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:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1998
Jonathan Neal Andrews, McMinnville, OR (US);
Gregory Dean Brink, McMinnville, OR (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A battery chemistry identification system and method that identifies the chemistry of an installed battery pack which may be one of a number of battery packs having different battery chemistries. The battery packs have electrical and physical interfaces that are functionally interchangeable. The battery packs include one or more distinguishing features in either or both aspects of the interface. The identification system includes a sensor appropriate for detecting the feature(s) and, based on the presence or absence of those distinguishing feature(s), determines which battery pack and, hence, which battery chemistry, is installed in the battery-powered device. In one particular embodiment, the system determines whether a battery installed in a battery-powered device having multiple use models is a commonly available industry standard battery pack or a customized battery pack. The industry standard battery pack has a first battery chemistry and a standard mechanical and electrical battery interface. The standard mechanical interface enables the battery pack to mechanically interoperate with an appropriately configured battery pocket while the standard electrical interface enables the battery pack to electrically interoperate with the battery pocket, typically including terminals through which energy is delivered to the device. The customized battery pack has a second battery chemistry different than the first battery chemistry and a custom interface. The custom interface includes the standard mechanical and electrical battery interfaces with the addition of one or more distinguishing feature(s). The system detects the presence or absence of the feature(s) and generates a battery chemistry indication accordingly.