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US 7,733,056 B2Granted
Prevention of electro-chemical corrosion at charging contacts of a battery-powered handpiece and its charger device
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMartin G. Hartung, Michael Keller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to the prevention of electro-chemical corrosion at charging pins, especially of a battery-powered handpiece and its charging station.
Claims20
Battery-powered handpiece, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) first and second charging contacts exposed on the housing, for connection to contacts of a battery contained within the housing;
- and
- (c) a sensing contact positioned on the housing for detecting electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing between the first charging contact and the second charging contact.
1 more element
Charger device for a battery-powered handpiece, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) first and second charging pins exposed on the housing and adapted to contact charging contacts on a handheld device;
- and
- (c) a sensing pin on the housing for detecting at least one of (i) electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing between the first charging pin and the second charging pin;
- and (ii) electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing of a handheld device that is detected by a sensing contact of the handheld device.
2 more elements
In combination:
- A. a battery-powered handpiece, comprising:
- (i) a housing;
- (ii) first and second charging contacts exposed on the housing, for connection to contacts of a battery contained within the housing;
- and
- (iii) a sensing contact positioned on the housing for detecting electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing between the first charging contact and the second charging contact;
- and
- B. a charger device for the battery-powered handpiece, comprising:
- (i) a housing;
- (ii) first and second charging pins exposed on the housing and adapted to contact charging contacts on the handheld device;
- and
- (iii) a sensing pin on the housing for detecting at least one of (a) electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing between the first charging pin and the second charging pin;
- and (b) electrolytic current flow through a fluid film on the housing of a handheld device that is detected by a sensing contact of the handheld device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.