Device battery and additional electronics for conventional device batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-purpose device battery (200) for supplying an electric device (100), with the exception of a musical instrument, with electrical energy, comprising: a housing (203) with contacts (204, 205) accessible on an outside, wherein the housing (203) is dimensioned such that the multi-purpose device battery (200) can be introduced into an energy storage compartment of the device and therein can be brought, by means of the contacts (204, 205), into contact with electronics (100) of the device (100); at least one electrochemical energy storage cell (206), received in the housing (203), for storing electrical energy for supplying energy to the electronics (100); and a detection apparatus (201, 202) which is received in the housing (203) and is designed to detect a cessation of operation of the device and to interrupt the energy supply to the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200).

Description

[0001] Device battery and additional electronics for commercially available device batteries

[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-purpose device battery for a particularly portable electrical device and to additional electronics that can be combined with commercially available device batteries.

[0003] Multi-purpose portable batteries, which supply electrical devices with electrical energy, are widely known in the art. These well-known multi-purpose portable batteries have IEC-standardized sizes and are suitable for a wide variety of devices used for a wide range of purposes.

[0004] Examples of such devices are electric toys, remote controls or flashlights, in which – depending on the energy requirements – certain of the IEC-standardised multi-purpose device batteries are used.

[0005] Users of such devices powered by multi-purpose batteries often forget to turn them off after use, resulting in the multi-purpose batteries becoming completely discharged, and the user having to insert new ones before the device can be used again. This is undesirable and leads to unnecessary waste of multi-purpose batteries, which must be disposed of separately.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution that prevents energy cells from discharging unnecessarily. At the very least, the object of the invention is to provide an alternative to the prior art.

[0007] This object(s) is achieved by a multi-purpose electrical device battery according to claim 1 and an additional electrical electronics system according to claim 5. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. The multi-purpose device battery according to the invention for supplying an electrical device with electrical energy, except for or includingwith the exception of a musical instrument, has the following features: a housing with contacts accessible on an outside, wherein the housing is dimensioned such that the multi-purpose device battery can be inserted into an energy storage compartment of the device and can be contacted therein via the contacts with an electronic system of the device; at least one electrochemical energy storage cell accommodated in the housing for storing electrical energy for supplying power to the electronic system; and a detection device accommodated in the housing, which is designed to detect an end of the operation of the device and to interrupt the energy supply to the electronic system by the multi-purpose device battery.

[0008] The multi-purpose portable battery according to the invention is in particular a primary battery that cannot be recharged or a secondary battery that can be recharged.

[0009] The housing and contacts are preferably shaped so that the multi-purpose portable battery according to the invention corresponds to an IEC-standardized size type. In this respect, the multi-purpose portable battery according to the invention can, for example, have the following sizes:

[0010] The electrochemical composition of the energy storage cell of the multi-purpose portable battery can be arbitrary, depending on whether it is a primary battery or a secondary battery. If the multi-purpose portable battery is a secondary battery, the energy storage cell can, for example, have a lithium-ion or lithium iron sulfide composition. Alternatively, a nickel-metal composition is also possible.

[0011] In order to be able to recharge the multi-purpose device battery forming the secondary battery, a charging cable socket, for example a USB charging socket (e.g. USB 2.0 / 3.0 Mini-B socket or USB 2.0 / 3.0 Micro-B socket) is preferably provided on the housing, via which a charging cable can be connected to charge the energy storage cell.

[0012] Alternatively, the multi-purpose device battery forming the secondary battery may be designed to be charged via the accessible contacts.

[0013] If the chemical energy storage cell used has a different

[0014] voltage than that to be output by the multi-purpose device battery, the multi-purpose device battery preferably includes a converter device, such as a DC-DC converter.

[0015] In particular, the multi-purpose device battery according to the invention is used for devices that

[0016] - without a wired power supply, are supplied with electrical energy purely by battery when used as intended,

[0017] - a user activates it for use,

[0018] - are in motion during use, and

[0019] - the user switches it off again after use.

