United States Patent [19]
`Beard et al.
`
`US005898290A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,898,290
`Apr. 27, 1999
`
`[54] BATTERY PACK WITH CAPACITY AND
`
`5,465,038 11/1995 Register .................................... .. 320/2
`
`PRE-REMOVAL INDICATORS
`
`[75] Inventors: Paul Beard, Milpitas, Calif; Robert J.
`Grabon, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
`
`[73] Assignee: Norand Corporation, Cedar Rapids,
`IoWa
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/711,447
`[22] Filed:
`Sep. 6, 1996
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`[60] Provisional application No. 60/003,342, Sep. 7, 1995, and
`provisional application No. 60/003,543, Sep. 11, 1995.
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.6 ......................... .. H01M 10/48; H01M 2/10;
`G06F 3/02
`[52] US. Cl. ................................ .. 320/2; 429/97; 307/116
`[58] Field of Search .......................... .. 320/2, 48; 429/96,
`429/97, 98, 99, 100; 307/116; 323/904
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`307/116 X
`4 595 913 6/1986 Aubuchon
`4,680,527
`7/1987 Benenatiet~al:'115.15.15.15 ...................... .. 320/2
`4:942:352
`7/1990 Sano ............... ..
`320/2
`5,216,371
`6/1993 Nagai ................. ..
`324/428
`5,459,388 10/1995 Illingworth et al. ...................... .. 320/2
`
`5,525,888
`6/1996 Toya . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . .. 320/2
`5,606,241
`2/1997 Patino et a1. ............................ .. 320/48
`Primary Examiner—Peter S. Wong
`Assistant Examiner—Patrick B. LaW
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Stanford & Bennett, L.L.
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`A battery capacity monitoring system readily indicates the
`remaining capacity of an uninserted battery pack upon an
`operator’s request. Such request may involve the touching of
`one or more contacts disposed on the battery pack. The
`battery pack also includes a display and a communication
`means for communicating capacity information to the device
`in Which it may be installed. The communication means may
`also be used to display status When the battery pack is not
`inserted. When inserted a device, the battery pack and device
`participate to determine time estimates for remaining battery
`life based on knoWn device loading characteristics and
`current battery capacity. An operator vieWing such informa
`tion may more adequately determine the usage value of the
`current battery charge. Moreover, the battery pack and
`corresponding device are con?gured to detect the beginning
`of the process of removing a battery pack. In response, the
`device saves operational states and data before losing poWer.
`Such stored information may be restored upon insertion of
`anotherba?ery Pack into the device> Permitting the Operator
`to Continue Where they left Off
`
`17 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
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`265\
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`201 J
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`
`Apple Inc., et al.
`Exhibit 1005
`Apple Inc., et al. v. Global Touch Solutions, Inc.
`IPR2015-01175
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 27, 1999
`
`5,898,290
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`10
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 27, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
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`5,898,290
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`111
`
`103
`
`101
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.27, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 0f 10
`
`5,898,290
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 009
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 27, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
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`Exhibit 1005, Page 010
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 27, 1999
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
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`5,898,290
`
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`Exhibit 1005, Page 011
`
`
`

`
`5,898,290
`
`1
`BATTERY PACK WITH CAPACITY AND
`PRE-REMOVAL INDICATORS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application claims priority pursuant to 35
`U.S.C. Sec. 119(e) to US. Provisional Application Serial
`No. 60/003,342 (Attorney Docket No. DN38136), ?led Sep.
`7, 1995. The present application also claims priorty pursuant
`to 35 U.S.C. Sec. 119(e) to US. Provisional Application
`Serial No. 60/003,543 (Attorney Docket No. DN38176P1),
`?led Sep. 11, 1995. Both of said provisional applications are
`hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Technical Field
`The present invention relates generally to battery packs
`utiliZed in portable battery poWered electronic devices, and,
`speci?cally, battery packs Which monitor capacity and indi
`cate pre-removal. Electronic devices may respond to such
`pre-removal indications to, for example, save operational
`state information prior to poWer loss.
