Apparatus and method for testing and indicating battery charge and functionality

• US 6,121,753 A
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas W. Walker, Frank M. Ordaz
• Original Assignee: Douglas W. Walker, Frank M. Ordaz
• Inventors: Walker, Douglas W., Ordaz, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/009,663
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/DIG. 18, 320/DIG. 21, 429/426, 429/429, 429/432, 429/433, 340/635, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/04 Voltage dividers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• 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 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A device for rapidly testing a battery includes a conditioning resistor and a depressible momentary type switch interposed in series between the conditioning resistor and the battery terminals, such that the closing of the switch allows current flow through the conditioning resistor in approximately the full amount the battery can generate when fully charged. In parallel with the conditioning resistor are a number of sets of voltage dividers and comparators working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference. Each comparator has an associated indicator light such that all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at full capacity, but less than all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at less than full capacity.

Claims

1. A device for testing a battery comprising:

(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts;

(b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the contacts, and the other end of the conditioning resistor being connected to the other of the contacts; and

(c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;

the electrical circuit further comprising a switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit.

2. A device for rapidly testing a battery comprising:

(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts;

(b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery that would draw approximately the full current the battery can generate when fully charged, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the contacts, and its other end being connected to the other of the contacts; and

(c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;

the electrical circuit further comprising a depressible momentary type switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the circuit is powered solely by the battery under test.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the electrical contacts have at least a partially textured surface such that the mating of the tester contacts with the battery contacts causes sufficient friction so as to wipe away any debris present on the battery contacts.

5. The device of claim 2 including at least one light emitting diode for indicating the charge level of the battery.

6. The device of claim 2 which further includes at least one voltage divider and comparator working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference.

7. The device of claim 2 which further includes a plurality of voltage dividers and comparators working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference, each comparator having an associated indicator light such that all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at full capacity, and less than all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at less than full capacity.

8. A device for rapidly testing a battery comprising:

(a) at least two electrical contacts for connection to battery contacts, the electrical contacts of the tester having at least a partially textured surface such that the mating of the tester contacts with the battery contacts causes sufficient friction to wipe away any debris present on the battery contacts;

(b) a conditioning resistor for loading the battery, that would draw approximately the full current the battery can generate when fully charged, the conditioning resistor being connected at one end to one of the tester contacts, and its other end being connected to the other of the tester contacts; and

(c) an electrical circuit for testing the loaded battery and producing an immediate indication of the charge level on the loaded battery;

the electrical circuit further comprising a depressible momentary type switch interposed between one end of the conditioning resistor and the respective battery terminal such that the closing of the switch loads the previously unloaded battery and provides power to the tester circuit;

the electrical circuit further comprising a plurality of sets of voltage dividers and comparators working in conjunction with each other to compare a divided down battery voltage with a fixed voltage reference, each comparator having an associated indicator light such that all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at full capacity, but less than all the indicator lights will light up if the battery is at less than full capacity.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the circuit is powered solely by the battery under test.