[0020] Examples include flashlights or children's toys, such as remote-controlled toy cars.

[0021] The detection device can, for example, include a microcontroller that detects the end of the device's operation and interrupts the power supply from the device's multi-purpose battery. For example, a switch (e.g., a transistor or relay) is connected to the microcontroller's output, which the microcontroller controls accordingly.

[0022] Preferably, the multi-purpose device battery is constructed such that the detection device accommodated in the housing is configured to detect a resumption of operation of the device after its end and to restore the power supply of the electronics by the multi-purpose device battery.

[0023] This function, for example, is performed by the aforementioned microcontroller, which is incorporated into the detection device. This allows the device, powered by the multi-purpose battery, to remain switched on using the device's own main switch. The aforementioned detection device is responsible for interrupting and restoring the power supply.Preferably, the multi-purpose device battery is further constructed such that the detection device accommodated in the housing has an acceleration sensor which is configured to detect an acceleration of the device occurring due to movement of the device and to output a corresponding acceleration signal, and that the detection device is configured to detect the end and / or resumption of operation of the device on the basis of the acceleration signal and to interrupt and / or restore the power supply of the electronics by the multi-purpose device battery accordingly.

[0024] In this context, the operation of the device can be defined such that the detection device does not interrupt the power supply when the acceleration signal reflects movement of the device, and interrupts it when it reflects no movement or is in a resting state (shutdown mode). This shutdown mode is particularly preferred.

[0025] Alternatively, the operation of the device can also be defined in reverse, such that the detection device does not interrupt the power supply if the acceleration signal does not reflect any movement or the idle state of the device, and interrupts it if it reflects movement of the device (reverse shutdown mode).

[0026] Preferably, the detection device can be designed such that a user can switch between the shutdown mode and the reverse shutdown mode, wherein a complete deactivation of the shutdown mode and / or the reverse shutdown mode is preferably also possible.

[0027] The corresponding explanations (modifications) at the end of the description of the embodiments apply equally in this context. The switching and / or deactivation mentioned can be performed via a mechanical switch or via software via the microcontroller.

[0028] The acceleration sensor, for example, is an on / off tilt sensor designed to detect movements, such as vibrations or oscillations, of the device. The acceleration sensor is preferably completely passive, meaning it does not require its own secondary or primary battery. An example of an on / off tilt sensor is the SQ-SEN-390 from SignalQuest (registered trademark).

[0029] Alternatively, active acceleration sensors can also be used. Examples include acceleration sensors from Bosch (registered trademark), particularly those based on MEMS technology. A specific example is the BMA400 acceleration sensor.

[0030] Preferably, the multi-purpose device battery is constructed such that the detection device is configured such that, after interruption of the power supply to the electronics, the multi-purpose device battery continues to supply the detection device with power in order to be able to detect the resumption of operation of the device.

[0031] The detection device includes, for example, the aforementioned microcontroller. This can preferably have a sleep mode and a watchdog function including a timer. The microcontroller receives the acceleration signal output by the acceleration sensor.

[0032] The microcontroller's watchdog function resets the timer each time the acceleration signal reflects movement of the device, ensuring that the microcontroller maintains or does not interrupt the power supply to the electronics from the multi-purpose device battery. However, if the timer reaches a certain time value or a timer countdown expires, for example, 5 minutes, i.e. the acceleration sensor has not sent a signal to the microcontroller reflecting movement of the device for over 5 minutes, the microcontroller interrupts the power supply to the device's electronics from the multi-purpose device battery, for example by opening the aforementioned switch. The microcontroller preferentially enters energy-saving sleep mode. During sleep mode, the multi-purpose device battery or the energy storage cell continues to supply the microcontroller with electrical energy.

[0033] If the acceleration sensor is an active sensor, as already mentioned above, it will also continue to be supplied with electrical energy by the multi-purpose device battery or the energy storage cell.