`2. Related Art
`Portable electronic battery poWered devices have made
`great advances in increased poWer and utility in furtherance
`of achieving reductions in costs and siZe and increases in
`portability. Applications of portable electronic devices such
`as portable data collection and processing terminals often
`require the operator to be mobile and roaming. As such,
`portable electronic devices are generally poWered by a
`reusable, self-contained poWer supply. In particular, portable
`electronic devices are usually con?gured With rechargeable
`batteries, often disposed in some form of battery pack.
`Quite often, an operator of a portable electronic device
`does not knoW the present state of charge of a battery pack,
`unknoWingly setting off With insuf?cient battery resources to
`complete an extended task. In many circumstances, moni
`toring circuitry Which determines the state of charge only
`exists in associated charging docks. HoWever, if the charg
`ing dock is not readily available to the operator, partially and
`fully discharged battery packs are unfortunately often relied
`upon. Although monitoring circuitry may also exist Within
`some portable electronic devices, the operator is still forced
`to install each battery pack into such portable electronic
`devices to determine the present charge. This process often
`proves tedious and time consuming, especially When mul
`tiple battery packs are needed to complete the task.
`For example, When a portable electronic device does
`provide monitoring circuitry, the operator must: 1) open the
`battery compartment of the portable electronic device; 2)
`insert or replace the installed battery pack; 3) close the
`battery compartment; 4) evaluate the charge level from some
`type of user interface; and 5) repeat the entire process for
`each battery needed for a given task and for each battery that
`proves to be undercharged. To be safe, this process must be
`carried out each time the operator prepares to leave the
`vicinity of other available battery packs. OtherWise, the
`operator is forced to take along many additional battery
`packs that Will typically not need to be used.
`Additionally, it is Well knoWn that batteries are someWhat
`ohmic, and battery charge levels generally decreases linearly
`over time. Thus, the charge state of a battery can be
`determined by examination of the output voltage of the
`battery. Various methods of detecting When battery voltage
`rises or falls beloW a threshold level are also Well knoWn in
`
`10
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`2
`the art. HoWever, the various methods typically place an
`additional load on the battery to accomplish such detection.
`Similarly, displaying any information to an operator causes
`further battery loading.
`As evidence that battery pack charge status via docking
`and insertion is an insuf?cient solution to their problems,
`operators have adopted and rely upon rudimentary, unreli
`able methods to attempt to determine charge status. For
`example, many operators short battery pack terminals
`together With a Wet ?nger or tongue in order to judge the
`battery pack charge status by the imparted “shock.” The use
`of saliva in such instances is unsanitary, unpleasant and may
`cause corrosion or otherWise result in resistively coating the
`battery pack terminals. Such rudimentary techniques are
`inherently unreliable, suffering from error in human judg
`ment.
`Moreover, if an operator removes a battery pack for any
`reason during the operation of the portable electronic device,
`the portable electronic device immediately loses its current
`state of operation including all data associated thereWith.
`Such loss also occurs When a battery pack accidentally pops
`out of the slot, for example, When a portable electronic
`device is dropped. With most portable electronic devices, to
`avoid loss, the user must save, gracefully exit all application
`programs and turn off the portable electronic device before
`removing and replacing the battery. This entire process is
`very time consuming, annoying and unavailable upon acci
`dental battery removal.
