Battery tester and circuit

Claim 2

Apparatus for evaluating a battery having output terminals of opposed polarity comprising: contact means for providing electrical communication with said terminals; load means exhibiting an impedance of predetermined value connectable across said terminals to derive a closed circuit voltage value of said battery; load switching means actuable to assume a first state applying said load across said terminals through said contact means and a second state electrically isolating said load from said terminals; evaluating means responsive, when enabled, to said voltage value at said load means exhibiting at least a predetermined value and having a first output condition responsive thereto; timing means for selectively enabling said evaluating means and responsive to said contact means electrical communication with said terminals for actuating said load switching means to sequentially assume said first and second states to define an interval of sampling for deriving said voltage value; and indicator means responsive to said evaluating means first output condition for indicating the presence thereof.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load switching means, said timing means, said evaluating means and said indicator means are energizable from said battery through said contact means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said contact means includes a switch configured to enable said apparatus to evaluate a said battery only when said electrical communication with said terminals is stable.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said timing means is configured to enable said evaluating means substantially when said load switching means is actuated to assume said second state.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said evaluating means exhibits a second output condition in response to said derived voltage having a value less than said predetermined value; and said indicator means is responsive to said evaluating means second output condition for indicating the presence thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said timing means is configured to enable said evaluating means at the termination of an interval substantially corresponding with said sampling interval, and to actuate said load switching means to assume said second state at the termination of a short finite interval commencing with the said enablement of said evaluating means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said load switching means, said timing means, said evaluating means and said indicator means are energizable from said battery through said contact means, and including voltage regulator means for regulating the voltage value of said energization of said timing means and said indicator means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said indicator means includes a light emitting diode.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said load switching means, said timing means, said evaluating means, and said indicator means are energizable from said battery through said contact means; and said contact means includes a switch configured to enable said apparatus to evaluate a said battery only when the electrical communication at said terminals is stable.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 in which said timing means is configured to enable said evaluating means at the termination of an interval substantially corresponding with said sampling interval, and to actuate said load switching means to assume said second state at the termination of a short finite interval commencing with the said enablement of said evaluating means.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 in which: said evaluating means exhibits a second output condition in response to said derived voltage having a value less than said predetermined value; and said indicator means is responsive to said evaluating means second output condition for indicating the presence thereof.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 including voltage regulator means for regulating the voltage value of said energization for said timing means and said indicator means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said timing means is configured to enable said evaluating means at the termination of an interval substantially corresponding with said sampling interval, and to actuate said load switching means to assume said second state at the termination of a short interval commencing with the said enablement of said evaluating means; and said load switching means, said timing means, said evaluating means, and said indicator means are energizable from said battery through said contact means, and including voltage regulator means for regulating the voltage value of said energization for said timing means and said indicator means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13 in which: said evaluating means exhibits a second output condition in response to said derived voltage having a value less than said predetermined value; and said indicator means is responsive to said evaluating means second output condition for perceptibly indicating the presence thereof.

Claim 16

Apparatus for testing the condition of a battery located within a multiwalled package, said battery having spaced terminal defining surfaces of opposed polarity in predetermined orientations within said package, comprising: probe means insertable through a select wall of said package for establishing electrically conducting contact with said terminal surfaces; receiver means for removably receiving said package in a predetermined orientation aligning said select wall for said probe means insertion; actuator means including a carriage assembly actuable to provide relative movement between said package and said probe means and having a motion limiting orientation when said probe means conducting contact is made; test circuit means, energizable from said battery through said probe means, for determining, within a predetermined limited sampling interval commencing with said contact means actuation, the presence of a closed circuit voltage of said battery having a value at least equal to a predetermined value and having a select output condition when said voltage value is derived during said interval; switch means actuable to enable said test circuit means by energization from said battery when said carriage assembly assumes said motion limiting orientation; and indicator means energizable from said battery through said contact means in the presence of said select output condition.

Claim 17

Apparatus for testing the condition of a battery located within a multiwalled package, said battery having spaced terminal defining surfaces of opposed polarity in predetermined orientations within said package, comprising: probe means insertable through a select wall of said package for establishing electrically conducting contact with said terminal surfaces; receiver means for removably receiving said package in a predetermined orientation aligning said select wall for said probe means insertion; actuator means including a carriage assembly actuable to provide relative movement between said package and said probe means and having a motion limiting orientation when said probe means conducting contact is made; test circuit means, energizable from said battery through said probe means, for determining, within a predetermined limited sampling interval commencing with said contact means actuation, the presence of a closed circuit voltage of said battery having a value at least equal to a predetermined value and having a select output condition when said voltage value is derived during said interval; switch means actuable to enable said test circuit means by energization from said battery when said carriage assembly assumes said motion limiting orientation; and indicator means energizable from said battery through said contact means in the presence of said select output condition.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said sampling interval is selected as about 100 milliseconds.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 in which said test circuit means comprises timing means energizable when said switch means is actuated and said probe means electrical conducting contact is effected for substantially determining said predetermined limited sampling interval; and evaluating means responsive to the said closed circuit voltage value of said battery for deriving said select output condition when said voltage value is equal to or greater than said predetermined value.