The Gillette Company

Duracell Inc.

Jeffrey S Hewes

Viet H Vu

William T McHugh

Bhupendra Kanchanial Patel

Lucien Paul Fontaine

Robert Yoppolo

Matthew P Hull

Jane A Blasi

Robert J Pinault

Anne T Lynch

Alex Kaplan

Reynald Cantave

Mark Kacprowicz

Michael McDermott

Paul Cheeseman

Jeffrey Poirier

Yelena Kouznetsova

A voltage controlled display is described. The voltage controlled display is a low voltage display and has a display element having a pair of electrodes and a voltage divider having a terminal coupled to a first one of the pair of electrodes of the voltage controlled display. A metal-insulator-metal diode having a switching voltage less than about 10 volts coupled to the voltage divider. In a preferred embodiment, the display element further includes a second metal-insulator-metal device and wherein the voltage divider includes a resistor coupled in series with the second metal-insulator-metal diode.

Electronic display

A battery includes a cell having an outer circumference and a battery tester. The batter tester can be of different types. One type a segmented display tester includes a first voltage divider and a plurality of parallel battery tester elements including a voltage controlled display having a first terminal coupled to the first voltage divider and a second voltage divider coupled in parallel with the first voltage divider and coupled to a second terminal of the voltage controlled display. The second voltage divider also includes a non-linear device. A second type of battery tester is also disclosed. This type is a variable type and has a first voltage divider including a non-linear device coupled to a plurality of resistance elements and a voltage controlled display having a first terminal coupled to the first voltage divider and a plurality of second terminals coupled to the plurality of resistance elements.

Gauge effect battery tester

A battery pack is described. The battery pack includes a DC to DC converter and a group of at least two primary cells. The DC-DC converter is operatively coupled to the group of primary cells. The group of primary cells have an initial voltage that is higher than a rated voltage for the battery pack. The DC-DC converter converts the voltage to a regulated nominal voltage that is lower that the rated voltage of the group of primary cells. By regulating the battery voltage down to a constant voltage, the cells can discharge down to a minimum voltage level per cell enabling additional energy transfer from the group of cells.

Battery pack

A battery pack is described. The battery pack includes a DC to DC converter and a group of at least two primary cells. The battery pack also has an anti-charge circuit that inhibits charging current from charging the group of primary cells.

Non-rechargeable battery pack

A current interrupt mechanism for electrochemical cells is disclosed. A thermally activated current interrupt mechanism is integrated into an end cap assembly for an electrochemical cell. The thermally responsive mechanism preferably includes a free floating bimetallic disk or shape memory alloy member which deforms when exposed to elevated temperature causing a break in an electrical pathway within the end cap assembly. This prevents current from flowing through the cell and effectively shuts down an operating cell. The thermally responsive mechanism may include a heat producing electrical resistance means, preferably a Zener diode, to enhance thermal sensitivity. The end cap assembly may include a pressure responsive mechanism which ruptures when there is extreme gas pressure buildup. Gas is allowed to escape from the cell interior to the external environment through a series of vent apertures within the end cap assembly.

Current interrupter for electrochemical cells

A current interrupt assembly for electrochemical cells is disclosed. The current interrupter assembly may be a self-contained, sealed unit which may be separately inserted into the cell during cell construction. Several current interrupt assemblies may be inserted in the cell. The current interrupter assembly has particular utility for thin rechargeable cells and when inserted in the cell forms a portion of the electrical pathway between a cell electrode and corresponding terminal. The current interrupt mechanism comprises a thin thermally responsive member preferably comprising a disk of a shape memory metal alloy having a curved surface. The current interrupt mechanism may include a heat producing electrical resistance means, preferably a Zener diode in proximity to the thermally responsive member. When cell temperature exceeds a predetermined value the disk deflects to cause a break in the electrical pathway within the assembly. The assembly may include therein a flexible electrically conductive member which forms a part of the electrical pathway within the assembly and which is physically responsive to deflection of the thermally responsive member. The assembly may also include a pressure actuated diaphragm which may form a portion of the assembly housing. When the cell internal pressure exceeds a predetermined level the diaphragm deflects causing a break in the electrical pathway within the assembly, thereby shutting down the cell.

Growing community of inventors

Holliston, MA, United States of America

Jeffrey S Hewes