us8442877 sample of a patent.pdf

8/12/2019 US8442877 Sample of a Patent.pdf

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US008442877B2

( 1 2 ) United States Patent ( 1 0 ) P a t e n t N 0 . 2 U S 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2B e r t n e s s e t a l . ( 4 5 ) Date o f P a t e n t : May 4 , 2 0 1 3

(54) SIMPLIFICATION OF INVENTORY 2,417,940 A 3/1947 Lehman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200/61.25MANAGEMENT 2 , 5 1 4 , 7 4 5 A 7 / 1 9 5 0 D a l Z e l l 3 2 4 / 1 1 52,727,221 A 12/1955 Springg . . 340/447. _ 3,178,686 A 4/1965 Mills . . . . . . . . . .. 340/447( 7 5 ) I n v e n t o r s : Kevin . B e r t n e s s , B a t a v l a , I L ( U S ) , 3 , 2 2 3 , 9 6 9 A 1 2 / 1 9 6 5 A l e x a n d e r 3 4 0 / 4 4 7John s-Phllbrook, COme1111S,NC ( US) 3 , 2 6 7 , 4 5 2 A 8 / 1 9 6 6 Wolf . . . . . . . . . . . 340/249

3 , 3 5 6 , 9 3 6 A l 2 / l 9 6 7 S m i t h 3 2 4 / 4 2 9( 7 3 ) A s s i g n e e : M i d t r o n i c s , I n c . , W i l l o W b r o o k , I L ( U S ) 3 , 5 6 2 , 6 3 4 A 2 / 1 9 7 1 L ? t n e f 3 2 4 / 4 2 73 , 5 9 3 , 0 9 9 A 7 / l 9 7 l S c h o l l 3 2 0 / 1 2 7( * ) N o t i c e : S u b j e c t t o a n y d i s c l a i m e r , t h e t e r m o f h i s 2 1 8 5 3 1 1 5 1 1 l a t s e l g i l s s i x g e l i d e j f s r d a d j u s t e d u n d e r 3 5 3 3 6 7 6 3 7 7 0 A 7 / 1 9 7 2 S h a r a f e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 0

( ) y ays' (Continued)( 2 1 ) A P P 1 - N O - I 1 2 / 4 1 6 A 4 5 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

. DE 29 2 6 7 1 6 B1 l/l98l( 2 2 ) F l l e d : Apr-1 2009 D E 1 9 6 3 8 3 2 4 9 / 1 9 9 6( 6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a ( C o n t i n u e d )

US 2009/0187495 A1 J u l . 2 3 , 2009 OTHER PUBLICATIONSRelated U Application D t a N o t i ? c a t i o n o f T r a n s m i t t a l o f The n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a r c h R e p o r t o r t h e

' ' Declaration, PCT/US02/29461.( 6 3 ) C o n t i n u a t i o n - i n - p a r t o f a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 , 4 1 9 , _

? l e d on Aug. 1 9 , 2 0 0 5 , noW a b a n d o n e d . (Commued)( 6 0 ) 5 6 0 3 1 3 8 0 4 1 1 2 1 1 a p p l 1 c a t 1 o n N o . 6 0 / 6 0 3 , 0 7 8 , ? l e d o n A u g . P r i m a r y E x a m i n e r i a n e l F r e n e l

[Zorn , enl, 0r irm n . e o; estman,74 A e y Ag F Al G R g W( 5 1 ) I n t _ CL C h a m p l i n & e l l y , P . A .G06Q 1 0 / 0 0 ( 2 0 1 2 . 0 1 )

( 5 2 ) US. l . ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACTUSPC . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 5 / 2 8 ' 7 0 5 / 2 2 ' 705/1424~ 4 2 9 / 1 4 9 ' 2 3 5 686, 3 2 4 4 2 6 A i m p l i ? e d i n v e n t o r y management m e t h o d . The method

( 5 8 ) F i e l d o f C l a s s i ? c a t i o n Search 7 0 5 / 2 8 employs a p l u r a l i t y o f s t o c k - k e e p i n g u n i t l a b e l s , W i t h e a c h o f7 0 5 / 2 2 500 2 3 5 3 2 0 / 1 0 8 t h e p l u r a l i t y o f s t o c k - k e e p i n g u n i t l a b e l s h a v i n g a s a m e s t o c k. . . ee 1n umtnum r. 1 1 W1 ua oneso t e ura1 o stoc -S e e a l 1 c a t 1 o n ? l e f o r c o m l e t e a s e a r c h b 1 5 1 3 0 k P g i b I d d 1 fh p 1 My f k

pp p r y ' keeping u n i t l a b e l s a r e u t i l i Z e d t o t r a c k i n d i v i d u a l i t e m s of( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d p l u r a l i t y o f i t e m s . A a l e p r i c e o f i n d i v i d u a l o n e s a ? r s t s e t o fU S . PATENTDOCUMENTS

t h e p l u r a l i t y o f i t e m s i s d i f f e r e n t from a s a l e p r i c e o f i n d iv i d u a l ones of second s e t of h e p l u r a l i t y of t e m s .

8 5 ,5 5 3 A l / l 8 69 Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 / 4 7 22 , 0 0 0 , 6 6 5 A 5 / 1 9 3 5 Neal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439/440 20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

BETTER 600

SKU 0 0 0 1 P\\604

BEST 602

S KU 0002 \\606


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US 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2P a g e 2U.S. PATENTDOCUMENTS 4,667,143 A 5/1987 ( 3 6 6 1 3 6 1 6 1 3 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/153

3 7 2 9 . 9 8 9 A 5 / 1 9 7 3 L i t t l e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 1 7 3 / 8 6 2 1 1 9 2 423x33: 3 1 1 3 2 ; $ 3 1 1 3 3 3 " 3 3 2 / 3 4 2 ?3 . 7 5 0 0 1 1 A 7/ 1973 Kreps 1 _ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 1 324 /4 30 4676666 A 7/ 1987 c13 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4283 , 7 5 3 , 0 9 4 A 8 / 1 9 7 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 6 1 3 1 . 3 2 4 / 4 3 0 4 6 8 0 5 2 8 A M987 Mikamietal 320A3 , 7 7 6 , 1 7 7 A 1 2 / 1 9 7 3 B r y a n t @ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 / 3 1 1 4686442 A 8 / 1 9 8 7 1 1 3 3 0 1 1 1 3 1 1 I I 3 2 0 / 1 2 3$ 3 3 1 5 2 1 A 4 3 6 3 ; : g l r l o s a f m ~ 2 2 2 5 ( 1 ) 4 , 6 9 7 , 1 3 4 A 9 / 1 9 8 7 B 1 1 1 1 < 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 3 1 . 3 2 0 / 1 3 41 1 m 4,707,795 A 11/1987 Alb616131. . . 702/63318111089 A 5/1974 59929197192 ~ 324/170 4 7 0 9 202 A 11/1987 KOeIlCk 6 1 3 1 320/1123 1 8 1 6 1 8 0 5 A 6 / 1 9 7 4 Terr y ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 320/123 4 , 7 1 0 , 8 6 1 A 1 2 / 1 9 8 7 K3111161 . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 3 / 4 63 1 2 3 2 1 ; ? A 1 5 1 3 ; ; ( z i h r 4 9 5 5 3 4 , 7 1 9 , 4 2 8 A 1 / 1 9 8 8 L 1 6 b 6 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 4 / 4 3 6

1 1 21mp1 ~ 4,723,656 A 2/1988 K 1 6 1 1 1 3 1 1 6 1 3 1 . . 206/7053, 8 7 6 , 9 31 A 4 / 1 9 7 5 Godsha11


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US 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2P a g e 3