`Thus, there lies a need for the operator of a portable
`battery poWered electronic device to be able to readily
`determine the present state of charge of a battery pack. The
`operator needs to be able to readily compare the present state
`of charge of a battery pack to the states of charge of several
`rechargeable battery packs at once, and to be able to make
`quick, simple and accurate determinations of remaining
`battery capacity. Further, there lies a need for the operator to
`be able to exchange battery packs during use of portable
`electronic device Without being burdened With a time
`consuming, preparatory shutdoWn process.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a battery capacity indi
`cating system Which readily indicates to an operator the
`remaining capacity of a battery. The battery capacity indi
`cating system does not require a physical sWitch to initiate
`the battery capacity indicating means, rather the indicating
`means is initiated upon shorting of at least tWo of the battery
`terminals by the operator. The battery capacity information
`system may operate by instantly determining the present
`battery voltage to determine battery capacity Without requir
`ing the battery capacity information to be stored in elec
`tronic memory. The capacity of a battery may be readily
`determined by the operator While the battery pack is outside
`of the electronic devices in Which it is utiliZed and held in
`the operator’s hand. While the battery pack is not being
`utiliZed, the battery capacity indicating system initiates
`battery capacity indicating means upon action of the
`operator, therefore continual monitoring of the state of the
`battery is not required. The battery capacity indicating
`system provides quick, simple and accurate indication of the
`remaining battery capacity.
`Other aspects of the present invention may be found in
`another battery pack con?guration that may be inserted by
`an operator into an electronic device to supply poWer to the
`electronic device. The battery pack comprises a housing
`having a display and at least one terminal disposed thereon.
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 012
`
`

`
`5,898,290
`
`10
`
`15
`
`3
`Disposed Within the battery pack, a rechargeable battery
`may be found along With a sensing circuit that detects the
`operator making contact With the at least one terminal. A
`control circuit responds to such detection by delivering to
`the display information regarding the current charge of the
`rechargeable battery.
`In this battery pack embodiment, the at least one terminal
`may comprise a single terminal, and the sensing circuit
`monitors capacitance associated With the single terminal to
`detect the operator’s contact. Alternatively, the at least one
`terminal may comprise a pair of terminals, and, if so, the
`sensing circuit detects creation of a current pathWay through
`the operator betWeen the pair of terminals.
`The control circuit may also compute usage time esti
`mates When the battery pack is inserted in the electronic
`device based on the loading characteristics of the electronic
`device. Similarly, the control circuit may be con?gured to
`cause the delivery of current charge information to the
`electronic device to permit computation by the electronic
`device of remaining capacity time estimates based on the
`loading characteristics of the electronic device. To support
`such and other communication, the battery pack may utiliZe
`a Wireless transceiver. Although such transceiver may be an
`independent unit, the display may comprise at least a portion
`of the transceiver.
`The battery pack may also further comprise a plurality of
`contact terminals disposed on the housing to provide poWer
`delivery to the electronic device When the battery pack is
`inserted therein. Therein, the electronic device may com
`prise a plurality of variable length contacts that engagingly
`couple With the plurality of contact terminals of the battery
`pack to provide pre-removal indications to the electronic
`device of impending poWer loss.
`In an alternate embodiment, a similar battery pack may
`comprise among other things a ?rst, second and third contact
`disposed on the housing to engagingly couple to the elec
`tronic device When the battery pack is inserted into the
`electronic device. The ?rst and second contacts engagingly
`couple With the electronic device to deliver poWer to the
`electronic device. Similarly, the third contact engagingly
`couples With the electronic device. HoWever, during the
`process of removing the battery pack from the electronic
`device, the third contact enables delivery of a pre-removal
`indication prior to the uncoupling of the ?rst and second
`contacts from the electronic device.
`In particular variations, the third contact is siZed and
`positioned to deliver a pre-removal indication. Such siZing
`may involve the third contact being shorter than the ?rst and
`second contacts.
`Of course other aspects of the present invention Will
`become apparent With reference to the draWings and entire
`speci?cation as a Whole.
`
`4
`present invention to be utiliZed With an alternative portable
`battery poWered data terminal.
`FIG. 6 is a perspective vieW Which illustrates exemplary
`operation of the present invention as embodied in the
`rechargeable battery pack of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram depicting the elec
`tronic circuitry of the battery pack of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 8 is a perspective vieW that illustrates another
`embodiment of the present invention in Which a portable
`terminal utiliZes a battery pack supporting infrared
`communication, capacity indication and pre-removal sens
`ing.
`FIG. 9 is a perspective vieW illustrating a further embodi
`ment of the battery pack of FIG. 8 Which includes an LCD
`(Liquid Crystal Display) screen that is used to display both
`available capacity and remaining time estimates.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective vieW illustrating the front and
`bottom side of the battery packs of FIGS. 7 and 8.
`FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates the
`functionality of one embodiment of the circuitry that may be
`used in the portable terminal and battery packs illustrated in
`FIGS. 8—10.
`FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates an
`alternate embodiment of circuitry that can be incorporated
`into a portable terminal and battery packs such as those
`illustrated in FIGS. 8—10.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`FIG. 1 illustrates a rechargeable battery pack Which
`incorporates the present invention. The rechargeable battery
`pack 10 is preferably designed to be utiliZed in portable
`electronic equipment such as portable data collection termi
`nals Which are typically poWered during portable operation
`by electrochemical battery energy. The portable data termi
`nal in Which the battery pack 10 of FIG. 1 is preferably
`utiliZed may be itself utiliZed With mobile computing sys
`tems an in-premise Wireless local and Wide area netWorks
`for such applications as route accounting, ?eld sales
`automation, inventory management and Warehouse data
`management, for example.
`The rechargeable battery pack 10 comprises a battery
`pack housing 16 Which contains all of the internal compo
`nents of the battery pack 10. The rechargeable battery pack
`10 preferably has disposed on one side of the housing 16 an
`array of contact terminals 12. The contact terminals 12 are
`preferably utiliZed for the transfer of data and poWer signals
`into and out of the rechargeable battery pack 10. For
`example, tWo of the contacts 12 terminal may be utiliZed for
`the transfer of electric poWer into and out of the battery back
`10 and tWo of the contact terminals 12 may be utiliZed for
`the transfer of electronic data into and out of the recharge
`able battery pack 10. The array of contact terminals 12
`electrically connect With a set of receiving contact terminals
`contained in the battery cavity of a portable data terminal
`(not shoWn) in order to provide poWer and data transfer
`betWeen the portable data terminal and the rechargeable
`battery pack 10.
`The rechargeable battery pack 10 has disposed on one side
`of the housing 16 a battery capacity indicator display 14
`Which provides a means for displaying and indicating to the
`operator the remaining capacity of the rechargeable battery
`pack 10. In an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention, the battery indicator display is a linear array of
`four light-emitting diodes Which sequentially illuminate in
`accordance With the capacity of the rechargeable battery
`pack 10.
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 013
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`25
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`45
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of an exemplary rechargeable
`battery pack built in accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded vieW of the exemplary rechargeable
`battery pack of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is an exploded vieW of a portable battery poWered
`data terminal Which may utiliZe the rechargeable battery
`pack of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a perspective vieW illustrating the insertion of
`the rechargeable battery pack of FIG. 1 into the portable
`battery poWered data terminal of FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is a perspective vieW illustrating the insertion and
`removal of an alternative rechargeable battery pack of the
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`5,898,290
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`FIG. 2 illustrates in an exploded vieW the elemental
`components of the rechargeable battery pack of FIG. 1. The
`battery pack housing 16 of the rechargeable battery pack 10
`of FIG. 1 preferably comprises an upper housing shell 18
`and a loWer housing shell 20. The upper housing shell 18 and
`the loWer housing shell 20 preferably contain a pair of
`electrochemical cells 22 and 24 Which provide means stor
`age of electrochemical energy.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
`rechargeable battery pack 10 utiliZes tWo electrochemical
`cells 22 and 24 Which are preferably Lithium ion type
`rechargeable electrochemical cells. Other types of electro
`chemical cells may be utiliZed. The pair of electrochemical
`cells 22 and 24 are preferably electrically connected in series
`such that the rechargeable battery pack 10 may provide a
`voltage output Which is the sum of the output voltages of
`individual electrochemical cells 22 and 24. Other electrical
`con?gurations of the electrochemical cells 22 and 24 may be
`utiliZed as Well.
