said pattern of conductive material.

15. The battery tester of claim 13, wherein a layer of liquid crystal material is located adjacent an arm portion of one of said L-shaped sections and another layer of liquid crystal material is located adjacent an arm portion of said U-shaped section.

16. The battery tester of claim 13, wherein said arm portions of said L-shaped sections and said U-shaped sections are tapered in a direction outwardly from said base portions thereof.

17. The battery tester of claim 12, wherein said pattern of electrically conductive material includes a plurality of contact points located in spaced relation with one another and intermediate said terminal end sections of said conductive material.

18. The battery tester of claim 12, wherein said pattern of electrically conductive material includes a "bow-tie" configured section, and wherein said plurality of contact points are located along said "bow-tie" configured section and connected thereto by conductive paths.