5,302,902 A 4 / 1 9 9 4 Groehl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/434 5, 6 54 , 6 2 3 A 8/1997 Shiga e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 65 , 3 1 3 , 1 5 2 A 5/1994 Wozniak t a l . . 320/118 5 , 6 5 6 , 9 2 0 A 8 / 1 9 9 7 Cherng e t a l . 324/4315 ,3 15 ,287 A 5 / 1 9 9 4 Sol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 0 / 4 5 5 5 , 6 6 1 , 3 6 8 A 8 /1 9 9 7 Deolet l . . . 3 1 5 / 8 25 , 3 2 1 , 6 2 6 A 6 / 1 9 9 4 Palladino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 / 6 3 5 , 6 6 6 ,040 A 9 / 1 9 9 7 Bourbeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 85 ,3 2 1, 627 A 6 / 1 9 9 4 Reher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702 / 63 5 , 67 5 ,2 3 4 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 7 Greene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 0 / 6 3 6 . 1 15,323,337 A 6 /1 9 94 Wilson e t a l . 702/73 5,677,077 A 10/1997 Faulk . . . . .. 42 9/905 ,3 2 5 ,04 1 A 6 / 1 9 9 4 B rig g s . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 4 9 5 , 684 ,678 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 7 Barrett . . 3 6 3 / 1 75,331,268 A 7/1 9 94 P a t i n o e t a l . . 320/158 5 ,691,621 A 1 1 /1 9 97 Phuoc e t a l . . 320/1345 , 3 3 2 , 9 2 7 A 7/1994 P a u l e t a l . 307/66 5 , 6 9 9 , 0 5 0 A 12/1997 KanazaWa . . 340/636.135 ,3 3 6,993 A 8/1 9 94 Thomas e t a l . 324/158.1 5,701,089 A 12/1997 Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . 324/7725 , 3 3 8 , 5 1 5 A 8 / 1 9 9 4 D a l l a B e t t a e t a l . 4 2 2 / 9 5 5 , 7 0 5 , 9 2 9 A 1 / 1 9 9 8 C a r a v e l l o e t a l . 3 2 4 / 4 3 05 , 3 3 9 , 0 1 8 A 8 / 1 9 9 4 Brokaw . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 4 7 5 ,707 ,0 15 A 1/1998 Guthrie . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 1 / 1 2 05, 34 3, 38 0 A 8 / 1 9 9 4 Champlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 3/4 6 5, 7 1 0 , 50 3 A 1 /1 9 9 8 Sideris e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 65 ,3 47 ,1 63 A 9 / 1 9 9 4 Yoshimura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 7 / 6 6 5 ,7 1 1 , 648 A 1 / 1 9 9 8 Hammerslag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414/8005,352,968 A 10/1994 Reniet l . . 320/136 5,712,795 A 1/1998 Layman e t a l . . 700/2975 , 3 5 7 , 5 1 9 A 10/1994 Martin e t a l . 3 7 1 / 1 5 . 1 5 , 7 1 7 , 3 3 6 A 2/1998 B a s e l l e t a l . . 324/4305 ,3 65 ,160 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 4 Leppo e t a l . . 320 /1 60 5,717,937 A 2/ 1998 F r i t z . . . . . . . . 7 13/3005 , 3 6 5 , 4 5 3 A 11/1994 S t a r t u p e t a l . . . 702/36 5 , 7 2 1 , 6 8 8 A 2/1998 BramWell 324/4265,369,364 A 11/1994 R e n i r i e e t a l . . 324/430 5,732,074 A 3/1998 Spaur e t a l . 370/3135, 38 1 , 0 9 6 A 1 /1 9 9 5 Hirzel . . . . . . . 324 /427 5, 7 39 , 6 6 7 A 4 / 1 9 9 8 Matsuda e t a l . 320/ 1285,387,871 A 2 / 1 9 9 5 Tsai . . . . . . . . . . 324/429 5,744,962 A 4/1998 Alber e t a l . 324/4265 , 4 0 2 , 0 0 7 A 3/1995 C e n t e r e t a l . . 290/40B 5 , 7 4 5 , 0 4 4 A 4/1998 H y a t t , J r . e t a l . 3 4 0 / 5 . 2 35 410 754 A 4/1995 Klotzbach et al . 370/466 5 747 189 A 5/1998 Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 429/915,412,308 A 5 / 1995 Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 3/2 67 5,747,909 A 5 / 1998 Syverson e t a l . 3 1 0 / 1 5 6 . 5 65 , 4 1 2 , 3 2 3 A 5 / 1 9 9 5 Kato e t a l 324/429 5 , 7 4 7 , 9 6 7 A 5 / 1 9 9 8 Muljadiet l . . . 320/1485 ,42 5 ,04 1 A 6 / 1 9 9 5 Seko e t a l . 3 72 / 4 5 .0 1 5 ,7 5 4 ,4 17 A 5 / 1 9 9 8 Nicollini . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 3 / 6 05 , 4 2 6 , 3 7 1 A 6/1995 S a l l e y e t a l . . 324/429 5 , 7 5 7 , 1 9 2 A 5 / 1 9 9 8 McShane e t a l . 324/4275 ,426,416 A 6 / 1 9 9 5 J e f f e r i e s e t a l . 340 /6 64 5,760,587 A 6 / 1 9 9 8 Harvey . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 /4 345,430,645 A 7/1 9 9 5 K e l l e r . . . . . . . . . 364/424.01 5,772,468 A 6 /1 9 98 Kowalskiet l . 439/5065 432 025 A 7/1995 Cox . . . . . . . . . . .. 29/65 5 773 962 A 6/1998 Nor ........... . . . 20/1345 , 4 3 2 , 4 2 6 A 7/1995 Yoshida . 320/160 5 , 7 7 3 , 9 7 8 A 6/1998 Becker 324/4305,434,495 A 7/1 9 9 5 Toko . 320 /1 35 5,778,326 A 7/1 9 98 Moroto eta .. 701/225 , 4 3 5 , 1 8 5 A 7/1995 Eagan 73/587 5 , 7 8 0 , 9 7 4 A 7/1998 P a b l a e t a l . . 315/825,442,274 A 8 / 1 9 9 5 Tamai . 3 2 0 / 1 4 6 5,780,980 A 7/ 1998 Naito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 8 / 1 3 95 ,44 5 ,02 6 A 8 / 1 9 9 5 Eagan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3/59 1 5 ,78 9,8 99 A 8 /1 9 9 8 v an Phuoc t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 25 , 4 4 9 , 9 9 6 A 9 / 1 9 9 5 Matsumoto t a l . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 4 8 5 , 7 9 3 , 3 5 9 A 8 /1 9 9 8 Ushikubo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 5 / 1 6 95 , 4 4 9 , 9 9 7 A 9/1995 Gilmore e t a 1 . . 320/148 5 , 7 9 6 , 2 3 9 A 8 / 1 9 9 8 van Phuoc e t a l . 320/1075 , 4 5 1 , 8 8 1 A 9/ 1 9 9 5 Finger . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 3 5 ,808 ,4 69 A 9 / 1 9 9 8 Kopera . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 45,453,027 A 9/1995 Buellet l . . 43 9/43 3 5, 8 1 1 , 9 7 9 A 9 / 1 9 9 8 Rhein . . . . . . . . . . 324/7185 , 4 5 7 , 3 7 7 A 10/1995 Jonsson . 324/430 5 , 8 1 8 , 2 0 1 A 10/1998 S t o c k s t a d e t a l . 320/1195 , 4 5 9 , 6 6 0 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 5 B e r r a . . . . . . . . . . 70 1/ 3 3 5 ,8 18 ,2 3 4 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 McKinnon . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 35 , 4 6 9 , 0 4 3 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 5 Cherng e t a l . . 320/161 5 , 8 2 0 , 4 0 7 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 Morse e t a l . 439/5045 , 4 8 5 , 0 9 0 A 1 / 1 9 9 6 S t e p h e n s . 324/433 5 , 8 2 1 , 7 5 6 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 McShane e t a l . 324/4305 ,488 ,3 00 A 1 / 1 9 9 6 Jamieson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 2 5 ,82 1,7 5 7 A 1 0 /1 9 9 8 A lvarez e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 45 ,5 04 ,674 A 4 / 1 9 9 6 Chen t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 0 5/4 5 ,82 5 , 174 A 1 0 /1 9 9 8 Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 1 0 65 , 5 0 8 , 5 9 9 A 4 / 1 9 9 6 Koenck . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 8 5 ,8 3 1 ,4 3 5 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 8 Tro y . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 65 , 5 1 9 , 3 8 3 A 5/1996 D e La Rosa 340/636.15 5 , 8 3 2 , 3 9 6 A 11/1998 Moroto e t a l . . . 701/225,528,148 A 6 /1 9 9 6 Rogers . . . . . . . . 320 /1 37 5,850,113 A 12/ 1998 Weimer t a l . . . 307 /12 55,537,967 A 7/1996 T a s h i r o e t a l . . 123/192.1 5,862,515 A 1/1999 Kobayashietal 702/635 , 5 4 1 , 4 8 9 A 7/1996 Dunstan . . . . . . . 320/134 5 , 8 6 5 , 6 3 8 A 2/1999 Trafton . . . . . . . . . . . 439/2885 , 5 4 6 , 3 1 7 A 8 / 1 9 9 6 A n d r i e u 7 0 2 / 6 3 5 , 8 7 1 , 8 5 8 A 2 / 1 9 9 9 Thomsen t a l . 4 2 9 / 75 ,5 48 ,27 3 A 8 / 1 9 9 6 Nicol e t a l . . . 3 4 0 / 4 3 9 5 ,872 ,44 3 A 2 /1 9 9 9 Williamson . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 6 05,550,485 A 8 /1 9 9 6 Falk . . . . . . . . . . 324/772 5,872,453 A 2 / 1 9 9 9 Shimoyama t a l . . . 32 4 /4 315, 56 1 , 38 0 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 6 Sway-Tin eta. . . . 3 2 4 / 5 0 9 5, 8 8 3, 30 6 A 3 / 1 9 9 9 HWang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73/146.85 ,5 62 ,5 0 1 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 6 Kinoshita e t a l . . . . 4 3 9 / 8 5 2 5,895,440 A 4 / 1 9 9 9 Proctor e t a l . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 35 , 5 6 3 , 4 9 6 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 6 McClure . 320/128 5 , 9 0 3 , 1 5 4 A 5 / 1 9 9 9 Zhang e t a l . 324/4375, 57 2 , 1 36 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 6 Champlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/426 5, 9 0 3, 7 1 6 A 5 / 1 9 9 9 Kimber t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 5 / 1 1 45 ,5 7 3 , 6 1 1 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 6 Koch t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 2 / 15 2 .1 5 , 9 12 ,5 3 4 A 6/1999 Benedict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 5 / 8 25, 57 4 , 355 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 6 McShane t a l . . . 3 2 0 / 1 6 1 5, 9 1 4 , 6 0 5 A 6 / 1 9 9 9 Bertness . . . . . . 324/4305 , 5 7 8 , 9 1 5 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 6 C r o u c h , J r . e t a l . . 324/428 5 , 9 2 7 , 9 3 8 A 7 / 1 9 9 9 Hammerslag 414/8095 , 5 8 3 , 4 1 6 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 6 Klang . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/160 5 , 9 2 9 , 6 0 9 A 7 / 1 9 9 9 J o y e t a l . . . . . . . . . 3 22 / 2 55 , 5 8 5 , 4 1 6 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 6 A u d e t t e t a l . 5 2 2 / 3 5 5 , 9 3 9 , 8 5 5 A 8 / 1 9 9 9 P r o c t o r e t a l . 3 2 0 / 1 0 45,585,728 A 12/1996 Champlin . 324/427 5,939,861 A 8/1 9 9 9 Joko e t a l . . . 320/1225 , 5 8 9 , 7 5 7 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 6 Klang . . . . . . . 320/160 5 , 9 4 5 , 8 2 9 A 8 / 1 9 9 9 Bertness . . . . . . 324/4305,592,093 A 1/ 1997 Klingbiel . . 324 /42 6 5,946,605 A 8/1999 Takahisa e t a l . .. 455/685 ,5 92 ,0 94 A 1 / 1 9 9 7 IchikaWa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 7 5 , 95 0 ,144 A 9 / 1 9 9 9 Hall e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /1 0 85, 59 6 , 2 6 0 A 1 /1 9 9 7 Moravec t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 5 5, 9 51 , 2 2 9 A 9 / 1 9 9 9 Hammerslag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 4 / 3 9 85, 59 6 , 2 6 1 A 1 /1 9 9 7 Suyama . . . . . 320/ 15 2 5, 9 55, 9 51 A 9 / 1 9 9 9 Wischerop e t a l . 34 0 /57 2 . 85,598,098 A 1/1997 Champlin . 324/430 5,961,561 A 10/1999 Wake?eld I . . . . . . . . . . .. 701/295,602,462 A 2 / 1 9 9 7 Stich e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323 /258 5, 9 6 1 , 6 0 4 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 9 Anderson e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 709/2295 , 60 6 ,242 A 2 / 1 9 9 7 Hull e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 6 5 , 9 6 9 , 6 2 5 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 9 Russo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 0 / 6 3 6 . 1 95 , 6 1 4 , 7 8 8 A 3/1997 M u l l i n s e t a l . 3 1 5 / 8 2 5 , 9 7 3 , 5 9 8 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 9 B e i g e l . 3 4 0 / 5 7 2 . 15,621,298 A 4/1997 Harvey . . . . . . . . . . . 320/134 5,978,805 A 11/1999 Carson . . . . . . . . 707/105 , 6 3 3 , 9 8 5 A 5/1997 S e v e r s o n e t a l . . 704/267 5 , 9 8 2 , 1 3 8 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 9 K r i e g e r 320/1055,637,978 A 6 /1 9 97 K e l l e t t e t a l . . . . 320/104 5,990,664 A 1 1 /1 9 9 9 Rahman 320/1365,642,031 A 6 / 1 9 9 7 Brotto . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 15 6 6,002,238 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 9 Champlin 320/ 1345 ,65 0,937 A 7/1 9 97 Bounaga . . .. 702/65 6,005,489 A 12 /1 9 9 9 S i e g l e e t a l . . 340/825.695,652,501 A 7/1 9 97 McClure eta. 40/636.15 6,005,759 A 12/1999 Hart e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36 1 /6 65 ,65 3 ,65 9 A 8/1 9 97 Kunibe e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477/1 1 1 6,008,652 A 12/1999 Theofanopoulos e t a l . . . 324 /4 34


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US 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2P a g e 4

