US5418086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Battery with coulometric state of charge indicator
Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
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Filing: 1993-08-09
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Granted: 1995-05-23
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Expires: 2013-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A thin film coulometer for use as a battery state of charge indicator in which the indicator is located on a battery and connected in parallel across a current path of a resistive segment of the battery so that during discharge, the coulometer can be observed to indicate the capacity of the battery. The coulometric charge indicator device may have a variable thickness construction and include indicia which are produced upon battery discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M10/488; G; G01; G01R; G01R22/00; G01R22/02; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/18; Y10S320/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An electrochemical cell housed in a container and having a coulometric charge indicator device, said coulometric charge indicator device comprising a first electrode capable of being electrochemically dissolved, an electrolyte disposed in contact with said first electrode and a second electrode in contact with said electrolyte and being capable of receiving the dissolved first electrode; said coulometric charge indicator device connected in parallel across a current path of a resistive segment of said cell so that when the cell is being discharged a current will flow through the resistive segment thereby providing a voltage across the coulometric charge indicator device so that said first electrode will dissolve and be transported through the electrolyte and deposited on the second electrode and wherein the amount of the first electrode deposited on the second electrode can be used to indicate the capacity of the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electrochemical cell housed in a container and having a coulometric charge indicator device, said coulometric charge indicator device comprising a first electrode capable of being electrochemically dissolved, an electrolyte disposed in contact with said first electrode and a second electrode in contact with said electrolyte and being capable of receiving the dissolved first electrode; said coulometric charge indicator device connected in parallel across a current path of a resistive segment of said cell so that when the cell is being discharged a current will flow through the resistive segment thereby providing a voltage across the coulometric charge indicator device so that said first electrode will dissolve and be transported through the electrolyte and deposited on the second electrode and wherein the amount of the first electrode deposited on the second electrode can be used to indicate the capacity of the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is superimposed over the electrolyte and first electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrodes are spaced apart in the same plane and the electrolyte is disposed in the space defined by the first electrode and second electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein the electrolyte has a variable thickness construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein the electrolyte has a stepped-shape construction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein the coulometric charge indicator device is 0.020 inch in thickness or less.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein the coulometric charge indicator device is 0.005 inch in thickness or less.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein the variable thickness of the electrolyte is designed such that upon discharge an indicia is produced on the coulometric charge indicator device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is embossed to provide (1) at least one cavity containing at least a first portion of electrolyte and (2) a region adjacent the cavity proximate to a second portion of electrolyte so that the first portion of electrolyte in said at least one cavity will be thicker than the second portion of electrolyte disposed in the region adjacent the cavity so that upon discharge, a predesigned indicia is produced on the coulometric charge indicator device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the resistive segment is from about 0.01 to 1000 ohms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, bismuth, tin, zinc and gold and the second electrode is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, bismuth, tin, zinc and gold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of ionically conductive polymers, solid state inorganic materials and organic-inorganic composites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 11 wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of ionically conductive polymers, solid state inorganic materials and organic-inorganic composites.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is copper, the second electrode is copper, and the electrolyte is polyethylene oxide containing copper ions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 11 wherein the first electrode is silver, the second electrode is silver and the electrolyte comprises silver nitrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein a plastic film is disposed over the coulometer and wherein said plastic film functions as the label for the cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein a readout scale is used with the coulometer so that the remaining capacity of the cell can be observed during cell discharge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 17 wherein a plastic film is disposed over the coulometer and wherein said plastic film functions as the label for the cell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein the first electrode is silver, the second electrode is silver and the electrolyte comprises silver nitrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein the first electrode is copper, the second electrode is copper and the electrolyte is polyethylene oxide containing copper ions.
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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) | 1998-05-22 | 1998-11-21 | 1999-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-22 | 2002-11-21 | 2003-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-22 | 2006-11-21 | 2007-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |