System for exchanging information in a battery mailbox
US5625291A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S320/13
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system having a battery, a battery support unit, and an electronic device provides for the exchange of information between the battery support unit and the electronic device via a mailbox in memory in the battery. When the battery is placed in the battery support unit, the battery support unit tests the battery for an error condition. If the battery support unit finds an error condition with the battery, it transmits error data to a mailbox located in the battery's memory. When the battery is then removed from the battery support unit and placed in an electronic device, the electronic device can read the error data in the mailbox and take an appropriate action. For example, the electronic device reads the mailbox and find the error data placed there by the battery support unit. In response to finding this error data, the electronic device enables an indicator, such as an indicator that informs a user that maintenance needs to be performed on the battery. The user can continue using the battery, knowing that its operation is likely to be unreliable, or can remove it from the electronic device and insert it into the battery support unit for maintenance. When battery maintenance has…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.