6 , 0 0 9 , 36 9 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 9 Boisvert e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 1 /9 9 6 , 32 3, 6 50 B1 1 1 /2 0 0 1 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4266 , 0 1 6 , 0 4 7 A 1/ 2000 Notten e t a l . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 7 6 ,3 24 ,042 B1 1 1/ 200 1 Andrews . . . . . . . . . 3 6 1 / 9 3 . 26,031,354 A 2/2000 Wiley e t a l . . . 320/116 6,329,793 B 1 12/2001 Bertness e t a l . 320/1326 , 0 31 , 36 8 A 2 /2 0 0 0 Klippelet a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 1 3 3 6 , 331 , 7 6 2 B1 12/2001 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 1346 ,0 3 7 ,74 5 A 3/2 0 0 0 Koike e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 6 , 3 3 2 , 1 1 3 B1 12/2001 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 36 , 0 3 7 , 7 4 9 A 3 / 2 0 00 P a r s o n a g e . 3 2 0 / 1 3 2 6 , 3 4 6 , 7 9 5 B2 2 / 2 0 0 2 Haraguchiet l . 3 2 0 / 1 3 66 , 0 37 , 7 5 1 A 3 / 2 0 0 0 Klang . . . . . . . 320/160 6 , 3 4 7 , 9 5 8 B1 2 / 2002 Tsai . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439/4886,037,777 A 3/2000 Champlin . 324 /4 30 6,3 5 1,102 B 1 2/2002 Troy . . . . . . . . 320 /1 396,037,778 A 3/2000 Makhija . . . . . . . 324 /4 33 6,3 5 6,042 B 1 3 /2002 Kahlon e t a l . 318 /1 386,046,514 A 4/2000 R o u i l l a r d eta 307/77 6,356,083 B 1 3/2002 Ying . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4266,051,976 A 4/2000 Bertness . . . . . . . . . 324/426 6,359,441 B1 3/2002 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4266 , 0 5 5 , 4 6 8 A 4 / 2 0 0 0 Kaman t a l 7 0 1 / 2 9 6 , 3 5 9 , 4 4 2 B1 3 / 2 0 0 2 Henningson t a l . 3 2 4 / 4 2 66 , 0 6 1 , 6 3 8 A 5/2000 Joyce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 6 , 3 6 3 , 3 0 3 B1 3/2 0 0 2 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 1 /2 96 ,0 64 ,3 72 A 5 / 2 0 0 0 Kahkoska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 5 / 1 7 3 RE37,677 E 4 /2 0 0 2 I r i e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 5 / 8 36 , 0 7 2 , 2 9 9 A 6/2000 K u r l e e t a l . 320/112 6 , 3 7 7 , 0 3 1 B1 4/2002 Karuppana e t a l 323/2206 ,072 ,3 00 A 6 /2 0 0 0 Tsuji . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 6 6 ,3 84 ,608 B1 5 / 2002 Namaky . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 06 , 0 7 5 , 3 3 9 A 6/2000 Reipur e t a l . 320/110 6 , 3 8 8 , 4 4 8 B1 5 / 2 0 0 2 Cervas 324/4266,081,098 A 6/2000 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . 320/134 6,392,414 B2 5/2002 B e r t n e s s 324/4296 , 0 8 1 , 1 0 9 A 6 / 2 0 0 0 Seymour t a l . . 324/127 6 , 3 9 6 , 2 7 8 B1 5 / 2 0 0 2 Makhija 3 2 4 / 4 0 26 , 0 8 7 , 8 1 5 A 7/2000 P f e i f e r e t a l . . . 323/282 6 , 4 0 7 , 5 5 4 B1 6/2002 Godau e t a l 324/5036 , 0 9 1 , 2 38 A 7/2000 McDermott . 32 4 /2 0 7 . 2 6 , 4 1 1 , 0 9 8 B1 6/2002 Laletin . . . . . . . . . 324/43 66 , 0 9 1 , 2 4 5 A 7 / 2 0 0 0 B e r t n e s s 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 6 , 4 1 7 , 6 6 9 B1 7 / 2 0 0 2 Champlin 3 2 4 / 4 2 66 , 0 9 4 , 0 33 A 7/2000 Ding t a l . . . . 320/ 132 6,420,852 B1 7 /2 0 0 2 Sato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 1346,097,193 A 8/2000 BramWell . 324/429 6,424,157 B 1 7/2002 Gollomp e t a l . . . 324/4306,100,670 A 8/2000 Levesque 320/150 6,424,158 B2 7/2002 Klang . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4336 , 1 0 0 , 8 1 5 A 8 / 2 0 0 0 P a i l t h o r p 3 2 4 / 7 5 4 . 0 7 6 , 4 3 7 , 9 5 7 B1 8 / 2 0 0 2 Karuppana e t a l . . 3 6 1 / 7 86 , 1 0 4 , 1 6 7 A 8/2000 Bertness e t a l . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 2 6 , 4 4 1 , 58 5 B1 8/2002 Bertness . . . . . . 320/ 1326 , 1 1 3 , 2 6 2 A 9 / 2 0 0 0 P u r o l a e t a l . 3 7 4 / 4 5 6 , 4 4 5 , 1 5 8 B1 9 / 2 0 0 2 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 3 2 0 / 1 0 46 , 1 1 4 , 8 3 4 A 9/2000 Parise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/109 6 , 4 4 9 , 7 2 6 B1 9/2002 Smith . . . . . . . . . . 713/3406 , 1 3 6 , 9 1 4 A 1 0 / 2 0 0 0 H e r g e n r o t h e r e t a l . . 524/495 6 , 4 5 6 , 0 3 6 B1 9 / 2 0 0 2 Thandiwe 320/1066 , 1 3 7 , 2 6 9 A 1 0 /2 0 0 0 Champlin . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 5 0 6 ,4 5 6 ,04 5 B1 9 /2 0 0 2 Tro y e t a l . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 96 , 1 4 0 , 7 9 7 A 1 0 /2 0 0 0 Dunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 0 /1 0 5 6 , 4 6 5, 9 0 8 B1 1 0 /2 0 0 2 Karuppana etal . . 30 7 /316,144,185 A 11/2000 Dougherty t a l . 320/132 6,466,025 B1 10/2002 Klang . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4296,147,598 A 11/2000 Murphy t a l . 340/426.19 6,466,026 B1 10/2002 Champlin . . . . . . . 324/4306 , 1 50 , 7 9 3 A 11/2000 Lesesky e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 6 , 4 6 9 , 51 1 B1 10/2002 Vonderhaar e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . 324/4256 , 1 5 8 ,000 A 1 2 /2 0 0 0 Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 13 / 1 6 ,477 ,478 B1 1 1 /2 0 0 2 Jones e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /1 0 26,161,640 A 12/2000 Yarnaguchi . 1 8 0 / 6 5 . 8 6,495,990 B2 12/2002 Champlin . . . . . . . 320/1326,163 ,15 6 A 12/2000 Bertness . 324 /42 6 6,497,209 B1 12/2002 Karuppana e t a l . . . 123/179.36 , 1 6 4 , 0 6 3 A 12/2000 Mendler . . 60/274 6 , 5 0 0 , 0 2 5 B1 12/2002 Moenkhaus e t a l . 439/5026,167,349 A 12/2000 Alvarez 702/63 6,505,507 B 1 1/2003 Imao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73/146.56 , 1 7 2 , 4 8 3 B1 1 / 2 0 0 1 Champlin . 320/134 6 , 5 0 7 , 1 9 6 B2 1 / 2 0 0 3 Thomsen e t a l . 324/4366,172,505 B 1 1/2001 Bertness . 324/430 6,5 26,3 61 B 1 2/2003 Jones e t a l . .. 702/636,177,737 B1 1 / 2 0 0 1 P a l f e y e t a l . 307/64 6,529,723 B1 3/2003 Bentley . . . . . . . . . . . 455/4056 , 1 8 1 , 54 5 B1 1/ 200 1 Amatucciet a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 1 / 5 0 2 6 , 531 , 8 4 8 B1 3/2 0 0 3 ChitsaZan e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 5 36 , 1 8 4 , 6 56 B1 2/2001 Karunasiriet a l . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 9 6 , 532 , 4 2 5 B1 3/2 0 0 3 Boost e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 36 , 1 9 1 , 5 5 7 B1 2 / 2 0 0 1 Gray t a l . . 320/132 6 , 5 3 4 , 9 9 2 B2 3 / 2 0 0 3 Meissner e t a l . 324/4266 , 2 1 1 , 6 51 B1 4 /2 0 0 1 Nemoto . 320/ 13 3 6 , 534 , 9 9 3 B2 3/2 0 0 3 Bertness . . . . . . 324/43 36 , 2 1 5 , 2 7 5 B1 4 / 2 0 0 1 Bean . . . . . . . . . 320/106 6 , 5 3 6 , 5 3 6 B1 3 / 200 3 Gass t a l . . . . . . . 1 7 3 /26,218,805 B 1 4/2001 Melcher . 320/105 6,544,078 B2 4/2003 Palmisano e t a l . . . 439/7626,218,93 6 B1 4/2001 Imao . . . . . . . . . . . . 340/447 6,5 45 ,5 99 B2 4/2003 Derbyshire e t a l . 340/4426,222,342 B1 4/2001 Eggert e t a l . . 320 /10 5 6,5 5 6,019 B2 4/2003 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 /42 66,222,3 69 B 1 4/2001 Champlin . . . . . . . 324 /4 30 6,5 66,883 B 1 5/2003 Vonderhaar e t a l . 324 /42 6D442,503 S 5/2001 Lundbeck t a l . . .. D10/77 6 , 57 0 , 38 5 B1 5/2003 Roberts e t a l . . . . . . . 324/ 3786,225,808 B 1 5/2001 Varghese e t a l . . 324 /42 6 6,577,107 B2 6/2003 Kechmire . . . . . . . 320 /1 396,23 6,186 B1 5/2001 Helton e t a l . . . . . . . . 320 /10 6 6 , 58 6 , 9 4 1 B2 7/2003 Bertness e t a l . 324 /42 66 , 2 3 6 , 3 3 2 B1 5 / 2 0 0 1 Conkright e t a l . . 3 4 0 / 3 . 1 6 , 5 9 7 , 1 5 0 B1 7 / 2 0 0 3 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 320/1046 , 2 3 6 , 9 4 9 B1 5 / 200 1 H a rt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 4 6 , 5 9 9 , 2 4 3 B2 7 /2 0 0 3 Woltermann t a l . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 0 / 3 0 06 , 2 38 , 2 53 B1 5/2001 Qualls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 9 / 7 5 9 6 , 6 0 0 , 8 1 5 B1 7 /2 0 0 3 Walding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 9 /9 3. 0 76 ,242 ,887 B1 6 / 2 0 0 1 Burke . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 6 , 6 1 1 , 7 4 0 B2 8 / 200 3 LoWrey t a l . . . . . . . 7 0 1 / 2 96,249,124 B 1 6/2001 Bertness . 324/426 6,614,349 B 1 9/2003 Proctor e t a l . . 340/572.16,250,973 B1 6/2001 Lowery t a l . . 439 /7 6 3 6,618,644 B2 9/2003 Bean . . . . . . . . . . . . 700/23 16,254,438 B1 7/2001 Gaunt . . . . . . . . . . 43 9/75 5 6,621,272 B2 9/2003 Champlin 324/4266 , 2 5 9 , 1 7 0 B1 7 / 2 0 0 1 Limoge e t a l . 3 0 7 / 1 0 . 8 6 , 6 2 3 , 3 1 4 B1 9 / 2 0 0 3 Cox t a l . . 439/7596,259,254 B1 7/2001 Klang . . . . . . . . . . 324/427 6,624,635 B1 9/2003 Lui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24/4266,262,5 63 B 1 7/2001 Champlin . 320 /1 34 6,628,011 B2 9/2003 D rop po e t a l . . . . . 307/436 , 2 6 3, 2 6 8 B1 7 /2 0 0 1 Nathanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701/29 6 , 6 2 9 , 0 54 B2 9 /2 0 0 3 Makhija e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702/ 1136 ,27 1, 64 3 B1 8 / 200 1 Becker e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 2 6 , 6 3 3 , 1 6 5 B2 1 0 /2 0 0 3 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 66 , 2 7 1 , 7 4 8 B1 8 / 2 0 0 1 D e r b y s h i r e e t a l . . 340/442 6 , 6 3 5 , 9 7 4 B1 1 0 / 2 0 0 3 307/1406,275,008 B1 8/2001 Araiet l . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 2 6 , 6 6 7 , 6 2 4 B1 1 2 /2 0 0 3 324/ 5 226 , 2 8 5, 1 9 1 B1 9/2001 Gollomp t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/427 6 , 6 7 9 , 2 1 2 B2 1/2004 Kelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3/1 7 9 . 2 86 , 2 9 4 , 8 9 6 B1 9 /2 0 0 1 Champlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 134 6 , 6 8 6 , 54 2 B2 2/2004 Zhang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174/746,294,897 B1 9/2001 Champlin . 320/ 15 3 6,696,819 B2 2/2004 Bertness . . . . . . 320/ 1346,304,087 B1 10/2001 B e r t n e s s . 324/426 6 , 7 0 7 , 3 0 3 B2 3/2004 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 324/4266,307,349 B 1 10/2001 Koenck t a l . . 320/112 6,73 6,941 B2 5/2004 Oku t a l . .. 203/686 , 3 1 0 , 4 8 1 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 1 B e r t n e s s . 324/430 6 , 7 3 7 , 8 3 1 B2 5 / 2 0 0 4 Champlin 320/1326,3 13 ,607 B1 11/2001 Champlin . 320 /1 32 6,738,697 B2 5/2004 Breed . . . . . . . . . . 701/296 , 3 1 3 , 6 0 8 B1 1 1 / 2 0 0 1 Varghese t a l . . 320/132 6 , 7 4 0 , 9 9 0 B2 5 / 2 0 0 4 ToZuka e t a l . 3 0 7 / 9 . 16,316,914 B 1 11/2001 Bertness . 320/134 6,744,149 B 1 6/2004 Ka ruppana e t a l .. 307/316 , 32 0 , 351 B1 1 1 /2 0 0 1 Ng t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 104 6 , 7 4 5, 1 53 B2 6/2004 White e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702/ 184


