US4734635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microprocessor controlled battery reconditioner for portable radio transceivers
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1986-09-26
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2006-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Unique battery reconditioning circuitry is described that may be advantageously utilized in a portable radio transceiver (100). Reconditioning is initiated by a microcomputer (120) in response to a pre-selected key sequence entered by way of a keyboard (114). The microcomputer (120) turns on a voltage switch (136) to deep discharge a Ni-Cad battery (118) and uses a voltage detector (140) to monitor the voltage Vb of the battery (118). The battery (118) is discharged from a nominal 7.5 V to 6 V in approximately two hours. The battery voltage Vb is converted to a digital value by the voltage detector (140). During the reconditioning process, the microcomputer (120) compares the digital value of the battery voltage Vb to a stored predetermined value to determine that the battery (118) has been discharged to 6 V. Once the battery (118) reaches 6 V, the reconditioning process is terminated and the portable radio transceiver (100) is turned off. The battery reconditioning circuitry of the present invention may be advantageously utilized in a variety of applications where portable equipment is operated from rechargeable batteries.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Theobald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:02
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/875; H02J7/90; H02J7/96; H02J7/965; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A portable radio, comprising in combination: a rechargeable battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged; a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys; a radio receiver; a radio transmitter; and battery reconditioning circuitry comprising: detecting means coupled to the battery for sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage; switching means for applying the battery voltage to at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; control means coupled to said detecting means, switching means and keyboard for producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys, said control means comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and disabling said switching means when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A portable radio, comprising in combination: a rechargeable battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged; a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys; a radio receiver; a radio transmitter; and battery reconditioning circuitry comprising: detecting means coupled to the battery for sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage; switching means for applying the battery voltage to at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; control means coupled to said detecting means, switching means and keyboard for producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys, said control means comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and disabling said switching means when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable radio according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes analog-to-digital converter means for converting the battery voltage to a digital representation thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The portable radio according to claim 1, wherein said switching means includes transistor means responsive to the enable signal for applying the battery voltage to said radio receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The portable radio according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes microcomputer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable radio according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means includes analog-to-digital converter means for converting the battery voltage to a digital representation thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of reconditioning a rechargeable battery in portable radio, the battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged, and the portable radio further including a receiver, a transmitter and a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage; switchably applying the battery voltage to at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and removing the battery voltage from said at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of reconditioning a rechargeable battery in portable radio, the battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged, and the portable radio further including a receiver, a transmitter and a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage; switchably applying the battery voltage to at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and removing the battery voltage from said at least a portion of one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A portable radio, comprising in combination: a rechargeable battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged; a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys; a radio receiver; a radio transmitter; and battery reconditioning circuitry comprising: detecting means coupled to the battery for sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage and converting the battery voltage to a digital representation thereof; transistor switching means for applying the battery voltage to at least one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; computer processing means coupled to said detecting means, switching means and keyboard for producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys, said computer processing means comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and disabling said switching means when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
170 words
A portable radio, comprising in combination: a rechargeable battery producing a predetermined nominal voltage and having a predetermined minimum voltage when deep discharged; a keyboard having a plurality of actuable keys; a radio receiver; a radio transmitter; and battery reconditioning circuitry comprising: detecting means coupled to the battery for sensing the magnitude of the battery voltage and converting the battery voltage to a digital representation thereof; transistor switching means for applying the battery voltage to at least one of the radio receiver and radio transmitter in response to an enable signal; computer processing means coupled to said detecting means, switching means and keyboard for producing the enable signal in response to actuation of a pre-selected sequence of keys, said computer processing means comparing the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage to a predetermined minimum voltage magnitude and disabling said switching means when the sensed magnitude of the battery voltage is substantially the same as the predetermined minimum voltage magnitude, whereby the battery is deep discharged to the predetermined minimum voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable radio according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means includes analog-to-digital converter means for converting the battery voltage to the digital representation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The portable radio according to claim 7, wherein said switching means includes transistor means responsive to the enable signal for applying the battery voltage to said radio receiver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |