US5438248A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method and apparatus for recognizing different types of batteries
Assignee: LG Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-19
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2013-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A method for recognizing different types of batteries in a product capable of using two or more types of batteries so as to employ the battery life efficiently. The method includes detecting the battery voltage upon connection to a load and detecting variations of the battery voltage with load variations. The discharge voltages of an alkaline battery and a nickel-cadmimum are distinguished so as to avoid premature replacement of an alkaline battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee J. Hyuck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M19/00; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/40; H02J7/443; H02J7/485; H04M1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
In an apparatus for receiving a battery including a first terminal for delivering current to a load and a second terminal for receiving current from the load, a method of determining use of the battery, the method comprising the steps, performed by the apparatus, of: detecting an electrical characteristic of a circuit including the first and second terminals; and determining the type of battery in accordance with the electrical characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
In an apparatus for receiving a battery including a first terminal for delivering current to a load and a second terminal for receiving current from the load, a method of determining use of the battery, the method comprising the steps, performed by the apparatus, of: detecting an electrical characteristic of a circuit including the first and second terminals; and determining the type of battery in accordance with the electrical characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes the substep of detecting an electrical characteristic corresponding to an internal impedance of the battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes the substep of determining a monitored voltage for the battery.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for recognizing a type of battery, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a first voltage across a first load; detecting a second voltage across a second load higher than the first load; calculating a first value in accordance with the first and second voltages; comparing the first value with a second value to produce a comparison result; and determining the type of battery in accordance with the comparison result.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for recognizing a type of battery, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a first voltage across a first load; detecting a second voltage across a second load higher than the first load; calculating a first value in accordance with the first and second voltages; comparing the first value with a second value to produce a comparison result; and determining the type of battery in accordance with the comparison result.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4, further included a step of determining the second value from voltage values of the first and second voltages for a first battery type and voltage values of the first and second voltages for a second battery type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the calculating step includes the substep of calculating the first value by adding the first and second voltages, and the determining step includes the substeps of determining that the battery is an alkaline battery when the first value is greater than the second value and determining that the battery is an Ni--Cd battery when the first value is smaller than the second value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across a second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the calculating step includes the substep of calculating the first value by calculating a difference between the first and second voltages, and the determining step includes the substeps of determining the battery to be a Ni--Cd battery when the first value is greater than the second value and determining the battery to be an alkaline battery when the first value is smaller than the second value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adjusting a monitored voltage for the alkaline battery to have lower value than a monitored voltage for a Ni--Cd battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adjusting a monitored voltage for the alkaline battery to have lower value than a monitored voltage for a Ni--Cd battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting steps includes the substep of sampling the second voltage, a plurality of times.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the comparing step is performed a plurality of times before conducting the determining step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the comparing step is performed a plurality of times for each performance of the determining step, and wherein the determining step includes the substep of determining the type of battery in accordance with a majority of the results of the performances of the comparing step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across a first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the fist voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of adjusting a monitored voltage of the battery in accordance with a result of the determining step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across a first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting the second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the battery includes an electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting a first voltage includes the substep of detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell, and wherein the step of detecting a second voltage includes the substep of detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for recognizing different types of batteries comprising: means for receiving a battery; means for detecting voltages of the batteries under a first load and under a second load higher than the first load; means for storing the detected voltages; means for processing the stored voltages to produce a processed value; means for comparing the processed value with a predetermined value to produce a comparison result; and means for controlling a monitored voltage of the batteries in accordance with the comparison result.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for recognizing different types of batteries comprising: means for receiving a battery; means for detecting voltages of the batteries under a first load and under a second load higher than the first load; means for storing the detected voltages; means for processing the stored voltages to produce a processed value; means for comparing the processed value with a predetermined value to produce a comparison result; and means for controlling a monitored voltage of the batteries in accordance with the comparison result.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device for recognizing different types of batteries according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined value is a result of averaging processed values of different types of batteries.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device for recognizing different types of batteries according to claim 15, wherein the battery comprises an electrochemical cell, and wherein the detecting means includes means for detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell and for detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device for recognizing different types of batteries according to claim 24, wherein the battery comprises an electrochemical cell, and wherein the detecting means includes: means for detecting the first voltage across the first load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell and for detecting the second voltage across the second load electrically coupled to the electrochemical cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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