Patent · US Expired

Battery identification system

US6014008A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1998
Grant dateJan 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02J7/00047
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention entails a battery identification system to be utilized by cellular telephones, battery chargers, and other electrical devices for identification of the battery types employed within such devices. The battery identification system comprises a battery type identification circuit that includes one or more input switches that are coupled to a voltage divider network that is made up of a series of voltage divider segments. Each voltage divider segment is designed to produce a signal that is indicative of the on/off state of a particular input switch. To actuate the input switches, the employed battery is provided with one or more switch actuators, where the position and spacing of the switch actuators on the battery in effect uniquely identifies the battery type. Various switching and actuating configurations are contemplated, including mechanical, galvanic, magnetic, and optical systems.

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