[0034] However, the power consumption of the microcontroller in sleep mode and the acceleration sensor is so low that it is of secondary importance.

[0035] When the user subsequently moves the electrical device again, the acceleration sensor transmits an acceleration signal to the microcontroller that reflects the device's movement. This acceleration signal wakes up the microcontroller (wake-up function), which then restores the electronics' power supply from the device's multipurpose battery, for example, by closing the switch again.

[0036] The present invention also relates to additional electronics for insertion into an energy storage compartment of an electrical device together with a multi-purpose device battery for supplying the electrical device with electrical energy, comprising: a housing with contacts accessible on an outside, wherein the housing is dimensioned such that the additional electronics can be inserted into the energy storage compartment of the device together with the multi-purpose device battery and can be contacted therein via the contacts with an electronics unit of the device and the multi-purpose device battery such that the multi-purpose device battery supplies the electronics of the device with electrical energy; and a detection device accommodated in the housing, which is configured to detect an end of the operation of the device and to interrupt the energy supply of the electronics by the multi-purpose device battery.

[0037] The detection device can preferably have the same functions as explained with reference to the multi-purpose device battery. In particular, the detection device accommodated in the housing preferably has the aforementioned acceleration sensor and the corresponding functions.

[0038] In this respect, reference is made to the above statements.

[0039] The housing of the additional electronics is preferably designed so that it can be inserted into a standardized energy storage compartment between the installed multi-purpose device battery and the contacts of the device's electronics. Many standardized energy storage compartments have spring contacts that can be manually compressed for inserting multi-purpose device batteries. The housing of the additional electronics is preferably designed so that the space created by compressing the spring contacts is sufficient for inserting the additional electronics.

[0040] For example, the housing of the additional electronics has a cylindrical shape with a similar or identical diameter to the multi-purpose device battery, which is inserted in series with the housing of the additional electronics into the energy storage compartment, and a height between 2 and 4 mm.

[0041] Alternatively, the housing of the auxiliary electronics can have a shape corresponding to one of the IEC-standardized size types mentioned. Consequently, the housing of the auxiliary electronics can be inserted into a corresponding energy storage compartment, like a commercially available multi-purpose portable battery of the corresponding IEC-standardized size type.

[0042] In this case, the housing of the additional electronics is preferably designed so that commercially available multi-purpose device batteries corresponding to a smaller IEC-standardized size type can be inserted into the housing of the additional electronics. The housing of the additional electronics can thus be viewed as an adapter for multi-purpose device batteries of a smaller IEC-standardized size type, with the housing additionally containing the detection device.

[0043] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. The modifications described at the end of the following embodiments apply equally to the above general part.

[0044] Figures 1A and 1B show examples of devices for which a multi-purpose device battery or additional electronics according to the invention is used;

[0045] Figures 2A and 2B show a multi-purpose electrical appliance battery according to the invention;

[0046] Figures 3A and 3B show a further variant of a multi-purpose electrical device battery according to the invention;

[0047] Figures 4A and 4B schematically show the structure of a detection device when the device is powered and when the charger is connected; Figures 5A and 5B show two variants of an additional electronics system according to the invention.

[0048] The invention relates to a multi-purpose device battery for an electrical device.

[0049] Figures 1A and 1B show non-limiting examples of corresponding devices 100.

[0050] In this regard, Figure 1A shows a flashlight 100a and Figure 1B shows a remote-controlled toy car 100b together with its associated remote control 100c.

[0051] What these devices 100a, b, and c have in common is that they all have standardized energy storage compartments into which commercially available multi-purpose device batteries are inserted for power supply. Commercially available multi-purpose device batteries come in different sizes, depending on the energy requirements of the respective device.

[0052] The flashlight 100a, for example, has a twist lock 101a that opens its energy storage compartment. The energy storage compartment of the flashlight 100a shown in Figure 1A has a standardized size that accommodates two multi-purpose portable batteries according to IEC size type R.20.

