Patent · US Expired

Condition tester for a battery

US5627472A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
11References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 1995
Grant dateMay 6, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S320/21
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tester for determining the condition of an electrochemical power source, e.g. a battery or main cell, is disclosed. The tester may comprise an electrolytic (coulometric) cell connected in series to a auxiliary cell. The auxiliary cell is a miniature electrochemical power cell. The electrolytic (coulometric) cell may have no electromotive force of its own and may comprise an anode and cathode of the same material, desirably silver, with an electrolyte contacting at least a portion of both the anode and cathode. The tester may be permanently connected in parallel to a main cell being tested and is thin enough to be integratable into a label for the main cell. As the main cell discharges, the electrolytic cell anode clears proportionally to the discharge of one of the electrodes of the main cell to provide a continuous visually discernible indication of the state of charge of the main cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.