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US5166623A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for indicating battery capacity

Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1991-03-04
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Granted: 1992-11-24
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Expires: 2011-03-04
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Abstract

Abstract Battery capacity in a portable two-way radio is determined by measuring the voltage across the battery at predetermined time intervals and determining battery voltage slopes. Each battery voltage slope is compared with a previously determined battery voltage slope and the battery capacity is determined by analyzing the changing pattern of the battery voltage slopes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christopher Ganio

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 19:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/3644; G01R31/3648; G01R31/382; G01R31/3835; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for determining battery capacity comprising the steps of: measuring battery voltages at predetermined time intervals; determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for determining battery capacity comprising the steps of: measuring battery voltages at predetermined time intervals; determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 150 words
In a battery having a capacity characteristic separated into a full capacity region, an intermediate capacity region, and an empty capacity region, wherein said full capacity region has a substantially decreasing battery voltage slope, and said intermediate capacity region has a substantially constant battery voltage slope, and said empty capacity region has a substantially increasing battery voltage slope; a method for determining battery capacity comprising the steps of: measuring battery voltage provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 150 words
In a battery having a capacity characteristic separated into a full capacity region, an intermediate capacity region, and an empty capacity region, wherein said full capacity region has a substantially decreasing battery voltage slope, and said intermediate capacity region has a substantially constant battery voltage slope, and said empty capacity region has a substantially increasing battery voltage slope; a method for determining battery capacity comprising the steps of: measuring battery voltage provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 101 words
An apparatus for determining battery capacity comprising: means for measuring battery voltages provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; means for determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; means for continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; means for indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; means for indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and means for indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 101 words
An apparatus for determining battery capacity comprising: means for measuring battery voltages provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; means for determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; means for continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; means for indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; means for indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and means for indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 159 words
In a battery having a capacity characteristic separated into a full capacity region, an intermediate capacity region, and an empty capacity region, wherein said full capacity region has a substantially decreasing battery voltage slope, and said intermediate capacity region has a substantially constant battery voltage slope, and said empty capacity region has a substantially increasing battery voltage slope; an apparatus for determining battery capacity comprising: means for measuring battery voltages provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; means for determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; means for continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; means for indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; means for indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and means for indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 159 words
In a battery having a capacity characteristic separated into a full capacity region, an intermediate capacity region, and an empty capacity region, wherein said full capacity region has a substantially decreasing battery voltage slope, and said intermediate capacity region has a substantially constant battery voltage slope, and said empty capacity region has a substantially increasing battery voltage slope; an apparatus for determining battery capacity comprising: means for measuring battery voltages provided by said battery at predetermined time intervals; means for determining battery voltage slopes by comparing each battery voltage with a previously measured battery voltage; means for continuously comparing each battery voltage slope with a previously determined battery voltage slope; means for indicating a substantially full battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially decreasing; means for indicating a substantially intermediate battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially constant; and means for indicating a substantially empty battery capacity if said battery voltage slopes are substantially increasing.

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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) 1995-11-24 1996-05-25 1996-11-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-24 2000-05-25 2000-11-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-24 2004-05-25 2004-11-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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