5/19

US 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2P a g e 5

6 , 7 5 9 , 8 4 9 B2 7 /2 0 0 4 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 7 ,4 98 ,7 67 B2 3/2 0 0 9 Brown t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 76,771,073 B2 8/2004 Henningson e t a l . . 324/426 7,505,856 B2 3/2009 Restaino e t a l . . . 702/636,777,945 B2 8/2004 Roberts e t a l . . 324 /42 6 7,5 45 ,146 B2 6/2009 Klang e t a l . . . . . . . . . 324 /42 66 ,78 1,3 82 B2 8 /2 0 0 4 Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 7 ,5 5 7 ,5 8 6 B1 7 /2 0 0 9 Vonderhaar e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 3 76 ,784 ,63 5 B2 8/2004 Larson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 7 , 5 9 5 , 6 4 3 B2 9 /2 0 0 9 Klang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 66,784,637 B2 8/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . 320/107 7,598,699 B2 10/2009 Restaino e t a l . 320 /10 56,788,025 B2 9/2004 Bertness e t a l . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 7,598,743 B2 10/2009 Bertness . . . . . . . . . 324/4266 , 7 9 5 , 7 8 2 B2 9 / 2 0 0 4 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 7 0 2 / 6 3 7 , 5 9 8 , 7 4 4 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 9 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 3 2 4 / 4 2 66 , 7 9 6 , 8 4 1 B1 9 / 2 0 0 4 Cheng t a 1 . . 4 3 9 / 6 2 0 . 3 7 , 6 1 9 , 4 1 7 B2 1 1 / 2 0 0 9 Klang 3 2 4 / 4 2 76 , 8 0 5 , 0 9 0 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 4 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 1 2 3 / 1 9 8 7 , 6 4 2 , 7 8 6 B2 1 / 2 0 1 0 P h i l b r o o k 3 2 4 / 4 2 66,806,716 B2 10/2004 Bertness e t a l . . 324/426 7,642,787 B2 1/2010 Bertness e t a l . . . 324/4266,825,669 B2 11/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . 324/426 7,656,162 B2 2/2010 Vonderhaar e t a l . 324/4266,842,707 B2 1/2005 Raichle e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 2 7 , 6 57 , 38 6 B2 2 /2 0 1 0 Thibedeau e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 36 ,84 5 ,27 9 B1 1/ 200 5 Gilmore e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 0 / 1 1 5 7 ,67 9,3 2 5 B2 3/2 0 1 0 Seo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 / 1 1 66,850,037 B2 2/2005 Bertness . 320/132 7,688,074 B2 3/2010 Cox t a l . . 324 /42 66,856,972 B 1 2/2005 Yun e t a l . . 7 0 5 / 3 6 R 7,698,179 B2* 4/2010 Leung e t a l . . 705/286 , 8 7 1 , 1 51 B2 3/2005 Bertness . . 7 0 2 /6 3 7 , 7 0 5, 6 0 2 B2 4/2010 Bertness . . . . . . 324/4266,885 ,195 B2 4/2005 Bertness . . 324/426 7,706,991 B2 4/2010 Bertness e t a l . .. 702/636,888,468 B2 5/2005 Bertness 340 /6 36 . 1 5 7,710,119 B2 5/2010 Bertness . . . . . . 324 /42 66 , 8 9 1 , 3 7 8 B2 5 / 2 0 0 5 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 7 , 7 2 3 , 9 9 3 B2 5 / 2 0 1 0 Klang 3 2 4 / 4 3 16 , 9 0 4 , 7 9 6 B2 6 / 2 0 0 5 P a c s a i e t a l . 7 3 / 1 4 6 . 8 7 , 7 2 8 , 5 9 7 B2 6 / 2 0 1 0 B e r t n e s s 3 2 4 / 4 2 66,906,5 22 B2 6/2005 Bertness e t a l . . 324/426 7,772,850 B2 8/2010 Bertness . . 324 /42 66 906 523 B2 6/2005 Bertness et a l. . 324/426 7 774 151 B2 8/2010 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 702/636,906,624 B2 6/2005 McClelland t a l . . . 340/442 7,777,612 B2 8/2010 Sampson e t a 1 . . 340/426.16 , 9 0 9 , 2 8 7 B2 6/2005 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/427 7 , 7 9 1 , 34 8 B2 9/2010 Brown t a l . 324/4266,909,356 B2 6/2005 Brown t a l . . . . . 340/3.2 7,808,375 B2 10/2010 Bertness e t a l . 340 /4 556 , 9 1 3 , 4 8 3 B2 7/2005 R e s t a i n o e t a l . . 439/504 7 , 8 8 3 , 0 0 2 B2* 2 / 2 0 1 1 J i n e t a l . 235/3766 , 9 1 4 , 4 1 3 B2 7 /2 0 0 5 Bertness e t a l . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 4 7 ,924 ,0 15 B2 4 /2 0 1 1 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . 32 4 /4 2 76,919,725 B2 7/2005 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . 324/433 2001/0035737 A1 11/2001 Nakanishiet l . 320/1226 , 93 0 ,48 5 B2 8/2005 Bertness e t a l . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2002/0004694 A1 1/ 2002 McLeod . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 1 /2 96,93 3 ,727 B2 8/2005 Bertness e t a l . . 324 /42 6 2002/0010558 A1 1/2002 Bertness e t a l . .. 702/636,941,234 B2 9/2005 Bertness e t a l . 702/63 2002/0021135 A1 2/2002 L i e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 /6776,967,484 B2 11/2005 Bertness . . . . . . . . . 324 /42 6 2002/004 1 17 5 A1* 4/2002 Lauper e t a l . 3 2 0 / 1 0 66 , 9 7 2 , 6 6 2 B1 1 2 / 2 0 0 5 Ohkawa t a l . 3 4 0 / 1 0 . 1 2002/0044050 A1 4 / 2 0 0 2 D e r b y s h ir e e t a l . 3 4 0 / 4 4 26 , 9 9 8 , 8 4 7 B2 2 /2 0 0 6 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2 0 0 2 / 0 0 7 4 3 9 8 A1* 6 /2 0 0 2 Lancos e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 5 / 3 8 27 ,00 3 ,4 10 B2 2 /2 0 0 6 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 2 0 0 2 / 0 1 1 8 1 1 1 A1 8/2002 Brown t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 40 / 5 7 3 . 17,003,411 B2 2/2006 Bertness 702/63 2002/0171428 A1 11/2002 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . .. 702/637,012,433 B2 3 /2006 Smith e t a l . . . 324/426 2002/0 17 60 10 A1 11/2002 Wallach e t a l . . 348/ 3 627 ,0 15 , 674 B2 3 / 2 0 0 6 VonderHaar . 3 2 0 / 1 0 3 2003/0009270 A1 1 /2 0 0 3 Breed . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 1 / 2 97,029,338 B1 4/2006 Orange e t a 1 . . . 439 /7 55 2003/002 548 1 A1 2/2003 Bertness . . 324/4277,034,541 B2 4/2006 Bertness e t a l . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2 0 0 3 / 0 0 3 6 9 0 9 A1 2 /2 0 0 3 Kato . . . . . . . . . . . . 704/2757,039,533 B2 5/2006 Bertness e t a l . 702/63 2003/0040873 A1 2/2003 Lesesky e t a l . . .. 702/577,058,525 B2 6/2006 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 702/63 2003/0078743 A1 4/2003 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . . 702/637,081,755 B2 7/2006 Klang e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/426 2 0 0 3 / 0 0 8 8 3 7 5 A1 5/2003 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 37,089,127 B2 8 /2 0 0 6 Thibedeau e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 2 0 0 3 / 0 1 2 8 0 3 6 A1 7 /2 0 0 3 Henningson e t a l . . . . . . . . . . 324/4267 , 0 9 8 , 6 6 6 B2 8/2006 Patino . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324/433 2003/0137277 A1 7 / 2 0 0 3 Moriet l . . . . . . . 320/1327 , 1 0 2 , 5 5 6 B2 9 / 2 0 0 6 White . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 1 / 1 4 1 2003/0169018 A1 9 / 2 0 0 3 Berels e t a 1 . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 27,106,070 B2 9/2006 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . 324/538 2003/0169019 A1 9/2003 Oosaki 320/1327 , 1 1 6 , 1 0 9 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 6 Klang . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2003/0184262 A1 10 / 200 3 Makhija . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 5 67 , 1 1 9 , 6 8 6 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 6 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 3 4 0 / 5 7 2 . 1 2003/0184306 A1 1 0 / 2 0 0 3 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 324/4267,120,488 B2 10/2006 Nova t al. . . . . . . . . .. 600/2 2003/0187556 A1 10/2003 Suzuki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701/297 , 1 2 6 , 3 4 1 B2 10/2006 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . 324/426 2003/0194672 A1 10/2003 Roberts e t a l . 431/1967 , 1 2 9 , 7 0 6 B2 1 0 /2 0 0 6 Kalle y . . . . . . . . . 324/426 2 0 0 3 / 0 1 9 7 5 1 2 A1 1 0 /2 0 0 3 Miller e t a l . . 324/4267 ,15 4 ,27 6 B2 1 2 /2 0 0 6 Bertness . 3 2 4 / 5 0 3 2003/0212311 A1 1 1 / 2 0 0 3 Nova t a l . . . . . . . . . 6 0 0 / 3 0 07 , 1 7 7 , 9 2 5 B2 2/2007 Carcido e t a l . . 709/223 2003/0214395 A1 1 1 / 2 0 0 3 Flowerday t a l 340/4457,182,147 B2 2/2007 C u t l e r e t a l . 1 7 3 / 1 2004/0000590 A1 1/2004 R a i c h l e e t a l . . . 235/462.017 ,184 ,90 5 B2 2 /2 0 0 7 Stefan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 2 0 0 4 / 0 0 0 0 8 9 1 A1 1/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 0 77 , 1 9 8 , 5 1 0 B2 4 /2 0 0 7 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 9 / 5 0 0 2004/0000893 A1 1/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 57,200,424 B2 4/2007 Tischer e t a l . . 4 5 5 / 5 6 7 2004/0002824 A1 1/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . . . 702/ 637 ,208 ,9 14 B2 4 /2 0 0 7 Klang . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 2 2004/0002825 A1 1/2004 Raichle e t a l . . . . . 7 0 2 / 6 37,209,850 B2 4/2007 B r o t t e t a l . . 324/426 2004/0002836 A1 1/2004 Raichle e t a l . 702/1887,209,860 B2 4/2007 Trsar e t a l . . . . 702/18 3 2004/0032264 A1 2/2004 Schoch 324 /42 67,212,887 B2 5 /2007 Shah e t a l . 700/276 2004/00444 52 A1 3 /2004 Bauer e t a l . . . . . 703 / 3 37 , 2 1 9 , 0 2 3 B2 5 / 2 0 0 7 Banke t a l . 7 0 2 / 5 8 2004/0049361 A1 3 / 2 0 0 4 Hamdan t a l . 7 0 2 / 1 1 57,233,128 B2 6/2007 Brost e t a l . . . . 320/132 2004/0051533 A1 3/2004 Namaky 324/4267 , 2 35, 9 7 7 B2 6 /2 0 0 7 Koran t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2 0 0 4 / 0 0 5 4 5 0 3 A1 3/2 0 0 4 Namaky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /1 8 27,246,015 B2 7/2007 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 2 0 0 4 / 0 1 1 3 5 8 8 A1* 6 /2 0 0 4 Mikuriya e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/ 1287,272,519 B2 9/2007 Lesesky e t a l . 702/63 2004/0145342 A1* 7/2004 Lyon . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/1087 , 2 8 7 , 0 0 1 B1 1 0 / 2 0 0 7 Falls e t a l . . . . . . . 7 0 5 / 2 2 2004/0164706 A1 8 / 2004 Osborne . . . . . . . . . . . 320/1167 , 2 9 5 , 9 3 6 B2 1 1 /2 0 0 7 Bertness e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 3 2 0 0 4 / 0 1 7 8 1 8 5 A1 9 /2 0 0 4 Yoshikawa t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 9 / 2 7 07 , 31 9 , 30 4 B2 1/2008 Veloo e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 0 / 1 3 4 2 0 0 4 / 0 1 9 9 3 4 3 A1 1 0 /2 0 0 4 Cardinal e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 2 /6 37,339,477 B2 3/2008 PuZio e t a 1 . 340/572.1 2004/0227523 A1 11/2004 Namaky . . . . . . . . . 324/5377,363,175 B2 4/2008 B e r t n e s s e t a l . 702/63 2004/0239332 A1 12/2004 Mackelet l . . . 324/4267,3 98,176 B2 7/2008 Bertness . . . 702/140 2004/0251876 A1 12/2004 Bertness e t a l . 320 /1 367,408,358 B2 8 /2 0 0 8 Knopf . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 / 4 2 6 2 0 0 5 / 0 0 0 7 0 6 8 A1 1/ 200 5 Johnson e t a 1 . . 3 2 0 / 1 1 07,425,833 B2 9/2008 B e r t n e s s e t a l . . 324/426 2005/0017726 A1 1 / 2 0 0 5 Koran e t a 1 . 324/4337,446,5 3 6 B2 11/2008 Bertness . 324 /42 6 2005/0021294 A1 1/2005 Trsar e t a 1 . . . 702/1837,453,238 B2 11/2008 Melichar . . . 320 /1 32 2005/0025299 A1 2/2005 Tischer e t a l . 37 9 /1 9 97 , 4 7 9 , 7 6 3 B2 1/ 200 9 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/134 2005/0043868 A1 2 / 200 5 Mitcham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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2 0 0 5 / 0 0 5 7 2 5 6 A1 3 /2005 Bertness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 /42 6 W0 W0 3/0470 64 A3 6/20032005/0073314 A1 4/2005 Bertness e t a l . . 324/433 W0 W0 3 / 0 7 6 9 6 0 A1 9/20032005/0102073 A1 5/2005 Ingram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 701/29 W0 WO 004/047215 A1 6/20042005/0128083 A1 6 / 2 0 0 5 P u Z i o e t a l .2 0 0 5 / 0159847 A1 7 / 2005 Shah t a l . OTHERPUBLICATIONS2005/0168226 A1 8/2005 Quintet l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 324/426 _ _ _ _200 0 1 7 3 1 4 2 A1 g / Z O O 5 C u t l e r e t a 1 N o t 1 ? c a t 1 o n o f T r a n s m 1 t t a l o f The n t e r n a t 1 o n a l S e a r c h R e p o r t o r t h e2005/0182536 A1 8/2005 Doyle e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 701/29 D e c l a r a t i o n , PCT/US03/07546.Zoos/0218902 A1 1 0 / 2 0 0 5 R e s t a l n o e t a 1 ~ ~ 324/433 N o t i ? c a t i o n o f T r a n s m i t t a l o f The n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a r c h R e p o r t o r t h e2 0 0 5 / 0 2 5 4 1 0 6 A9 11/2005 S1lverbrook e t a l . . . 3 5 8 / 5 3 9 Declaration, PC T / U S 0 3 / 0 6 5 7 7 2005/0256617 A1 1 1 / 2 0 0 5 Cawthorne t a l . 701/22 N t - ? t - fT h fTh I t t - 15 hR I t t h2005/02 5824 1 A1 1 1 /2 0 0 5 McNutt t a l . . 23 5 / 385 0 1 C? 02 mm 0 e nma ma em ePO or e2006/0012330 A1 1/2006 Okumura t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/103 1 3 9 9 1 9 9 9 9 1 1 , PCT /U S Q3/0 7 8 3T _2006/0030980 A1 2/2006 S t , Denis , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , H 701/29 Not1?cat1on of r a n s m 1 t t a l of The n t e r n a t 1 o n a l Search Report r t h e200 6/008 97 67 A1 4/2006 SoWa . . . . . . . 701/29 Declaration, P CT / U S 0 3 / 4 1 5 6 1 .2006/0217914 A1 9/2006 B e I T I l e S S ~ 7 0 2 / 1 1 3 N o t i ? c a t i o n of r a n s m i t t a l of The n t e r n a t i o n a l Search Report r t h e5 8 8 7 8 3 3 3 1 3 1 2 3 2 1 1 5 5 8 8 ? Z 1 3 1 1 3 1 ' 3 3 1 8 / 5 6 / 8 3 1 3 6 m m P C T / 0 3 0 7 6 9 6r . , . . _ _2 0 0 7 / 0 0 2 6 9 1 6 A1 2 / 2 0 0 7 J u d s e t a 1 4 6 3 / 1 l g l c o t ? g t s g r / g g f g a n s m l t t a l o f t h e I n t e r n a t 1 o n a l S e a r c h R e p o r t f o r2007/0194791 A1 8/2007 Huang . 324/430 _ _ _ _Zoos /030 3528 A1 12/2008 Kim 324/430 A rev1eW of 1mpedance measurements f o r determ1nat1on of the2008/0303 529 A1 12/2008 Nakamura t a 1 , , , 3 24/433 s t a t e - o f - c h a r g e o r s t a t e - o f - h e a l t h of secondary b a t t e r i e s , J o u r n a l of2 0 0 9 / 0 1 4 6 8 0 0 A1 6 / 2 0 0 9 Grimlund t a l . Power S o u r c e s , p p. 5 9 - 6 9 , ( 1 9 9 8 ) .2009/ 247020 A1 10/2009 Gathman e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439/759 Search Report Under S e c t i o n 17 f o r Great B r i t a i n A p p l i c a t i o n No.2 0 1 0 / 0 1 4 5 7 8 0 A1 6 / 2 0 1 0 NishikaWa e t a l . . . . . . . . . 7 0 5/1 4 . 1 1 6 1 3 0 4 2 1 4 4 7 4 ,2010/0314950 A1 12/2010 Rutkowskl e t a l ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 307/125 R e s u l t s of D i s c r e t e Frequency Immittance Spectroscopy (DFIS)2011/0004427 A1 V2011 Gorbold e t a 1 702/63 Measurements of Lead Acid B a t t e r i e s , by K . S . Champlin e t a l . ,

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O p e r a t o r s M a n u a l , M o d u l a r C o m p u t e r A n a l y z e r M o d e l MCA3 0 0 0 , S u n E l e c t r i c C o r p o r a t i o n , C r y s t a l L a k e , I l l i n o i s p p . 1 - 1 - 1 41 3 , ( 1 9 9 1 ) .S u p p l e m e n t a r y E u r o p e a n S e a r c h R e p o r t C o m m u n i c a t i o n f o r A p p l .N o . 9 9 9 1 7 4 0 2 2 ; S e p . 7 , 2 0 0 4 . D y n a m i c m o d e l l i n g o f l e a d / a c i d b a t t e r i e s u s i n g i m p e d a n c e s p e ct r o s c o p y f o r p a r a m e t e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n , J o u r n a l o f Power o u r c e s , p p .6 9 - 8 4 , ( 1 9 9 7 ) .W i k i p e d i a O n l i n e E n c y c l o p e d i a , I n d u c t a n c e , 2 0 0 5 h t t p : / / e n .w i k i p e d i a . o r g / w i k i / i n d u c t a n c e , p p . 1 - 5 , m u t u a l I n d u c t a n c e , p p . 3 , 4 . P r o f e s s i o n a l BCS S y s t e m A n a l y z e r B a t t e r y - C h a r g e r - S t a r t i n g , p p .2 - 8 , ( 2 0 0 1 ) .Y o u n g I l l u s t r a t e d E n c y c l o p e d i a D i c t i o n a r y o f E l e c t r o n i c s , 1 9 8 1 ,P a r k e r P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , I n c . , p p . 3 1 8 - 3 1 9 .DSP p p l i c a t i o n s i n H y b r i d E l e c t r i c V e h i c l e P o w e r t r a i n , M i l l e r e ta l . , P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e A m e r i c a n C o n t r o l C o n f e r e n c e , S a n d D i e g o ,CA, J u n . 1 9 9 9 ; 2 p p g . N o t i ? c a t i o n o f T r a n s m i t t a l o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a r c h R e p o r t andt h e W r i t t e n O p i n i o n o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a r c h i n g A u t h o r i t y , o r t h eD e c l a r a t i o n f o r PCT/US2008/008702 ? l e d J u l . 2 0 0 8 ; 1 5 p a g e s . N o t i ? c a t i o n C o n c e r n i n g A v a i l a b i l i t y o f h e P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e I n t e rn a t i o n a l A p p l i c a t i o n f o r P C T / U S 2 0 0 8 / 0 0 8 7 0 2 , ? l e d J u l . 1 7 , 2 0 0 8 ;24 p a g e s .A M i c r o p r o c e s s o r - B a s e d C o n t r o l System f o r a Near-Term E l e c t r i cV e h i c l e , B i m a l K . B o s e ; IEEE T r a n s a c t i o n s o n I n d u s t r y A p p l i c at i o n s , v o l . I A - 1 7 , N o . 6 , N o v / D e c . 1 9 8 7 , ; 0 0 9 3 - 9 9 9 4 / 8 1 / 1 1 0 00 6 2 6 $ 0 0 . 7 5 9 8 1 I E E E , 6 p a g e s . F i r s t N o t i c e I n f o r m i n g t h e A p p l i c a n t o f t h e Communication o f t h eI n t e r n a t i o n a l A p p l i c a t i o n ( T o D e s i g n a t e d O f ? c e s w h i c h d o n o t a p p l yt h e 3 0 Month Time L i m i t Under A r t i c l e 2 2 ( 1 ) ) f o r PCT/US2008/008702 ? l e d J u l . 1 7 , 2 0 0 8 ; one p a g e . N o t i ? c a t i o n o f t h e R e c o r d i n g o f a Change f o r PCT/US2008/008702 ? l e d J u l . 1 7 , 2 0 0 8 ; one p a g e .O f ? c e A c t i o n f r o m US. p p l . N o . 1 1 / 1 4 6 , 6 0 8 d a t e d May 3 , 2 0 0 8 .O f ? c e A c t i o n f r o m US. A p p l . N o . 1 1 / 0 6 3 , 24 7 d a t e d A p r . 1 1 , 2 0 0 8 . S e a r c h R e p o r t Under S e c t i o n 1 7 f o r G r e a t B r i t a i n A p p l i c a t i o n N o .G B 0 4 2 1 4 4 7 . 4 , d a t e o f s e a r c h J a n . 2 7 , 2 0 0 5 , d a t e o f d o c u m e n t J a n . 2 8 ,2 0 0 5 .S e a r c h R e p o r t a n d W r i t t e n O p i n i o n f r o m PCT p p l i c a t i o n N o . PCT/U S 2 0 1 1 / 0 2 6 6 0 8 , d a t e d A u g . 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 , 9 p a g e s .

