US5602454A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Battery pack having identification recesses and terminals
Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1993-08-19
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2013-08-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a battery pack in which it can be detected with ease whether a battery pack is properly attached to a battery charger or a power supply of electrical machinery and apparatus. A battery pack (10) that accommodates therein a battery includes at its central bottom surface a detection aperture (104) that is engaged with an engagement portion formed at a connection portion of a battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to thereby detect the kind of the battery. Also, the battery pack (10) includes on its bottom surface a detection aperture (106) that is engaged with an engagement portion formed at a connection portion of the battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to thereby detect an electric power output amount of the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Arakawa
- 👤 Hidero Mitsui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/213; H01M50/296; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/18; Y10S320/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a detection portion formed at a central portion of a bottom surface of said battery pack, said detection portion engaging an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of an electrical apparatus to which said battery pack is connected, said detection portion being indicative of the type of said battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a detection portion formed at a central portion of a bottom surface of said battery pack, said detection portion engaging an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of an electrical apparatus to which said battery pack is connected, said detection portion being indicative of the type of said battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising an identification terminal provided on a bottom surface of said battery, said identification terminal providing an indication that said battery has been charged in order to memorize a number of times that said battery pack has been charged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein said identification terminal is provided substantially at said central portion of said bottom surface of said battery pack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising means for indicating an amount of charge remaining in said battery pack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein said means for indicating an amount of charge remaining in said battery pack includes a movable identifying marker provided in a concave portion located on a casing, whereby the amount of charge remaining in said battery pack is indicated by a position of said identifying marker relative to said concave portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein said identifying marker comprises a sliding member having a protrusion formed on a top portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said detection portion physically hinders attachment of said battery pack to said apparatus if said battery pack is of a type not specified for use with said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a detection portion formed at a bottom surface of said battery pack, said detection portion engaging an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of an electrical apparatus to which said battery pack is connected, said detection portion providing an indication of a total electric power output amount provided by said battery pack, wherein said detection portion physically hinders attachment of said battery pack to said apparatus if said power output of said battery pack is incompatible with said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a detection portion formed at a bottom surface of said battery pack, said detection portion engaging an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of an electrical apparatus to which said battery pack is connected, said detection portion providing an indication of a total electric power output amount provided by said battery pack, wherein said detection portion physically hinders attachment of said battery pack to said apparatus if said power output of said battery pack is incompatible with said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The battery pack according to claim 8, further comprising an identification terminal for providing an indication that said battery has been charged in order to memorize a number of times that said battery pack is charged, and further including a temperature detection terminal provided on said bottom surface for detecting a temperature at said bottom surface of said battery pack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein said battery pack has a length defining a longitudinal direction, and wherein said detection portion is reduced in width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said battery pack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said electrical apparatus includes a battery charger and wherein the battery pack further comprises an identifying marker provided on said bottom surface of said battery pack, said identifying marker being slidably engaged with an engagement member of said battery charger to indicate whether the battery is charged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A battery pack comprising: a plurality of rechargeable batteries of a particular type; a casing surrounding said rechargeable batteries; said rechargeable batteries arranged in at least two rows within said casing; means provided on said casing for attaching the battery pack to one of a battery charger and a device which receives power from said at least one rechargeable battery; and terminals provided on said casing which are coupled respectively to anode and cathode terminals of said at least one rechargeable battery; wherein said casing comprises at least one recess formed on a bottom surface of said casing; wherein the presence and position of said at least one recess is indicative of at least one characteristic of said battery pack; and wherein said at least one recess is located between or on either side of said rows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
A battery pack comprising: a plurality of rechargeable batteries of a particular type; a casing surrounding said rechargeable batteries; said rechargeable batteries arranged in at least two rows within said casing; means provided on said casing for attaching the battery pack to one of a battery charger and a device which receives power from said at least one rechargeable battery; and terminals provided on said casing which are coupled respectively to anode and cathode terminals of said at least one rechargeable battery; wherein said casing comprises at least one recess formed on a bottom surface of said casing; wherein the presence and position of said at least one recess is indicative of at least one characteristic of said battery pack; and wherein said at least one recess is located between or on either side of said rows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein one of said recesses has a size indicative of the type of rechargeable batteries contained in said casing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the particular type of rechargeable batteries is one of a lithium battery or a nickel cadmium battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The battery pack according to claim 12, further comprising means disposed on said battery pack for providing an indication, when said battery pack is attached to a charger, of a number of times that said battery has been charged.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein said means for providing an indication of the number of times that said battery has been charged comprises an identification terminal operatively connected to an integrated circuit element provided in said casing, said integrated circuit element storing data representative of said number of times that said battery has been charged.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The battery pack according to claim 12 or 15, further comprising means for indicating an amount of charge remaining in said at least one battery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
The battery pack according to claim 17, wherein said means for indicating an amount of charge remaining in said at least one battery includes a movable identifying marker provided in a concave portion located on said casing, whereby the amount of charge remaining in said at least one battery is indicated by a position of said identifying marker relative to said concave portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The battery pack according to claim 18, wherein said identifying marker comprises a sliding member having a protrusion formed on a top portion thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said recesses has a depth greater than a distance between a surface of said plurality of batteries and an exterior of said casing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said recesses has a depth greater than a distance between a surface of said plurality of batteries and an exterior of said casing, and is located substantially in a center portion of the bottom of said casing.
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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) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |