Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A battery pack coupled to an electronic device and including a secondary battery behaving as a power source of the electronic device, comprising: a plus terminal and a minus terminal for supplying a current to said electronic device; a communication terminal for executing communication with said electronic device; a connection terminal connected to said electronic device when said plus terminal and said minus terminal are properly connected to said electronic device; battery status measuring means for measuring the temperature and the voltage of said secondary battery; and mode determining means for establishing one of operation modes in response to the voltages at said communication terminal and said connection terminal; wherein said modes include: a normal mode selected when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits a predetermined level and the voltage at said communication terminal changes, so that the entirety of said battery pack including said battery status measuring means is made operative; and a low-power consumption mode selected when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits said predetermined level and the voltage at said communication terminal does not change for a predetermined time, or when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits a level other than said predetermined level, so that an additional functional portion of said battery including said battery status measuring means is made inoperative.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A battery pack coupled to an electronic device and including a secondary battery behaving as a power source of the electronic device, comprising: a plus terminal and a minus terminal for supplying a current to said electronic device; a communication terminal for executing communication with said electronic device; a connection terminal connected to said electronic device when said plus terminal and said minus terminal are properly connected to said electronic device; battery status measuring means for measuring the temperature and the voltage of said secondary battery; and mode determining means for establishing one of operation modes in response to the voltages at said communication terminal and said connection terminal; wherein said modes include: a normal mode selected when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits a predetermined level and the voltage at said communication terminal changes, so that the entirety of said battery pack including said battery status measuring means is made operative; and a low-power consumption mode selected when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits said predetermined level and the voltage at said communication terminal does not change for a predetermined time, or when the voltage at said connection terminal exhibits a level other than said predetermined level, so that an additional functional portion of said battery including said battery status measuring means is made inoperative.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising switching means connected in series to said secondary battery to supply or interrupt a charge current to said secondary battery, said switching means including an overcharge preventive field effect transistor including a parasitic diode oriented not to permit the charge current to flow, said overcharge preventive field effect transistor having a drain connected to a minus terminal of said secondary battery and a source connected to a ground terminal of said control means, and said mode determining means controlling said switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein said switching means includes an overdischarge preventive field effect transistor having a parasitic diode oriented not to permit a discharge current from said secondary battery to flow so as to control the discharge current to flow or not to flow, said overdischarge preventive field effect transistor having a source connected to the source of said overcharge preventive field effect transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electronic device operative in receipt of a current from a battery pack adaptive for communication therewith, comprising: a plus terminal and a minus terminal for introducing a current from said battery pack; a communication terminal for executing communication with said battery pack; a connection terminal connected to said battery pack when said plus terminal and said minus terminal are properly connected to said battery pack; and detector means for detecting the status of a power source and for adjusting an output voltage of said communication terminal to a predetermined value, such that a voltage of a predetermined level is output from said connection terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electronic device operative in receipt of a current from a battery pack adaptive for communication therewith, comprising: a plus terminal and a minus terminal for introducing a current from said battery pack; a communication terminal for executing communication with said battery pack; a connection terminal connected to said battery pack when said plus terminal and said minus terminal are properly connected to said battery pack; and detector means for detecting the status of a power source and for adjusting an output voltage of said communication terminal to a predetermined value, such that a voltage of a predetermined level is output from said connection terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein said connection terminal is connected to said plus terminal.