Appeal B r i e f a s ? l e d by p p e l l a n t w i t h t h e USPTOon J u n . 2 7 , 2008f o r c o r r e s p o n d i n g U . S . A p p l . N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 , 4 1 9 , 1 4 p a g e s .E X a m i n e r s Answer f o r c o r r e s p o n d i n g U . S . A p p l . N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 , 4 1 9 ,d a t e d S e p . 1 7 , 2 0 0 8 , 1 6 p a g e s .Reply B r i e f a s ? l e d by p p e l l a n t w i t h t h e USPTO n N o v . 1 7 , 2008f o r c o r r e s p o n d i n g U . S . A p p l . N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 , 4 1 9 , 4 p a g e s .A p p e a l D e c i s i o n f o r c o r r e s p o n d i n g U . S . A p p l . N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 , 4 1 9 , d a t e dMay 1 , 2 0 1 1 , 8 p a g e s .U . S . A p p l . N o . 6 0 / 3 8 7 , 9 1 2 , ? l e d J u n . 1 3 , 2002 which i s r e l a t e d t oU . S . P a t e n t N o . 7 , 0 8 9 , 1 2 7 . C o n d u c t a n c e T e s t i n g Compared o T r a d i t i o n a l Methods o f E v a l u a ti n g t h e C a p a c i t y o f V a l v e - R e g u l a t e d L e a d - A c i d B a t t e r i e s a n d P r ed i c t i n g S t a t e - o f - H e a l t h , b y D . F e d e r e t a l . , May 1 9 9 2 , p p . 1 - 8 ; ( 1 3t o t a l p g s . ) . F i e l d A p p l i c a t i o n o f Conductance Measurements Use t o A s c e r t a i nC e l l / B a t t e r y and I n t e r - C e l l C o n n e c t i o n S t a t e - o f H e a l t h i n E l e c t r i cP o w e r U t i l i t y A p p l i c a t i o n s , b y M . H l a v a c e t a l . , A p r . 1 9 9 3 , p p. 1 - 1 4 ;( 1 9 t o t a l p g s . ) . C o n d u c t a n c e T e s t i n g o f S t a n d b y B a t t e r i e s i n S i g n a l i n g a n d Comm u n i c a t i o n s A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e P u r p o s e o f E v a l u a t i n g B a t t e r yS t a t e - o f - H e a l t h , b y S . M c S h a n e , A p r . 1 9 9 3 , p p . 1 9 ; ( 1 4 t o t a l p g s . ) . C o n d u c t a n c e M o n i t o r i n g o f R e c o m b i n a t i o n L e a d A c i d B a t t e r i e s ,b y B . J o n e s , May 1 9 9 3 , p p . 1 - 6 ; ( 1 1 t o t a l p g s . ) . E v a l u a t i n g t h e S t a t e - o f - He a l t h o f Lead Acid F l o o d e d and V a l v eR e g u l a t e d B a t t e r i e s : A o m p a r i s o n o f C o n d u c t a n c e T e s t i n g v s . T r ad i t i o n a l M e t h o d s , by M. H l a v a c e t a l . , J u n . 1 9 9 3 , p p . 1 - 1 5 ; ( 2 0 t o t a lp g s ) U p d a t e d S t a t e o f C o n d u c t a n c e / C a p a c i t y C o r r e l a t i on S t u d i e s t oD e t e r m i n e t h e S t a t e - o f - H e a l t h o f A u t o m o t i v e S L I a n d S t a n d b y LeadA c i d B a t t e r i e s , b y D . F e d e r e t a l . , S e p . 1 9 9 3 , p p. 1 - 1 7 ; ( 2 2 t o t a lp g s ) F i e l d E x p e r i e n c e o f T e s t i n g V r l a B a t t e r i e s b y M e a s u r i n g C o n d u ct a n c e , b y M . W . K n i v e t o n , May 1 9 9 4 , p p . 1 - 4 ; ( 9 t o t a l p g s . ) . R e d u c i n g t h e C o s t o f M a i n t a i n i n g VRLA a t t e r i e s i n T e l e c o mA p p l i c a t i o n s , b y M . W . K n i v e t o n , S e p . 1 9 9 4 , p p . 1 - 5 ; ( 1 0 t o t a l p g s . ) A n a l y s i s a n d I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f C o n d u c t a n c e M e a s u r e m e n t s u s e d t oA c c e s s t h e S t a t e - o f - H e a l t h o f V a l v e R e g u l a t e d Lead Acid B a t t e r i e sP a r t I I I : A n a l y t i c a l T e c h n i q u e s , b y M. H l a v a c , N o v . 1 9 9 4 , 9 p g s ; ( 1 3t o t a l p g s . ) . T e s t i n g 2 4 V o l t A i r c r a f t B a t t e r i e s U s i n g M i d t r o n i c s C o n d u c t a n c eT e c h n o l o g y , by M. H l a v a c e t a l . , J a n . 1 9 9 5 , 9 p g s ; ( 1 3 t o t a l p g s . ) .VRLA a t t e r y M o n i t o r i n g U s in g C o n d u c t a n c e T e c h n o l o g y P a r t I V :O n - L i n e S t a t e - o f - H e a l t h M o n i t o r i n g a n d T h e r m a l Runaway D e t e ct i o n / P r e v e n t i o n , byM. l a v a c e t a l . , O c t . 1 9 9 5 , 9 p g s ; ( 1 3 t o t a l p g s . ) .VRLA B a t t e r y C o n d u c t a n c e M o n i t o r i n g P a r t V : S t r a t e g i e s f o rVRLA a t t e r y T e s t in g a n d M o n i t o r i n g i n T e l e c o m O p e r a t i n g E n v ir o n m e n t s , by M. H l a v a c e t a l . , O c t . 1 9 9 6 , 9 p g s ; ( 1 3 t o t a l p g s . ) . M i d po i n t C o n d u c t a n c e T e c h n o l o g y Used i n T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o nS t a t i o n a r y S t a n d b y B a t t e r y A p p l i c a t i o n s P a r t V I : C o n s i d e r a t i o n s f o rD e p l o y m e n t o f M i d p oi n t C o n d u c t a n c e i n T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n sP o w e r A p p l i c a t i o n s , by M. T r o y e t a l . , O c t . 1 9 9 7 , 9 p g s ; ( 1 3 t o t a lp g s )Impedance/Conductance Measurements a s an Aid t o DeterminingR e p l a c e m e n t S t r a t e g i e s , M . K n i v e t o n , S e p . 1 9 9 8 , p p . 2 9 7 - 3 0 1 ; ( 9t o t a l p g s . ) .A F u n d a m e n t a l l y New p p r o a c h t o B a t t e r y P e r f o r m a n c e A n a l y s i sU s i n g DFRATM/DTISTM T e c h n o l o g y , b y K . C h a m p l i n e t a l . , S e p .2 0 0 0 , 8 p g s ; ( 1 2 t o t a l p g s . ) . B a t t e r y S t a t e o f H e a l t h M o n i t o r in g , C o m b i n i n g C o n d u c t a n c e T e c hn o l o g y W i t h O t h e r Measurement P a r a m e t e r s f o r R e a l - T i m e B a t t e r yP e r f o r m a n c e A n a l y s i s , by D . CoX t l a . , M a r . 2 0 0 0 , 6 p g s ; ( 1 0 t o t a lp g s )* c i t e d by examiner


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The p r e s e n t a p p l i c a t i o n i s a C o n t i n u a t i on - I n - P a r t o f andc l a i m s p r i o r i t y o f US. p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o . 1 1 / 2 0 7 ,4 1 9 , ? l e d A u g . 1 9 , 2 0 0 5 , Which s b a s e d o n a n d c l a i m s t h eb e n e ? t o f US. r o v i s io n a l p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o . 6 0 / 6 0 3 ,0 7 8 , ? l e d A u g . 2 0 , 2 0 0 4 , t h e c o n t e n t s o f W h i c h a r e h e r e b yi n c o r p o r a t e d b y r e f e r e n c e i n t h e i r e n t i r e t y .

CROSS REFERENCETORELATEDAPPLICATIONS

R e f e r e n c e i s made o c o - p e n d i n g a n d commonly a s s i g n e dUS. p a t e n t a p p l ic a t i o n S e r . N o . 1 2 / 4 1 6 , 4 5 7 , ? l e d A p r . 1 ,2 0 0 9 , e n t i t l e d SYSTEMFOR AUTOMATICALLYGATHERING BATTERY INFORMATION, a n d t o c o - p e n d i n ga n d commonly a s s i g n e d US. p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o .1 2 / 4 1 6 , 4 5 3 , ? l e d A p r . 1 , 2 0 0 9 , e n t i t l e d INTEGRATED TAGREADERAND ENVIRONMENT SENSOR, t h e c o n t e n t so f W h i c h a r e h e r e b y i n c o r p o r a t e d by r e f e r e n c e i n t h e i re n t i r e t y .

BACKGROUND OFTHEINVENTIONThe p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o s t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s . More

s p e c i ? c a l l y , t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a s y s t e m f o r a u t om a t i c a l l y g a t h e r i n g b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o n f o r u s e d u r i n g b a t t e r yt e s t i n g / c h a r g i n g .

S t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s , s u c h a s l e a d a c i d s t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s , a r eused i n a v a r i e t y o f a p p l i c a t i o n s s u c h a s a u t o m o t i v e v e h i c l e sa n d s t a n d b y poWer s o u r c e s . T y p i c a l l y , s t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s c o ns i s t o f a p l u r a l i t y o f i n d i v id u a l s t o r a g e c e l l s Which a r e e l e ct r i c a l l y c o n n e c t e d i n s e r i e s . Each c e l l c a n h a v e a v o l t a g ep o t e n t i a l o f a b o u t 2 . 1 v o l t s , f o r e x a m p l e . By c o n n e c t i n g t h ec e l l s i n s e r i e s , t h e v o l t a g e s o f i n d i v i d u a l c e l l s a r e added i n ac u m u l a t i v e m a n n e r . F o r e x a m p l e , i n a t y p i c a l a u t o m o t i v eb a t t e r y , s i x s t o r a g e c e l l s a r e u s e d t o p r o v i d e a t o t a l v o l t a g e o f1 2 . 6 v o l t s . The i n d i v i d u a l c e l l s a r e h e l d i n a housing and h ee n t i r e a s s e m b l y i s commonly r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e b a t t e r y .

