The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1992
Robert A Kendrick, Fallbrook, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A device for draining a nickel cadmium or other battery prior to recharging the battery includes first and second input terminals for connecting the device to a battery to be discharged, and first and second circuits coupled to the input terminals for draining current from the battery for deep cycle discharge purposes. The first circuit has sufficient resistance to drain current from the battery without damage to the battery when the battery has an output voltage above a predetermined threshold level (e.g., 3.3 volts), and the second circuit presents a low resistance in order to drain current from the battery when the battery has an output voltage no greater than the threshold level. The device includes a relay coupled to the input terminals for decoupling the second circuit from the battery when the battery has an output voltage greater than the threshold level. In one embodiment, the second circuit includes circuitry in the form of an incandescent lamp in series with a resistor for presenting a resistance between the first and second input terminals that decreases to approximately one ohm as the output voltage of the battery decreases. The device requires no power source apart from the battery to be discharged and it may include one or more LEDs indicating the level of the output voltage of the battery as well as first and second meter terminals for enabling a user to connect an external voltmeter to the device for purposes of monitoring the output voltage of the battery.