`A battery pack printed circuit board (PCB) 26 is prefer
`ably contained Within the upper housing shell 18 and the
`loWer housing shell 20 of the rechargeable battery pack 10.
`The battery pack PCB 26 preferably contains electronic
`circuitry 28 for control of the transfer of battery energy and
`battery pack data into and out of the battery pack 10 via
`contact terminals 12. The electronic circuitry 28 of the
`battery pack PCB 26 preferably receive electrical poWer
`from the electrochemical cells 22 and 24 When the battery
`pack 10 is not being recharged or from an external poWer
`source (not shoWn) When the battery pack 10 is being
`recharged.
`FIG. 3 illustrates in a someWhat exploded vieW an exem
`plary portable data terminal Which may utiliZe and receive
`operational poWer from the rechargeable battery pack of the
`present invention. The preferred portable data terminal 30
`may generally comprise an upper body frame 32, a loWer
`body frame and an endcap 36 Which comprises the top end
`portion of the data terminal 30. The endcap 36 provides
`access to the internal electronic components of the data
`terminal for insertion and removal of peripheral devices
`such as PCMCIA (or PC card) type devices. The portable
`data terminal 30 is preferably designed for portable opera
`tion thereof requiring poWer from a self contained poWer
`source, Which is the rechargeable battery pack 10 of the
`present invention in an exemplary embodiment.
`Being designed for portable battery poWered operation,
`the portable data terminal 30 preferably includes a video
`display 40 having touch screen data input means for receiv
`ing touch and stylus 42 input. The portable data terminal 30
`preferably has a ruggediZed keypad 44 as an additional
`means for data input. The loWer frame 38 of the portable
`data terminal 30 preferably has a battery pack receiving
`cavity 38 for receiving and retaining the rechargeable bat
`tery pack 10 during portable operation thereof.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a portable data terminal adapted to
`receive and utiliZe the rechargeable battery pack of the
`present invention. The underside of the portable data termi
`nal 30 as de?ned by loWer frame 34 preferably has a battery
`pack receiving cavity 38 shaped and adapted to receive the
`rechargeable battery pack 10 of the present invention. The
`battery pack receiving cavity 38 preferably has disposed
`therein an array of ?exible spring contacts 46 corresponding
`to the array of electrical contacts 12 of the rechargeable
`battery pack as shoWn in FIG. 1. When the rechargeable
`battery pack 10 is inserted into the battery pack receiving
`cavity 38, the individual electrical contacts 12 align and
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`thereby make electrical contact With respective individual
`?exible spring contacts 46. The rechargeable battery pack 10
`may have disposed on one side an extended tab member 50
`Which may come into forcible contact With a corresponding
`lip recession (not shoWn) in the battery pack receiving cavity
`38 for providing the battery pack 10 pivoting leverage
`during insertion thereinto. The battery pack 10 may then be
`rotated into position With the battery cavity 38 and secured
`therein With a slidable spring latch 48.
`FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative portable data terminal
`adapted to utiliZe an alternative rechargeable battery pack of
`the present invention. The alternative rechargeable battery
`pack 52 may be designed to carry a larger number of
`rechargeable electrochemical cells than are utiliZed in the
`rechargeable battery pack 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to
`provide the alternative battery pack 52 With a greater capac
`ity. The alternative rechargeable battery pack 52 may thus
`have a siZe and con?guration to accommodate a larger
`number of electrochemical cells as is shoWn in FIG. 5.