I t i s f r e q u e n t l y d e s ir a b l e t o a s c e r t a i n t h e c o n d i t i o n of as t o r a g e b a t t e r y . V a r i o u s t e s t i n g t e c h n i q u e s h a v e b e e n d e v e lo p e d o v e r t h e l o n g h i s t o r y o f s t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s . F o r e x a m p l e ,one t e c h n i q u e i n v o l v e s t h e use o f a hygrometer i n Which h es p e c i ? c g r a v i t y o f h e a c i d m i x t u r e in t h e b a t t e r y i s m e a s u r e d .E l e c t r i c a l t e s t i n g h a s a l s o b e e n u s e d t o p r o v i d e l e s s i n v a s i v eb a t t e r y t e s t i n g t e c h n i q u e s . A e r y s i m p l e e l e c t r i c a l t e s t i s t os i m p l y m e a s u r e t h e v o l t a g e a c r o s s t h e b a t t e r y . I f t h e v o l t a g e i sbeloW c e r t a i n t h r e s h o l d , t h e b a t t e r y i s d e t e r m i n e d t o b e b a d .Another e c h n i q u e f o r t e s t i n g a b a t t e r y i s r e f e r r e d t o a s a l o a dt e s t . I n t h e l o a d t e s t , t h e b a t t e r y i s d i s c h a r g e d u s i n g a knoWnl o a d . As t h e b a t t e r y i s d i s c h a r g e d , t h e v o l t a g e a c r o s s t h eb a t t e r y i s m o n i t o r e d and u s e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e c o n d i t i o n o ft h e b a t t e r y . More e c e n t l y , a t e c h n i q u e h a s b e e n p i o n e e r e d b yD r . K e i t h S . C h a m p l i n a n d M i d t r o n i c s , I n c . o f W i l l o W b r o o k ,I l l . f o r t e s t i n g s t o r a g e b a t t e r i e s b y m e a s u r i n g a d y n a m i cp a r a m e t e r o f t h e b a t t e r y s u c h a s t h e d y n a m i c c o n d u c t a n c e o ft h e b a t t e r y . T h is t e c h n i q u e i s d e s c r i b e d in a number f U n i t e dS t a t e s p a t e n t s a n d U n i t e d S t a t e s p a t e n t a p p l i c a t i o n s , f o re x a m p l e US. P a t . N o . 3 , 8 7 3 , 9 1 1 , i s s u e d M a r . 2 5 , 1 9 7 5 , t oC h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTINGDEVICE; US. P a t . N o . 3 , 9 0 9 , 7 0 8, i s s u e d S e p . 3 0 , 1 9 7 5 , t oC h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTINGDEVICE; U S . P a t . N o . 4 , 8 1 6 , 7 6 8 , i s s u e d M a r . 2 8 , 1 9 8 9 , t oC h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTINGDEVICE; US. P a t . N o . 4 , 8 2 5 , 1 7 0 , i s su e d A p r . 2 5 , 1 9 8 9 , t oC h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING

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2DEVICEWITH AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE SCALING; US.P a t . N o . 4 , 8 8 1 , 0 3 8 , i s s u e d N o v . 1 4 , 1 9 8 9 , t o C h a m p l i n ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICEWITH AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE SCALING TO DETERMINE DYNAMIC CONDUCTANCE; U S . P a t . N o . 4 , 9 1 2 ,4 1 6 , i s s u e d M a r . 2 7 , 1 9 9 0 , t o C h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE WITH STATEOF-CHARGE COMPENSATION; US . a t . N o . 5 , 1 4 0 , 2 6 9 ,i s s u e d A u g . 1 8 , 1 9 9 2 , t o C h a m p l i n , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICTESTERFOR SSESSING BATTERY/CELL CAPACITY;US. P a t . N o . 5 , 3 4 3 , 3 8 0 , i s s u e d A u g . 3 0 , 1 9 9 4 , e n t i t l e dMETHOD ANDAPPARATUSFORSUPPRESSINGTIMEVARYING SIGNALS IN BATTERIES UNDERGOINGCHARGINGOR ISCHARGING; U S . a t . N o . 5 , 5 7 2 , 1 3 6 ,i s s u e d N o v . 5 , 1 9 9 6 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERYTESTER DEVICE; U S . a t . N o . 5 , 5 7 4 , 3 5 5 , i s s u e d N o v . 1 2 ,1 9 9 6 , e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUSFOR DETECTIONAND CONTROL OF THERMAL RUNAWAY IN ABATTERY UNDER CHARGE; U S . P a t . N o . 5 , 5 8 5 , 4 1 6 ,i s s u e d D e c . 1 0 , 1 9 9 6 , entitledAPPARATUSAND METHODFOR STEP-CHARGING BATTERIES TO OPTIMIZECHARGE ACCEPTANCE; U S . P a t . N o . 5 , 5 8 5 , 7 2 8 , i s s u e dD e c . 1 7 , 1 9 9 6 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY ESTERWITH AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FOR LOWSTATE-OF-CHARGE; US . a t . N o . 5 , 5 8 9 , 7 5 7 , i s s u e d D e c .3 1 , 1 9 9 6 , e n t i t l e d APPARATUS AND METHOD FORSTEP-CHARGINGBATTERIESTOOPTIMIZECHARGEACCEPTANCE; US. a t . N o . 5 , 5 9 2 , 0 9 3 , i s su e d J a n . 7 , 1 9 9 7 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICELOOSE TERMINALCONNECTIONDETECTIONVIAACOMPARISON CIRCUIT; U S . P a t . N o . 5 , 5 9 8 , 0 9 8 , i s s u e dJ a n . 2 8 , 1 9 9 7 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTERWITH VERY HIGH NOISE IMMUNITY; U S . P a t . No.5 , 6 5 6 , 9 2 0 , i s s u e d A u g . 1 2 , 1 9 9 7 , e n t i t l e d METHOD FOROPTIMIZINGTHE CHARGING LEAD-ACID BATTERIES AND AN INTERACTIVE CHARGER; U S . P a t . No.5 , 7 5 7 , 1 9 2 , i s s u e d May 2 6 , 1 9 9 8 , e n t i t l e d METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR DETECTING A BAD CELL IN ASTORAGE BATTERY; US. a t . N o . 5 , 8 2 1 , 7 5 6 , i s s u e d O c t .1 3 , 1 9 9 8 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTERWITH TAILORED COMPENSATION FORLOW STATEOF CHARGE; US. a t . N o . 5 , 8 3 1 , 4 3 5 , i s su e d N o v . 3 , 1 9 9 8 ,e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTER FOR I S STANDARD; U S .P a t . N o . 5 , 8 7 1 , 8 5 8 , i s s u e d F e b . 1 6 , 1 9 9 9 , e n t i t l e d ANTITHEFT BATTERY; US. a t . N o . 5 , 9 1 4 , 6 0 5 , i s s u e d J u n . 2 2 ,1 9 9 9 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY ESTER; U S . a t .N o . 5 , 9 4 5 , 8 2 9 , i s s u e d A u g . 3 1 , 1 9 9 9 , e n t i t l e d MIDPOINTBATTERY MONITORING; U S . a t . N o . 6 , 0 0 2 , 2 3 8 , i s su e dD e c . 1 4 , 1 9 9 9 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMEASURINGCOMPLEXIMPEDANCEOF CELLSANDBATTERIES; US. a t . N o . 6 , 0 3 7 , 7 5 1 , i ss u e d M a r . 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 ,e n t i t l e d APPARATUSFORCHARGING ATTERIES; U S .P a t . N o . 6 , 0 3 7 , 7 7 7 , i s s u e d M a r . 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d METHODAND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING BATTERYPROPERTIES FROM COMPLEX IMPEDANCE/ADMITTANCE; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 0 5 1 , 9 7 6 , i s su e d A p r . 1 8 , 2 0 0 0 ,e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUS FORAUDITINGABATTERY TEST; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 0 8 1 , 0 9 8 , i s s u e d J u n . 2 7 ,2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d METHOD ANDAPPARATUSFORCHARGING A BATTERY; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 0 9 1 , 2 4 5 , i s s u e d J u l . 1 8 ,2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FORAUDITING A BATTERY TEST; U S . P a t . No. 6 , 1 0 4 , 1 6 7 , i s s u e dA u g . 1 5 , 2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d METHODAND PPARATUS FORCHARGINGA ATTERY; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 1 3 7 , 2 6 9 , i s s u e dO c t . 2 4 , 2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FORELECTRONICALLY EVALUATING THE INTERNALTEMPERATURE OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL


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OR BATTERY; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 1 6 3 , 1 5 6 , i s s u e d D e c . 1 9 ,2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRICALCONNECTION FORELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 1 7 2 , 4 8 3 ,i s s u e d J a n . 9 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUSFORMEASURING COMPLEXIMPEDANCEOF CELLSAND BATTERIES; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 1 7 2 , 5 0 5 , i s s u e d J a n . 9 ,2001 e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERYTESTER; US. a t .N o . 6 , 2 2 2 , 3 6 9 , i s s u e d A p r . 2 4 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d METHODAND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING BATTERYPROPERTIES FROM COMPLEX IMPEDANCE/ADMITTANCE; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 2 2 5 , 8 0 8 , i s s u e d May 1 , 2 0 0 1 ,e n t i t l e d TESTCOUNTER FORELECTRONICBATTERYTESTER; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 2 4 9 , 1 2 4 , i s s u e d J u n . 1 9 , 2 0 0 1 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERYTESTERWITHINTERNAL BATTERY; US . P a t . N o . 6 , 2 5 9 , 2 5 4 , i s s u e d J u l . 1 0 ,2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d APPARATUSAND METHODFORCARRYING OUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON BATTERIESANDFOR RAPIDLY CHARGING BATTERIES; U S . P a t . No.6 , 2 6 2 , 5 6 3 , i s s u e d J u l . 1 7 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR MEASURING COMPLEX ADMITTANCEOF CELLS AND ATTERIES; U S . a t . No. 6 , 2 9 4 ,8 9 6 , i s s u e d S e p . 2 5 , 2 0 0 1 ; e n t i t l e d METHODAND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING COMPLEX SELFIMMITANCE OF A GENERAL ELECTRICALELEMENT; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 2 9 4 , 8 9 7 , i s s u e d S e p . 2 5 , 2 0 0 1 ,e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUS FORELECTRONICALLY EVALUATING THE INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL OR BATTERY; US. a t . N o . 6 , 3 0 4 , 08 7 , i s s u e d O c t . 1 6 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e dAPPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 3 1 0 , 4 8 1 , i s s u e d O c t . 3 0 ,2001 e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY ESTER; US. a t .No. 6 , 3 1 3 , 6 0 7 , i s su e d Nov. , 2001 e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUS FOREVALUATINGSTOREDCHARGE INANELECTROCHEMICALCELLOR ATTERY; US. a t .No. 6 , 3 1 3 , 6 0 8 , i s su e d Nov. , 2001 e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUSFORCHARGINGA ATTERY; US. a t . No.6 , 3 1 6 , 9 1 4 , i s s u e d N o v . 1 3 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d TESTING PARALLEL STRINGS OF STORAGE BATTERIES; U S . P a t . No.6 , 3 2 3 , 6 5 0 , i s s u e d N o v . 2 7 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 3 2 9 , 7 9 3 , i s s u e d D e c .1 1 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCHARGINGA ATTERY; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 3 3 1 , 7 6 2 , i s s u e dD e c . 1 8 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMFOR AUTOMOTIVE EHICLE; U S . a t . N o . 6 , 3 3 2 ,1 1 3 , i s s u e d D e c . 1 8 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 3 5 1 , 1 0 2 , i s s u e d F e b . 2 6 ,2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY CHARGINGSYSTEM ESTER; U S . a t . N o . 6 , 3 5 9 , 4 4 1 , i s s u e d M a r . 1 9 ,2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY ESTER; U S . a t .N o . 6 , 3 6 3 , 3 0 3, i s s u e d M a r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 2 , entitledALTERNATORDIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 3 7 7 , 0 3 1 , i s s u e dA p r . 2 3 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d INTELLIGENT SWITCH FORPOWERMANAGEMENT; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 3 9 2 , 4 1 4 , i s s u e dMay 1 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER;US. P a t . N o . 6 , 4 1 7 , 6 6 9 , i s s u e d J u l . 9 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d SUPPRESSING INTERFERENCE IN AC MEASUREMENTSOF CELLS, BATTERIES AND OTHER ELECTRICALELEMENTS; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 4 2 4 , 1 5 8 , i s s u e d J u l . 2 3 , 2 0 0 2 ,e n t i t l e d APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CARRYINGOUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON BATTERIESAND FORRAPIDLY CHARGING ATTERIES; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 4 4 1 ,5 8 5 , i s s u e d A u g . 1 7 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR TESTING RECHARGEABLE ENERGYSTORAGE BATTERIES; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 4 3 7 , 9 5 7 , i s s u e dA u g . 2 0 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d SYSTEM AND METHOD FORPROVIDING SURGE, SHORT, AND REVERSEPOLAR

