US4181885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical cell charge energy measuring method and apparatus
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1978-05-10
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Granted: 1980-01-01
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Expires: 1998-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for measuring the charge energy available from electrochemical cells (batteries) of the type that exhibits a substantially constant discharge voltage characteristic over its charge life, such as zinc-silver oxide cells. Within several seconds following a brief period of shorting out for reactivation, two to four seconds in the case of zinc-silver oxide cells, short circuit current from the test cell flowing for a period of time just sufficient for complete charging of the internal capacitance of such test cell is sensed, integrated over such period, and used to control display of information as to the charge level of the cell under test.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B. Gosser
- 👤 John M. Zomp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:26
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/385; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/18; Y10S320/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
Method for non-destructive testing of the charge energy availability of an electrochemical cell of the substantially constant-voltage-during-discharge type, comprising: establishing a substantially-zero-impedance information-generating short-circuit current path across the terminals of the cell under test, deriving information respecting integrated current flow through said short-circuit current path during a precise period of time, and utilizing such information to represent the extent of charge energy available from such cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method for non-destructive testing of the charge energy availability of an electrochemical cell of the substantially constant-voltage-during-discharge type, comprising: establishing a substantially-zero-impedance information-generating short-circuit current path across the terminals of the cell under test, deriving information respecting integrated current flow through said short-circuit current path during a precise period of time, and utilizing such information to represent the extent of charge energy available from such cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising an initial step of establishing an activation-inducing short-circuit current path across the cell terminals for assuring a state of cell activation prior to the deriving and utilizing of the integrated current flow information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said precise period of time is less than one second in duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially-zero-impedance information-generating short-circuit current path is established for the same period of time as that for which the integrated current flow information is derived.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said activation-inducing short-circuit current path is of several seconds in duration and terminates several seconds prior to establishing said information-generating short-circuit current path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for non-destructive testing of the charge energy availability of an electrochemical cell of the substantially-constant-voltage-during-discharge type, comprising: zero-impedance means for short-circuiting said cell, contact means for connecting a cell to said zero-impedance means, information deriving means responsive to integrated current flow from said cell through said zero-impedance means, cell-energy-availability display means responsive to information from said deriving means, and program means controlling the period of effectiveness of said zero-impedance means and of said information deriving means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for non-destructive testing of the charge energy availability of an electrochemical cell of the substantially-constant-voltage-during-discharge type, comprising: zero-impedance means for short-circuiting said cell, contact means for connecting a cell to said zero-impedance means, information deriving means responsive to integrated current flow from said cell through said zero-impedance means, cell-energy-availability display means responsive to information from said deriving means, and program means controlling the period of effectiveness of said zero-impedance means and of said information deriving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said program means renders said zero-impedance means and said information deriving means: effective and ineffective, respectively, during a cell activation period, both ineffective during a rest period, and both effective during an energy availability testing period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cell activation and rest periods are made to be less than five seconds long and said energy availability testing period is less than one second long.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said program means is adjustable to change the activation and rest periods to suit different cell energy sizes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said program means renders the zero-impedance means and information deriving means effective for one-half second for an energy availability test period.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-31 | 1983-07-02 | 1984-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-31 | 1987-07-02 | 1988-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-31 | 1991-07-02 | 1992-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |