Patent · US Expired

State-of-charge-measurable batteries

US6014014A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1998
Grant dateJan 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A storage device allows the state of charge of a main battery to be determined by measuring the state of charge of a dummy battery. The storage device may provide power to an electronic appliance such as a portable computer. The main and dummy batteries each have a storage capacity and a self-discharge rate. The storage capacity of the dummy battery is less than the storage capacity of the main battery; for example, the storage capacity of the dummy battery may be only about 1% of that of the main battery. The main and dummy batteries are configured so that the self-discharge rates thereof are substantially equal. The storage device also includes discharge circuitry which is configured so that the dummy battery discharges at a rate faster than the main battery when a load is connected to and drawing current from the main battery.

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