[0053] After inserting the two multi-purpose device batteries, the flashlight 100a can be switched on and then off again using a switch 102a.

[0054] The devices 100b, c according to Figure 1B require other types of multi-purpose device batteries.

[0055] For example, the remote-controlled toy car 100b requires a 9-volt block battery according to IEC-6F22, and the remote control 100c requires four multi-purpose batteries according to IEC-R12, with the corresponding energy storage compartments adapted to these types. Both the remote-controlled toy car 100b and the corresponding remote control 100c have (sliding) switches 102b and 102c, which can be used to turn them on and off.

[0056] As long as the switches 102 a, b, c of the flashlight 100a, the toy car 100b and the remote control 100c are switched on, the inserted multi-purpose device batteries supply the corresponding electronics of the devices 100a-c with electrical energy so that the devices 100a-c can be used.

[0057] When the devices 100a-c shown are no longer in use, the user should turn them off by operating the respective switches 102a-c so that the multi-purpose device batteries used do not discharge unnecessarily and may have to be replaced the next time the devices 100a-c are used.

[0058] However, switching off devices 100a-c is often forgotten.

[0059] This is where the invention comes in and relates to a multipurpose portable battery according to the invention, which is suitable for such devices 100a-c. In general, the multipurpose portable battery according to the invention is an electrochemical multipurpose portable battery in the form of a primary battery that cannot be recharged or a secondary battery that allows recharging.

[0060] In the following, the multi-purpose device battery according to the invention is described, without limitation, as a secondary battery.

[0061] Figures 2A and 2B show a multi-purpose battery 200a according to the invention with a design and dimensions according to size type IEC-6F22 (9-volt block). In this respect, the multi-purpose battery 200a is suitable for the toy car 100b according to Figure 1A. Figures 3A and 3B show another variant of a multi-purpose battery 200b according to the invention, which has a design and dimensions according to IEC-R.6 and AA, respectively. Consequently, this multi-purpose battery 200b can be inserted into the remote control 100c according to Figure 1B.

[0062] The invention or the multi-purpose device battery according to the invention is not limited to the IEC types mentioned and can also have a structure and dimensions of another IEC size type.

[0063] The essential element of the multi-purpose device batteries 200a, b according to the invention is a detection device which is configured to detect the end of operation of the device 100a-c and to interrupt the energy supply of the electronics by the multi-purpose device battery.

[0064] The multi-purpose device battery 200a according to Figures 2A and 2B (9-volt block) has a housing 203a in which all components are accommodated.

[0065] Figure 2B shows the multi-purpose device battery 200a in a state in which the housing 203a is removed and the internal components are visible.

[0066] The multi-purpose device battery 200a includes two contacts 204a, 205a on one of its end faces. Contact 204a forms the positive terminal of the multi-purpose device battery 200a, whereas contact 205a corresponds to the negative terminal.

[0067] As can be seen from Figure 2B, two electrochemical energy storage cells 206a and a circuit board 208a are accommodated within the housing 203a.

[0068] The circuit board 208a carries at least the aforementioned detection device and preferably a charging electronics unit to which an electrical charging cable for recharging the electrochemical energy storage cells 206a can be connected. For this connection, a charging cable socket 207a is preferably arranged on the circuit board. This socket is exposed on an outer side of the housing 203a when the multi-purpose device battery 200a is assembled and is available for connecting the charging cable.

[0069] However, an essential element of the multi-purpose device battery 200a according to the invention is the aforementioned detection device, which detects that a user has stopped using the electrical device 100a-c when the switch 102a-c is closed (ON) and interrupts the energy supply from the multi-purpose device battery 200a.

[0070] The multi-purpose portable battery shown in Figures 3A and 3B differs essentially from that shown in Figures 2A and 2B in that it corresponds to a different IEC size type, namely R.6 and AA, respectively. The technical specifications in Figure 3A are merely preferred.

