Patent US2140439A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US1175197A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5691078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5691078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remaining battery capacity meter and method for computing remaining capacity
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1995-11-21
•
Granted: 1997-11-25
•
Expires: 2015-11-21
Abstract
Abstract An inexpensive, high precision accumulation type remaining battery capacity meter and method are provided, whereby the remaining capacity of the battery is determined by computing an accumulated discharge value and is displayed in steps on a display unit. The meter includes a memory device with at least one data table relating the terminal voltage of a battery discharging at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to the remaining capacity of the battery. The data table is used to correct the computed remaining capacity displayed on the display unit. Corrections are only made within a specified range so that abnormal change in the displayed capacity is prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Minoru Kozaki
- 👤 Toshihiko Yamazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04; G01R31/3644; G01R31/3648; G01R31/382; G01R31/3842; G01R31/3828; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/18; Y10S320/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A remaining battery capacity meter, wherein a) the accumulated amount of electric current or electric power from a battery is computed and used to compute a corresponding remaining battery capacity, and b) the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed, comprising: display means for displaying the computed remaining battery capacity; memory means for storing at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity of the battery; detection means for detecting when a discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; reading means for reading the remaining capacity relating to the terminal voltage from the data table when the detection means detects that the discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; and correction means for recognizing a difference between the remaining capacity read by the reading means from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity displayed on the display means, and correcting the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A remaining battery capacity meter, wherein a) the accumulated amount of electric current or electric power from a battery is computed and used to compute a corresponding remaining battery capacity, and b) the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed, comprising: display means for displaying the computed remaining battery capacity; memory means for storing at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity of the battery; detection means for detecting when a discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; reading means for reading the remaining capacity relating to the terminal voltage from the data table when the detection means detects that the discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; and correction means for recognizing a difference between the remaining capacity read by the reading means from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity displayed on the display means, and correcting the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 1, wherein the correction means corrects the computed remaining battery capacity by increasing or decreasing the computed accumulated amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 1, wherein the display means displays the computed remaining battery capacity in increments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 3, wherein the correction means corrects the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference and within a range, so that the displayed computed remaining battery capacity increment does not change.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
198 words
A remaining battery capacity meter, wherein a) an accumulated amount of electric current or electric power from a battery is computed and used to compute a corresponding remaining battery capacity, and b) the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed, comprising: a display unit on which the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed; a memory unit having at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity of the battery; a detection unit for detecting when a discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; a reading unit that reads the remaining capacity relating to the terminal voltage from the data table when the detection unit detects that the discharge current or discharge power of the battery matches, or is in the proximity of, the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; and a correction unit that recognizes a difference between the remaining capacity read by the reading unit from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity displayed on the display unit, and increasing or decreasing the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
198 words
A remaining battery capacity meter, wherein a) an accumulated amount of electric current or electric power from a battery is computed and used to compute a corresponding remaining battery capacity, and b) the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed, comprising: a display unit on which the computed remaining battery capacity is displayed; a memory unit having at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity of the battery; a detection unit for detecting when a discharge current or discharge power of the battery approximately matches the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; a reading unit that reads the remaining capacity relating to the terminal voltage from the data table when the detection unit detects that the discharge current or discharge power of the battery matches, or is in the proximity of, the predetermined discharge current or discharge power; and a correction unit that recognizes a difference between the remaining capacity read by the reading unit from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity displayed on the display unit, and increasing or decreasing the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 5, wherein the correction unit corrects the computed remaining battery capacity by increasing or decreasing the computed accumulated amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 5, wherein the display unit displays the computed remaining battery capacity in increments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The remaining battery capacity meter of claim 7, wherein the correction unit corrects the computed remaining battery capacity according to the difference and within a range, so that the displayed computed remaining battery capacity increment does not change.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for computing remaining battery capacity of a battery using an accumulation type remaining battery capacity meter having at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity value of the battery, comprising: measuring a discharge of electric current or electric power from the battery over time; computing a cumulative amount of the electric current or electric power discharged from the battery; computing a remaining battery capacity corresponding to the computed cumulative amount of the discharged electric current or electric power; displaying the computed remaining battery capacity in increments; measuring a terminal voltage of the battery; using the measured terminal voltage to retrieve a corresponding remaining battery capacity value from the data table when electric current or power presently discharged from the battery approximately matches a predetermined electric current or power discharge value; correcting the computed remaining battery capacity according to a difference between the corresponding remaining battery capacity value read from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity presently being displayed; and limiting the correction of the computed remaining battery capacity to a range, wherein the computed remaining battery capacity increment being displayed does not change.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for computing remaining battery capacity of a battery using an accumulation type remaining battery capacity meter having at least one data table relating a terminal voltage of the battery at a predetermined discharge current or discharge power to a remaining capacity value of the battery, comprising: measuring a discharge of electric current or electric power from the battery over time; computing a cumulative amount of the electric current or electric power discharged from the battery; computing a remaining battery capacity corresponding to the computed cumulative amount of the discharged electric current or electric power; displaying the computed remaining battery capacity in increments; measuring a terminal voltage of the battery; using the measured terminal voltage to retrieve a corresponding remaining battery capacity value from the data table when electric current or power presently discharged from the battery approximately matches a predetermined electric current or power discharge value; correcting the computed remaining battery capacity according to a difference between the corresponding remaining battery capacity value read from the data table and the computed remaining battery capacity presently being displayed; and limiting the correction of the computed remaining battery capacity to a range, wherein the computed remaining battery capacity increment being displayed does not change.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising correcting the computed remaining battery capacity by correcting the cumulative amount of the discharged electric current or electric power.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0388523A2
Cited
US5518835A
Cited
US5479085A
Cited
WO1994017425A1
Cited
JPH06284503A
Cited
JPH0711802A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |