Method and apparatus for determining battery type and modifying operating characteristics

Claim 2

A battery type detector for determining which type of battery is coupled to associated equipment, characterised by: means for providing a predetermined one of a plurality of sense levels corresponding to a battery type; means for detecting said one of a plurality of sense levels; and means, responsive to said means for detecting, for enabling a predetermined operating parameter of the associated equipment corresponding to said battery type.

Claim 3

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for producing a predetermined one of a plurality of levels is further characterised by a regulated voltage, a first resistor disposed within a housing of the associated equipment and a second resistor having a resistance selected in accordance with said battery type and disposed within a housing of the battery, said battery housing having positive, negative, and sense terminals disposed thereon, and said first resistor coupled between said regulated voltage and said sense terminal and said second resistor coupled between said sense terminal and said negative terminal.

Claim 4

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein said means for enabling is further characterised by a microprocessor which retrieves from associated microprocessor memory a predetermined battery terminal voltage corresponding to said battery type at which predetermined battery terminal voltage a user perceptible indication of a low battery charge condition is given.

Claim 5

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said means for enabling is further characterised by a microprocessor which retrieves from associated microprocessor memory a predetermined battery terminal voltage corresponding to said battery type at which predetermined battery terminal voltage the battery powered equipment is turned off.

Claim 6

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for enabling a predetermined operating parameter is further characterised by means for indicating a battery charge state, including: means for detecting battery terminal voltage; means for associating said detected battery terminal voltage with a battery charge state corresponding to said detected one of a plurality of sense levels; and means for presenting said battery charge state in user perceptible form.

Claim 7

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 for determining which type of battery is coupled via battery terminals to a battery powered apparatus having a battery charge state sensor, wherein the means for enabling a predetermined operating parameter comprises means for selecting a value of battery voltage at the battery terminals corresponding to said battery type; and means for turning the battery powered apparatus off upon said battery voltage at the battery terminals becoming less than said selected value of battery voltage.

Claim 8

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 for determining which type of battery is coupled to a battery powered radio transceiver, the transmitter of the radio transceiver having adjustable output power, wherein the means for enabling a predetermined operating parameter comprises means for selecting a predetermined radio transmitter maximum output power level versus battery terminal voltage characteristic corresponding to said battery type.

Claim 9

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 1 for determining which type of battery is coupled to a battery charger, wherein the means for enabling a predetermined operating parameter comprises means for enabling a predetermined battery charging control in the battery charger corresponding to said battery type.

Claim 10

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for enabling a predetermined battery charging control is further characterised by means for selecting one of at least two temperature cutoff thresholds.

Claim 11

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for enabling a predetermined battery charging control is further characterised by means for selecting one of at least two voltage cutoff thresholds.

Claim 12

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for enabling a predetermined battery charging control is further characterised by means for selecting one of at least two battery charge rate switch points at which switch point the battery charger switches from high charge rate current to low charge rate current.

Claim 13

A battery type detector in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for enabling a predetermined battery charging control is further characterised by means for selecting one of at least two battery charge times.