Battery recycle system

• US 6,822,422 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sagawa, Rumi
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/373,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20030170529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/110, 320/132, 320/106, 320/DIG.12, 702/63, 340/5.9, 700/231, 455/406, 379/90.01, 379/91.01, 221/135, 701/200
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery recycle system includes a vending machine for vending secondary batteries. The vending machine has therein a telecommunication terminal connected to a server provided in a secondary battery for receiving information of minimum quality of a typical used secondary battery. Upon receiving a used battery from a user, the vending machine supplies a charged battery to the user at a reduced cost corresponding to the quality of the used battery. The used battery is charged and stocked for a next user.

Claims

1. A battery recycle system comprising:

a first server connected to a network and storing information of a minimum quality requirements of a secondary battery;

a second server connected to said network for receiving information of dimensions of secondary batteries stored in said first server;

a third server storing information of types of batteries used in cellular phones, and connected to said network for transmitting information of said types of batteries to said second server;

a fourth server for receiving information of supply of secondary batteries from said first server; and

a plurality of vending machines each including a telecommunication terminal connected to said network to receive said information of minimum quality requirements from said first server, an inspecting device for comparing a quality of a used secondary battery thrown into said vending machine with said minimum quality requirements to judge said used secondary battery as a reusable battery or a non-reusable battery,

a charging device for charging the reusable battery to obtain a charged battery,

a storage device for storing the charged battery and new secondary batteries, and

a fetching device for fetching one of said stored batteries from said storage device.

2. The battery recycle system according to claim 1, wherein said battery charger has a function for marking information of number of charging times onto said reusable battery upon charging thereof.

3. The battery recycle system according to claim 1, wherein said fourth server stores information of locations of a plurality of said vending machines, and informs one of said locations of said vending machines nearest to a cellular phone upon receiving information of a position of said cellular phone.

4. The battery recycle system according to claim 3, wherein said cellular phone has a GPS (Global Positioning System) function.

5. A battery recycle system comprising:

a first server connected to a network and storing information of a minimum quality requirements of a secondary battery;

a second server storing information of types of batteries used in cellular phones and connected to said network for transmitting information of said types of batteries to said telecommunication terminal;

a third server for receiving information of supply of secondary batteries from said first server; and

a service shop including a telecommunication terminal connected to said network to receive said information of minimum quality from said first server, an inspecting device for comparing a quality of a used secondary battery with said minimum quality requirements to judge said used secondary battery as a reusable battery or a non-reusable battery,

a charging device for charging the reusable battery to obtain a charged battery, and

a storage device for storing the charged battery and new secondary batteries.

6. The battery recycle system according to claim 5, wherein said battery charger has a function for marking information of number of charging times onto said reusable battery upon charging thereof.

7. The battery recycle system according to claim 5, wherein said third server stores information of locations of a plurality of said service shops, and informs one of said locations of said service shops nearest to a cellular phone upon receiving information of a position of said cellular phone.

8. The battery recycle system according to claim 7, wherein said cellular phone has a GPS (Global Positioning System function.