`The alternative rechargeable battery pack 52 may have
`disposed thereon a battery capacity indicator display 54
`generally corresponding to and providing the same function
`as the indicator display 14 of the battery pack 10 shoWn in
`FIG. 1. The alternative rechargeable battery pack 52 may
`also have disposed at an end thereof an array of contact
`terminals 56 generally corresponding to and providing the
`same function as the contact terminals 14 of the battery pack
`10 shoWn in FIG. 1. The alternative rechargeable battery
`pack 52 is preferably optimiZed for utiliZation in the alter
`native portable data terminal 58 shoWn in FIG. 5. The
`alternative portable data terminal may generally be larger
`and consume more poWer than the data terminal 30 shoWn
`in FIGS. 3 and 4 and thus require the larger capacity of
`alternative rechargeable battery pack 52, for example. The
`rechargeable battery pack 52 may be slidably insertible into
`and out of the battery pack receiving cavity 60 of data
`terminal 58. Spring contacts (not shoWn) in cavity 60
`corresponding to electrical contacts 56 may make electrical
`mating contact thereWith When battery 52 is inserted into
`cavity 60 in a manner substantially analogous to the inser
`tion of battery pack 10 into cavity 38 described in the
`description of FIG. 4 and as shoWn in FIG. 4. An endcap 62
`may be utiliZed to secure the battery pack 52 in the battery
`cavity 60 of portable data terminal 58.
`FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary operation of the present
`invention shoWing the operation of the battery indicator
`display. The operator of a portable electronic device such as
`a data terminal that utiliZes a rechargeable battery pack such
`as battery pack 10 may desire to readily determine the
`remaining charge capacity of the battery pack 10 before
`insertion thereof into the electronic device. The operator
`may have a large number of battery packs 10 from Which to
`choose and may desire to quickly, simply and accurately
`knoW Which of the battery packs has the greatest remaining
`capacity and to determine Whether the battery pack 10 has
`enough capacity to last the duration of intended use.
`The battery pack 10 preferably includes means to indicate
`to the user the remaining capacity thereof. The operator
`preferably shorts tWo contacts in the array of electrical
`contacts 12 in order to sWitch on the capacity indicating
`means comprising electric circuitry 28 Within the battery
`pack 10 and a capacity indicator display 14 as shoWn in FIG.
`2. Upon the operator shorting the contact terminals 12
`preferably With a ?nger or other digit, the internal electronic
`circuitry 28 of the battery pack of FIG. 2 initiates indication
`to the user of the capacity of the electrochemical cells 22 and
`24. The total remaining capacity of the battery pack 10 is
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 014
`
`

`
`5,898,290
`
`7
`preferably displayed by battery capacity indicator display 14
`Which preferably comprises a linear array of four light
`emitting diodes. As shoWn in FIG. 5, the LED’s sequentially
`illuminate to thereby indicate to the operator the amount of
`capacity remaining therein.
`Upon shorting of the contacts 12 by the operator, When
`only the ?rst LED in the display 14 is illuminated the present
`capacity of the battery pack 10 is beloW 25% of its total
`capacity. When the ?rst and second LED’s only are illumi
`nated the present capacity battery pack 10 is betWeen 25%
`and 50% of its total capacity. When the ?rst, second and
`third LED’s only are illuminated the present capacity of the
`battery pack 10 is betWeen 50% and 75% of its total
`capacity. When all four LED’s are illuminated the present
`capacity of the battery pack 10 is above 75% of its total
`capacity. The operator may thereby readily determine the
`present charge state of the rechargeable battery pack 10 of
`the present invention.
`In an alternate embodiment, if the charge is at least 25%,
`the ?rst LED is continuously illuminated. OtherWise the ?rst
`LED is ?ashed on and off at a rate indicative of the portion
`of the 25% that is remaining. For example, if the battery
`pack is completely depleted, the ?rst LED is alWays off. If
`the battery pack has 12% of the capacity remaining, an
`on-off ?ash rate of approximately 0.5 cycles per second is
`used. If the battery pack has 20% of the overall capacity
`remaining, the on-off ?ash rate of about 1 cycle per second
`is used. At 25%, the ?rst LED remains on continuously. In
`all ?ashing states, the on time remains constant While the off
`time is adjusted up or doWn to correspondingly indicate less
`or more of the 25% capacity actually remaining. Similarly,
`the second, third and fourth LED’s slide from continuously
`on to on-off cycling to alWays off based on the correspond
`ing amount of 25—50%, 50%—75% and 75%—100% of
`capacity currently available. Thus, for example, if 62%
`capacity remains, the ?rst and second LEDs Would be
`continuously illuminated, the third LED Would ?ash at
`approximately a 0.5 cycles per second rate, and the fourth
`LED Would be continuously off.
`FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the battery capacity indi
`cating circuitry of the present invention. The circuitry of
`FIG. 7 is preferably included With the battery pack circuitry
`28 of circuit board 26 as shoWn in FIG. 2. The battery
`capacity indicating circuitry of FIG. 7 preferably comprises
`a microcontroller (“uP”) 64 for electronic data processing
`functions. The microcontroller 64 is preferably a Microchip
`PIC 16C71 microcontroller. The array of contact terminals
`12 preferably connect to microcontroller 64 and preferably
`include a positive battery output contact (“VBAT”) 70, a
`battery data contact (“BDAT”) 72, a battery clock contact
`(“BCLK”) 74, and a ground contact (“GND”) 76.
`An analog-to-digital converter (“A/D”) 66 preferably
`connects betWeen electrochemical cells (“V1”) 22 and
`(“V2”) 24 and microcontroller 64. The analog-to-digital
`converter 66 preferably receives a magnitude-scaled analog
`input voltage from electrochemical cells 22 and 24 and
`generates a binary-coded number proportional to the analog
`input voltage Which is provided to microcontroller 64. The
`microcontroller 64 preferably provides an output signal to an
`LED driver circuit (“LED DRIVER”) 68 Which operably
`drives the indicator display 14 comprising light emitting
`diodes D1, D2, D3 and D4.
`The operator preferably initiates the battery capacity
`indicating circuit of FIG. 7 by shorting the BDAT contact 72
`With either the BCLK contact 74 or the GND contact 76.
`When the battery pack 10 as shoWn in FIG. 1 is removed
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`8
`from a portable electronic device the internal electronic
`circuitry 28 as shoWn in FIG. 2 is preferably placed into a
`suspend mode. When battery pack 10 is in a suspend mode
`the BDAT contact 72 may be initially charged to a high
`voltage state through supply voltage VCC via resistor R1.
`Upon the operator shorting the BDAT contact With the
`BCLK contact, the BDAT contact voltage sWitches from a
`high voltage state to a loW voltage state through resistor R2
`Which has a resistance less than the resistance of resistor R1.
`Alternatively, the BDAT contact may be directly shorted to
`ground through the GND contact. The BDAT contact con
`nects to a negatively edge-triggered input of microcontroller
`64. The shorting of the BDAT contact from a high voltage
`state to a loW voltage state triggers the negatively edge
`triggered BDAT input of microcontroller 64.
`Upon microcontroller 64 receiving and detecting a tran
`sition from high to loW in the BDAT signal, microcontroller
`64 preferably sends a signal to the LED driver such that the
`LED’s may be illuminated according to the present charge
`state of the rechargeable battery pack 10. The present state
`of charge of the battery pack 10 is preferably determined
`from measurement of the total present output voltage of
`electrochemical cells 22 (V1) and 24 (V2). The present total
`analog output voltage of electrochemical cells 22 and 24 is
`preferably converted into a digital signal by analog-to
`digital converter (A/D) 66 Which provides microprocessor
`64 With a digital signal proportional to the output voltage of
`electrochemical cells 22 and 24. The processor then prefer
`ably sends control signals to LED driver 68 to drive the
`LED’s D1, D2, D3 and D4 in response to the present state
`of charge of the battery pack 10 as determined from a
`measurement of the present output voltage of electrochemi
`cal cells 22 and 24.
`Microprocessor 64 may be programmed With a routine
`that determines the present capacity of the b