Lithium battery energy monitor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorLeopold J. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lithium battery is provided with an energy monitor that continuously inates the energy remaining in the battery. An electrolytic coulometer is connected in series with the battery and has a cantilevered cathode which increases its mass in proportion to the total amount of current that flows from the battery. Since the mass of the cathode and hence its resonant frequency changes in proportion to the total current, a mechanical transducer in contact with the electrolytic coulometer causes the cantilevered cathode to resonate at different frequencies which is monitored to provide a continuous reading of remaining battery energy.
Claims8
An apparatus for monitoring the energy level of a battery delivering a load current comprising:
- means for imparting vibratory motion over a predetermined frequency range;
- means connected to the battery and operatively coupled to the vibratory motion imparting means having a cantilevered electrode for changing its resonating mass in response to deposits thereon caused by accumulations of the load current;
- and
- means electrically coupled to the vibratory motion imparting means for indicating a change of resonant frequency of the resonating mass changing means as more deposits are accumulated on the cantilevered electrode thereby monitoring the energy level of the battery.
An apparatus for monitoring the energy level of a battery delivering a load current comprising:
- means for imparting vibratory motion over a predetermined frequency range;
- means connected to the battery and operatively coupled to the vibratory motions imparting means having a cantilevered electrode having deposits thereon for changing its resonating mass in response to depleting the deposites thereon caused by load current passing therethrough;
- and
- means electrically coupled to the vibratory motion imparting means for indicating a change of resonant frequency of the resonating mass changing means as more deposits are depleted from the cantilevered electrode thereby monitoring the energy level of the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.