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:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 03, 1999
David R Nowak, Bloomingdale, IL (US);
Eric G Parker, Chicago, IL (US);
Ryan Lindsay, Hampshire, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
An optical-electronic device measuring a charge level in a battery having a housing positioned within an interior of the battery, the housing having a cavity. A light source and a light receiving device are positioned within the cavity. A sensing surface and at least one reflecting surface are positioned within the cavity between the light source and the light receiving device. A box is formed with respect to the housing, the at least one reflecting surface dividing the box from the cavity. Light projected from the light source is transmitted from the sensing surface, where a portion of the light is refracted depending upon the charge level of the battery. The remaining light is transmitted to the at least one reflecting surface and then to the light receiving device. A level of charge is thereby determined based upon the amount of light sensed by the light receiving device.