[0071] The multi-purpose device battery 200b according to Figures 3A and 3B also has a housing 203b in which all components are accommodated.

[0072] The housing 203b shown is a very thin-walled, foil-like element that is wrapped around the components shown in Figure 3B and stabilizes them. The thin-walled, foil-like element or housing 203b is made of metal or plastic, for example.

[0073] Figure 3A shows the multi-purpose device battery 200b with housing 203b and Figure 3B without housing 203b.

[0074] A cylindrical electronics unit 208b accommodated in the housing 203b includes a contact 204b on its front side. The contact 204b forms the positive pole of the multi-purpose device battery 200b.

[0075] In addition, at least one electrochemical energy storage cell 206b is accommodated in the housing 203b. A shell of the energy storage cell 206b is preferably made of metal and defines a further contact 205b, which is exposed on the side of the multi-purpose device battery 200b facing away from the contact 204b. The further contact 205b forms the negative pole.

[0076] The electronics unit 208b includes a circuit board which has at least the aforementioned detection device and preferably charging electronics to which the electrical charging cable can be connected for recharging the electrochemical energy storage cell(s).

[0077] Again, for this connection of the charging cable, the circuit board preferably includes a charging cable socket 207b, which is exposed on an outer side of the housing 203b in the assembled state of the multi-purpose device battery 200b and is available for the connection of the charging cable.

[0078] An essential element of the multi-purpose device battery 200b according to the invention is again the aforementioned detection device, which, when the switch 102a, b, c is closed, detects that a user has stopped using the electrical device 100a-c and interrupts the energy supply from the multi-purpose device battery 200b.

[0079] Figures 4A and 4B schematically show the components of the detection device included in the multi-purpose device batteries 200a, b according to Figures 2A, B and 3A, B.

[0080] Figure 4A shows the state in which the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b is inserted into the corresponding electrical device 100a-c and supplies the electronics there with electrical energy.

[0081] Figure 4B, however, shows the case where a charger LG is connected to the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b.

[0082] In the variant according to Figures 2A and 2B, contacting of the detection device is effected via contacting cables 211a. In the variant according to Figures 3A and 3B, however, contacting of the detection device is effected via plug contacts. The electronics unit 208b has a spring contact 211b, which comes into contact with a positive pole section of the energy storage cell 206b when the electronics unit 208b and the electrical energy storage cell 206b are plugged together. At the same time, the outer surface of the electrical energy storage cell 206b, which is made of metal and at the potential of the negative pole 205b, and a metal outer surface of the electronics unit 208b are in electrical contact with each other. The spring contact 211b and the outer surface of the electronics unit 208b are electrically insulated from each other.

[0083] The explained contacts, which are created by plugging together the electronic unit 208b and the electrical energy storage cell 206b, result in the contacting of the detection device shown in Figure 4b.

[0084] First, the detection device has a microcontroller 201 with a watchdog function including a timer. An output of the microcontroller 201 is connected to a switch 209, which, when opened, interrupts the circuit or the power supply from the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b. The microcontroller 201 is configured to open and close the switch 209.

[0085] On the other hand, the detection device includes an acceleration sensor 202, which generates an acceleration signal when the device 100a-c moves, for example when driving the toy car, handling the flashlight 100a or the remote control 100c, and transmits it to an input of the microcontroller 201.

[0086] The further switch 102a-c shown corresponds to the device-specific switches explained with reference to Figures 1A and 1B.

[0087] The user closes these switches 102a-c when they intend to use the corresponding device 100a-c. When the acceleration signal indicates that the user is moving the device 100a-c, i.e., when the acceleration signal exceeds a certain threshold, the microcontroller keeps switch 209 closed. In this state, the multipurpose device battery 200a, b supplies the electronics of the device 100a-c.

[0088] Simultaneously with receiving the acceleration signal indicating the movement, the microcontroller 201 or its watchdog function resets the timer, which then starts a countdown (again) or begins to run from zero.

