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:
Apr. 16, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2001
Ronald D. Slusky, Highland Park, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A stand-alone battery charger warning system for use with portable electronic devices is disclosed whereby a warning is generated in response to a determination that a) a battery is not presently connected to the charger and b) at least one predetermined time criterion has been met. This warning system advantageously may be used universally with any number of different battery chargers and is not limited to just one make or model. A particular embodiment of the present invention consists of a housing within which is contained the electronic circuitry and controls necessary to implement the warning system functionality. This housing is connected to an electrical source, such as a typical home electrical outlet. The battery charger for the portable electronic device is then connected electrically to the warning system. The current time of day may be automatically set in the electronic circuitry of the warning system by utilizing an antenna to receive a time of day indication signal from an external time source, such as one of the Coordinated Universal Time Clocks. If a predetermined time criterion is reached (e.g., illustratively, a pre-set time of day) and it is determined that the battery is not presently in the battery charger, then the warning system generates a warning. In a particular embodiment, the invention utilizes the detection of current flow to the battery charger to determine whether or not the battery is in the battery charger. The warning system interprets a lack of current flow as indicating that the battery is not present in the battery charger and, upon reaching the predetermined time criterion, generates an alarm.