Back to results
US 10,481,211 B2Granted
State-of-charge indicator
AssigneeLAT Enterprises, Inc.
InventorLaura Thiel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pluggable state-of-charge (SOC) indicator and methods of use are disclosed. The pluggable SOC indicator includes at least one voltage input jack for connecting to a battery, at least one instance of control electronics, and at least one SOC indicator, such as a 5-bar liquid crystal display (LCD). Embodiments of the pluggable SOC indicator include, but are not limited to, a pluggable single-connector SOC indicator, a pluggable dual-connector SOC indicator, and a pluggable quad-connector SOC indicator. Further, the control electronics are programmable for any input voltage range and/or battery discharge characteristics.
Claims20
An indicator device for monitoring a state of charge of one or more batteries or battery packs, the device comprising:
- at least one voltage input connector configured to be electrically coupled to at least one mating voltage output connector of a battery or battery pack, wherein the at least one voltage input connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking male circular connector including a circular cross-section, wherein the at least one mating voltage output connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking female circular connector including a circular cross-section, and wherein the at least one voltage input connector is configured to press fit onto the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack such that the circular cross-section of the non-locking circular male connector fits within the circular cross-section of the non-locking female circular connector;
- control electronics capable of measuring a voltage received from the at least one voltage input connector when the at least one voltage input connector is electrically coupled to the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack to be monitored, and wherein the control electronics are configured to process an input voltage range and/or a battery discharge characteristic to determine a state of charge, wherein the control electronics include a voltage sensing circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a processor, and a driver to drive the at least one indicator;
- a housing adapted to house the at least one voltage input connector, the control electronics, and the at least one indicator;
- and
- at least one indicator which indicates the state of charge;
- wherein the at least one voltage input connector, the control electronics, and the at least one indicator are in electronic communication;
- wherein the state of charge indicated by the at least one indicator is related to the voltage measured by the control electronics;
- and
- wherein the housing comprises a base plate and a plastic cover comprising a clouded plastic and including at least one viewing window comprised of a clear plastic, wherein the state of charge is operable to be viewed through one or more of the at least one viewing window.
6 more elements
An indicator device for monitoring a state of charge of one or more batteries or battery packs, the device comprising:
- at least one voltage input connector configured to be intermittently electrically coupled to and decoupled from at least one mating voltage output connector of a battery or battery pack, wherein the at least one voltage input connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking male circular connector including a circular cross-section, wherein the at least one mating voltage output connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking female circular connector including a circular cross-section, and wherein the at least one voltage input connector is configured to press fit onto the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack such that the circular cross-section of the non-locking circular male connector fits within the circular cross-section of the non-locking female circular connector;
- control electronics capable of measuring a voltage received from the at least one voltage input connector when the at least one voltage input connector is electrically coupled to the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack to be monitored, wherein the control electronics are configured to process an input voltage range and/or a battery discharge characteristic to determine a state of charge, and wherein the control electronics include a voltage sensing circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a processor, and a driver;
- at least one indicator which indicates the state of charge;
- and
- a housing adapted to house the at least one voltage input connector, the control electronics, and the at least one indicator;
- wherein the driver drives the at least one indicator;
- wherein the at least one voltage input connector, the control electronics, and the at least one indicator are in electronic communication;
- wherein the state of charge indicated by the at least one indicator is related to the voltage measured by the control electronics;
- wherein the housing comprises a base plate and a plastic cover comprising a clouded plastic and including at least one viewing window comprised of a clear plastic, wherein the state of charge is operable to be viewed through one or more of the at least one viewing window;
- and
- wherein the plastic cover has a curvature to mate with a base plate and at least one end plate.
8 more elements
A device for monitoring and communicating a state of charge of one or more batteries or battery packs, the device comprising:
- at least one voltage input connector configured to be electrically coupled to at least one mating voltage output connector of a battery or battery pack, wherein the at least one voltage input connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking male circular connector including a circular cross-section, wherein the at least one mating voltage output connector comprises a slip-on, non-locking female circular connector including a circular cross-section, and wherein the at least one voltage input connector is configured to press fit onto the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack such that the circular cross-section of the non-locking circular male connector fits within the circular cross-section of the non-locking female circular connector;
- control electronics capable of measuring a voltage received from the at least one voltage input connector when the at least one voltage input connector is electrically coupled to the at least one mating voltage output connector of the battery or battery pack to be monitored, wherein the control electronics are configured to process an input voltage range and/or a battery discharge characteristic to determine a state of charge, wherein the control electronics include a voltage sensing circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a processor, and wherein the state of charge is related to the voltage measured by the control electronics;
- a housing adapted to house the at least one voltage input connector, the control electronics, and the at least one indicator;
- and
- a communications interface configured to communicate information related to the state of charge to a network;
- wherein the housing comprises a base plate and a plastic cover comprising a clouded plastic and including at least one viewing window comprised of a clear plastic, wherein the state of charge is operable to be viewed through one or more of the at least one viewing window.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.