[0089] Generally speaking, each time the timer is reset, the microcontroller 201 begins a time measurement to see whether another acceleration signal indicating the movement is received.

[0090] If the countdown runs down from a certain value to zero or if the ramp-up timer reaches the certain value, the microcontroller 201 concludes that the user is no longer using the device 100a-c and opens the switch 209. The circuit is thus interrupted and the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b no longer supplies the electronics of the device 100a-c with electrical energy, even if the device's own switch 102a-c in Figures 4A and 4B remains closed (ON).

[0091] For example, the specific value of the timer is 5 min.

[0092] However, when the switch 209 is open, the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b continues to supply the detection device with energy so that it can monitor whether the user resumes using the device 100a-c.

[0093] The dashed lines in Figures 4A and 4B indicate that the acceleration sensor 202 can be passive or active. In the latter case, the acceleration sensor 202 is electrically connected to the energy storage cell 206a, b via the dashed lines.

[0094] The microcontroller and acceleration sensor can be configured so that their own power consumption is of secondary importance. If the user moves the device 100a-c again after a certain period of time, the acceleration sensor 202 generates an acceleration signal that exceeds the threshold value, from which the microcontroller 201 determines that the device 100a-c is in use. The microcontroller 201 closes the switch 209, restoring the power supply.

[0095] From the above description it can be seen that the detection device prevents unnecessary discharging of the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b when the device is not in use, even if the device's own switch 102ac remains inadvertently closed.

[0096] To recharge the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b, the user removes the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b from the corresponding device 100a-c. The charging cable socket 207a, b is accessible after removing the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b, allowing the user to plug the corresponding charging cable into the charging cable socket 207a, b.

[0097] After connecting the charging cable and thus a charger LG, the microcontroller 201 detects that the voltage at the positive terminal 204a, b is higher than at the energy storage cell 206a, b and closes the switch 209, thereby generating the current flow from the charger LG to the energy storage cell 206a, b. This state is shown in Figure 4B.

[0098] The charging process continues until the energy storage cell 206a, b is recharged. Reaching the maximum charge level of the energy storage cell 206a, b is signaled, for example, by an LED.

[0099] As Figure 4B shows, the charging electronics includes a diode 210 connected in parallel with switch 209. If the energy storage cell 206a, b is so deeply discharged that the microcontroller 201 is no longer sufficiently supplied and can no longer detect the insertion of the charging cable, the current supplied by the charger LG flows through diode 210 until the energy storage cell 206a, b is sufficiently charged that the microcontroller 201 is supplied again and closes switch 209.

[0100] Charging does not necessarily have to be performed via the charging electronics and the charging cable socket 207a, b, as described above. It is also possible to use available chargers that charge the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b via the positive / negative terminals 204a, b, 205a, b. The charging cable socket 207a, b and the corresponding charging electronics are unnecessary in this case.

[0101] The detection device is preferably integrated into the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b, as described above with reference to Figures 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B.

[0102] The invention is not limited to this. The detection device can be part of an additional electronics unit that is installed in a battery storage compartment together with a commercially available multi-purpose device battery.

[0103] Figures 5A and 5B schematically show preferred variants of the additional electronics according to the invention and illustrate how the detection device can be implemented.

[0104] The additional electronics includes, for example, a housing 203c into which the detection device is integrated without charging electronics. Contacts for electrical connection are exposed on opposite sides of the housing 203c.

[0105] The additional electronics, for example, has smaller dimensions than the electronics unit 208b from Figure 3B because integration of the charging cable socket is not necessary. With these dimensions, the additional electronics can be inserted between a contact spring in the energy storage compartment and a commercially available multi-purpose device battery 200c (three commercially available multi-purpose device batteries are preferably shown in Figure 5A), such that both are connected in series and a current flow is possible between the multi-purpose device battery 200c and the electronics of the device 100a-c. The negative pole of the commercially available multi-purpose device battery 200c can be contacted, for example, via a cable and a plate that is inserted between the negative pole and the corresponding contact in the energy storage compartment.

[0106] The functions of the detection device for interrupting the current flow are identical to those described with reference to Figures 2A to 3B. Reference is made to these explanations.

[0107] Alternatively, the additional electronics can be constructed as shown in Figure 5B.

[0108] The only difference from Figure 5A is the shape of the housing 203d of the additional electronics.

[0109] The additional electronics are not inserted between the spring contact and the commercially available multi-purpose device battery 200c, but the housing 203d, in which the detection device is integrated, has the external shape according to an lEC size type and can be inserted into a corresponding energy storage compartment.

[0110] In addition, the housing 203d is constructed such that it can accommodate at least one commercially available multi-purpose device battery 200d in such a way that it supplies the electronics of the device 100a-c with power. For example, the housing 203d is constructed such that two or three commercially available multi-purpose device batteries 200d can be inserted into the housing 203d.

[0111] A preferred combination can be realized, for example, by a housing according to 9-volt block (6F22) with two inserted multi-purpose device batteries according to lEC size type AA.

[0112] In this case, the functions of the detection device for interrupting the current flow are identical to those described with reference to Figures 2A to 3B. Reference is made to these explanations.

[0113] Furthermore, the electronics of the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b according to the invention can preferably include a DC-DC converter in the event that the (DC) voltage to be output via the contacts 204a, b and 205a, b has a different value than that supplied by the energy storage cell 206a, b.

[0114] (Modifications)

[0115] All of the above-described embodiments of the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b according to the invention and the additional electronics according to the invention have been described in such a way that the detection device or the microcontroller 201 interrupts the power supply (shutdown mode) when no movement of the electrical device is detected based on the acceleration signal. In this respect, the state in which a power interruption is desired is defined as the electrical device being at rest.

[0116] The invention is not limited to this. A reverse definition is also possible (reverse shutdown mode). This means that the state in which the power interruption occurs is defined as the electrical device being in motion, and the detection device or microcontroller 201 detects the movement of the electrical device based on the acceleration signal. If, however, the electrical device is at rest, the power supply remains intact.

[0117] Preferably, the detection device can be configured such that the user can select between the shutdown mode and the reverse shutdown mode, for example, via a mechanical switch or via a radio interface as described below. Independently of or in addition to the above modification, all embodiments of the multi-purpose device battery 200a, b according to the invention and the additional electronics according to the invention described above can have a shutdown function via which the functions of the detection device can be switched on and off.

[0118] The shutdown function can be implemented as follows:

[0119] - a mechanical switch located and accessible on the outside of the respective housing;

[0120] - a software function accessible via a radio interface, which is implemented, for example, in the software executed by the microcontroller, where the radio interface is based, for example, on the Bluetooth standard (registered trademark) or SubGHz. Access is possible, for example, via an app, smartphone, or tablet PC; and / or

[0121] - a software function, which is implemented, for example, in the software executed by the microcontroller and is responsive based on the acceleration signal. For example, if the acceleration signal indicates, based on a time base of preferably 1 second, that the user shakes the electrical device or the multi-purpose device battery or the additional electronics X times (e.g., 3 times), the microcontroller activates the functions of the detection device; if the acceleration signal subsequently indicates, based on the preferred time base, that the user shakes the electrical device or the multi-purpose device battery or the additional electronics Y times (e.g., 2 times), the microcontroller deactivates the functions of the detection device again.

[0122] - a software function, implemented, for example, in the software executed by the microcontroller and responsive to a signal from an inclination sensor. For example, if the user holds the electrical device or the multi-purpose device battery or the additional electronics in one position for X seconds (e.g., 5 seconds) and then in a position rotated by 180° for X seconds, the detection device is activated. If the user repeats the sequence, it is deactivated again.

[0123] The above modifications can be combined. This means that the detection device can be designed so that the user can choose between the two shutdown modes and a deactivation of the functions. This can be done via a mechanical switch (off, on when moving, on when stationary) or via a radio interface, as described.

[0124] Alternatively or additionally, further settings could be made via the wireless interface, for example, varying a threshold value with which the acceleration sensor signal is compared to determine whether movement or a rest state is present. The charge level or the status of a charging process of the multi-purpose device battery according to the invention could also be output via the wireless interface.

[0125] Finally—alternatively or additionally—the time measurement described in the embodiment, be it the countdown or the ramp-up timer, can be adjustable. For example, a trimmer can be provided on the outside of the housing, adjustable with a screwdriver, allowing the countdown or ramp-up timer to be adjusted. The countdown or ramp-up timer can also be adjustable via a wireless interface.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A multi-purpose device battery (200) for supplying an electrical device (100), excluding a musical instrument, with electrical energy, comprising: a housing (203) with contacts (204, 205) accessible on an outside, wherein the housing (203) is dimensioned such that the multi-purpose device battery (200) can be inserted into an energy storage compartment of the device and can be contacted therein with electronics (100) of the device (100) via the contacts (204, 205); at least one electrochemical energy storage cell (206) accommodated in the housing (203) for storing electrical energy for supplying power to the electronics (100); and a detection device (201, 202 accommodated in the housing (203) which is configured to detect an end of operation of the device and to interrupt the power supply to the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200).

2. Multi-purpose device battery (200) according to claim 1, wherein the detection device (201, 202) accommodated in the housing (203) is configured to detect a resumption of operation of the device after the end and to restore the power supply of the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200).

3. Multi-purpose device battery (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection device (201, 202) accommodated in the housing (203) comprises an acceleration sensor (202) which is designed to detect an acceleration of the device (100) occurring due to movement of the device. Device (100) and to output a corresponding acceleration signal, and the detection device (201, 202) is configured to detect the end and / or resumption of operation of the device on the basis of the acceleration signal and to interrupt and / or restore the power supply of the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200) accordingly.

4. Multi-purpose device battery (200) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the detection device (201, 202) is arranged such that, after interruption of the power supply of the electronics (100), the multi-purpose device battery (200) continues to supply the detection device (201, 202) with power in order to be able to detect the resumption of operation of the device.

5. Additional electronics for insertion into an energy storage compartment of an electrical device (100) together with a multi-purpose device battery for supplying the electrical device (100) with electrical energy, comprising: a housing with contacts accessible on an outside, wherein the housing is dimensioned such that the additional electronics can be inserted into the energy storage compartment of the device together with the multi-purpose device battery and can be contacted therein via the contacts with an electronics of the device and the multi-purpose device battery such that the multi-purpose device battery supplies the electronics of the device with electrical energy; and a detection device accommodated in the housing, which is designed to detect an end of the operation of the device and To interrupt the power supply to the electronics via the multi-purpose device battery.

6. Additional electronics according to claim 5, wherein the detection device accommodated in the housing is configured to detect a resumption of operation of the device after the end and to restore the power supply of the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200).

7. Additional electronics according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the detection device accommodated in the housing has an acceleration sensor which is configured to detect an acceleration of the device (100) occurring due to movement of the device (100) and to output a corresponding acceleration signal, and the detection device is configured to detect the end and / or the resumption of operation of the device on the basis of the acceleration signal and to interrupt and / or restore the power supply of the electronics (100) by the multi-purpose device battery (200) accordingly.

8. Additional electronics according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the detection device is configured such that, after interruption of the power supply of the electronics (100), the multi-purpose device battery (200) continues to supply the detection device with power in order to be able to detect the resumption of operation of the device.

9. Kit, in particular do-it-yourself kit, comprising individual components for constructing a multi-purpose device battery according to a of claims 1 to 4 or additional electronics according to one of claims 5 to 8.

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