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4ITY CONNECTION PROTECTION; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 4 4 5 ,1 5 8 , i s s u e d S e p . 3 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d VEHICLE ELECTRICALSYSTEMTESTERWITHENCODED OUTPUT; U S . P a t .N o . 6 , 4 5 6 , 0 4 5 , i s s u e d S e p . 2 4 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d INTEGRATEDCONDUCTANCE AND LOAD TEST BASED ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 4 6 6 , 0 2 5 ,i s s u e d O c t . 1 5 , 2 0 0 2 , entitledALTERNATOR TESTER; US.P a t . N o . 6 , 4 6 5 , 9 0 8 , i s s u e d O c t . 1 5 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d INTELLIGENTPOWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; US a t . No.6 , 4 6 6 , 0 2 6 , i s s u e d O c t . 1 5 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d PROGRAMMABLE CURRENT EXCITER FOR MEASURING ACIMMITTANCE OF CELLS AND BATTERIES; U S . P a t .N o . 6 , 4 6 9 , 5 1 1 , i s s u e d N o v . 2 2 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYCLAMP WITHEMBEDDEDENVIRONMENT SENSOR;US. P a t . N o . 6 , 4 9 5 , 9 9 0 , i s s u e d D e c . 1 7 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e dMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATINGSTOREDCHARGE IN ANELECTROCHEMICAL CELLOR BATTERY; US . P a t . N o . 6 , 4 9 7 , 2 0 9 , i s s u e d D e c . 2 4 ,2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR PROTECTINGACRANKING UBSYSTEM; U S . a t . N o . 6 , 5 0 7 , 1 9 6 ,i s s u e d J a n . 1 4 , 2 0 0 3 ; e n t i t l e d BATTERY HAVING DISCHARGE STATE INDICATION; US a t . N o . 6 , 5 3 4 , 9 9 3 ,i s s u e d M a r . 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERYTESTER; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 5 4 4 , 0 7 8 , i s s u e d A p r . 8 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d BATTERY CLAMP WITH INTEGRATED CURRENT SENSOR; US a t . N o . 6 , 5 5 6 , 0 1 9 , i s s u e d A p r . 2 9 ,2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY ESTER; U S . a t .N o . 6 , 5 6 6 , 8 8 3, i s s u e d May 0, 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY ESTER; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 5 8 6 , 9 4 1 , i s s u e d J u l . 1 ,2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTER WITH DATABUS; U S .P a t . N o . 6 , 5 9 7 , 1 5 0 , i s s u e d J u l . 2 2 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d METHODOF DISTRIBUTING JUMP-START BOOSTER PACKS;US. a t . N o . 6 , 6 2 1 , 2 7 2 , i s su e d S e p . 1 6 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d PROGRAMMABLE CURRENTEXCITERFOR MEASURINGACIMMITTANCEOFCELLSAND ATTERIES; U S . a t .N o . 6 , 6 2 3 , 3 1 4 , i s s u e d S e p . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d KELVINCLAMP FOR ELECTRICALLY COUPLING TOA BATTERY CONTACT; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 6 3 3 ,1 6 5 , i s su e d O c t . 1 4 ,2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d IN-VEHICLE BATTERY MONITOR; U S .P a t . N o . 6 , 6 3 5 , 9 7 4 , i s s u e d O c t . 2 1 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d SELFLEARNING POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ANDMETHOD; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 7 0 7 , 3 0 3 , i s s u e d M a r . 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . No.6 , 7 3 7 , 8 31 , i s su e d May 1 8 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d METHOD ANDAPPARATUS USINGA CIRCUIT MODEL TO EVALUATE CELL/BATTERY PARAMETERS; U S . a t . N o . 6 , 7 4 4 ,1 4 9 , i s s u e d J u n . 1 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d SYSTEMANDMETHODFORPROVIDINGSTEP-DOWNPOWER CONVERSIONUSINGAN NTELLIGENT SWITCH; US. P a t . No. 6 , 7 5 9 ,8 4 9 , i s s u e d J u l . 6 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTER CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE A REMOVABLE DIGITALMODULE; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 7 8 1 , 3 8 2 , i s s u e d A u g . 2 4 , 2 0 0 4 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . No.6 , 7 8 8 , 0 2 5 , ? l e d S e p . 7 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYCHARGERWITH BOOSTER PACK; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 7 9 5 ,7 8 2 , i s s u e d S e p . 2 1 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TEST MODULE; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 8 0 5 , 0 9 0 , ? l e d O c t . 1 9 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e dCHARGE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE BATTERY; US. P a t . N o . 6 , 8 0 6 , 7 1 6 , ? l e d O c t . 1 9 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e dELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 8 5 0 ,0 3 7 , ? l e d F e b . 1 , 2 0 0 5 , e n t i t l e d IN-VEHICLE BATTERYMONITORING; . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 7 8 0 , 1 4 6 , ? l e d F e b . 9 , 2 0 0 1 ,e n t i t l e d STORAGE BATTERY WITH INTEGRAL BATTERY TESTER; U . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 7 5 6 , 6 3 8 , ? l e d J a n . 8 , 2 0 0 1 ,e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMININGBATTERY ROPERTIES FROM COMPLEXIMPEDANCE/ADMITTANCE; . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 8 6 2 , 7 8 3 , ? l e d May


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2 1 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUS FORTESTING CELLS AND BATTERIES EMBEDDED INSERIES/PARALLEL SYST EMS; U . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 8 8 0 , 4 7 3 ,? l e d J u n . 1 3 , 2 0 0 1 ; e n t i t l e d BATTERY TEST MODULE;U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 3 4 8 , 4 7 9 , ? l e d O c t . 2 9 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d CONCEPTFOR ESTING HIGHPOWER VRLA ATTERIES;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 0 4 6 , 6 5 9 , ? l e d O c t . 2 9 , 2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e dENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE; U . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 9 9 3 , 4 6 8 , ? l e d N o v . 1 4 ,2 0 0 1 , e n t i t l e d KELVINCONNECTOR FORA BATTERYPOST; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 0 4 2 , 4 5 1 , ? l e d J a n . 8 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e dBATTERY CHARGE CONTROL DEVICE; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 0 9 3 , 8 5 3 , ? l e d M a r . 7 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTERWITH NETWORK COMMUNICATION;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 0 9 8 , 7 4 1 , ? l e d M a r . 1 4 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e dMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUDITING A BATTERY TEST; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 1 1 2 , 1 1 4 , ? l e d M a r . 2 8 , 2 0 0 2 ,e n t i t l e d BOOSTERPACK WITH STORAGE APACITOR;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 1 0 9 , 7 3 4 , ? l e d M a r . 2 8 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d A P P ARATUSAND METHOD FOR COUNTERACTING SELFDISCHARGE IN A STORAGE BATTERY; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 1 1 2 , 9 9 8 , ? l e d M a r . 2 9 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYTESTER WITH BATTERY REPLACEMENT OUTPUT;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 1 1 9 , 2 9 7 , ? l e d A p r . 9 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e dMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING CELLSAND BATTERIES EMBEDDED IN SERIES/PARALLELSYSTEMS; U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 3 8 7 , 0 4 6 , ? l e d J u n . 7 , 2 0 0 2 ,e n t i t l e d METHODANDAPPARATUSFORINCREASINGTHE LIFE OF A STORAGE BATTERY; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 2 0 0 , 0 4 1 , ? l e d J u l . 1 9 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d AUTOMOTIVEVEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICDEVICE; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 2 1 7 , 9 1 3 , ? l e d A u g . 1 3 , 2 0 0 2 ,e n t i t l e d , BATTERY TEST MODULE; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 2 4 6 ,4 3 9 , ? l e d S e p . 1 8 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTERUPGRADE USING SOFTWARE KEY; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 2 6 3 , 4 7 3 , ? l e d O c t . 2 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER WITH RELATIVE TEST OUTPUT; U . S .S e r . N o . 1 0 / 3 1 0 , 3 8 5 , ? l e d D e c . 5 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYTEST MODULE; . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 4 3 7 , 2 2 4 , ? l e d D e c . 3 1 ,2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d DISCHARGE VOLTAGE PREDICTIONS;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 3 4 9 , 0 5 3 , ? l e d J a n . 2 2 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d APPARATUSAND METHOD FORPROTECTINGABATTERYFROM VERDISCHARGE; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 3 8 8 , 8 5 5 , ? l e dM a r . 1 4 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY ESTERWITH BATTERYFAILURETEMPERATUREDETERMINATION; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 3 9 6 , 5 5 0 , ? l e d M a r . 2 5 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER; U . S . S e r . No.6 0 / 4 6 7 , 8 7 2 , ? l e d May 5 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d METHOD FORDETERMINING BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE; U . S .S e r . N o . 6 0 / 4 7 7 , 0 8 2 , ? l e d J u n . 9 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ALTERNATOR ESTER; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 4 6 0 , 7 4 9 , ? l e d J u n . 1 2 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d MODULAR BATTERY TESTER FOR SCANTOOL; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 4 6 2 , 3 2 3 , ? l e d J u n . 1 6 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e dELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER HAVING A USERINTERFACETO CONFIGUREA RINTER; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 6 0 1 , 6 0 8 , ? l e d J u n . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d CABLEFOR LECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 0 1 , 4 3 2 ,? l e d J u n . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTER CABLEWITH MEMORY; . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 4 9 0 , 1 5 3 , ? l e d J u l . 2 5 ,2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d SHUNTCONNECTION TOAPCB FORANENERGYMANAGEMENTSYSTEMEMPLOYED NANAUTOMOTIVEVEHICLE; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 5 3 , 3 4 2 , ? l e dS e p . 2 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTERCONFIGURED TO PREDICT A LOAD TEST RESULT;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 5 4 , 0 9 8 , ? l e d S e p . 3 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYTESTOUTPUTSADJUSTED BASED UPON BATTERY TEMPERATURE AND THE STATE OF DIS

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6CHARGE OF THE BATTERY; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 5 6 , 5 2 6 ,? l e d S e p . 5 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A VEHICLEELECTRICAL SYSTEM; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 5 6 , 5 3 8 , ? l e dS e p . 5 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ALTERNATOR TESTER WITHENCODED OUTPUT; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 7 5 , 9 3 3 , ? l e d S e p .3 0 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d QUERY BASED ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 7 8 , 6 2 9 , ? l e d O c t . 3 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER/CHARGERWITH INTEGRATED BATTERY CELLTEMPERATUREMEASUREMENT EVICE; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 4 4 1 , 2 7 1 , ? l e dMay 9 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER;U . S . S e r . N o . 0 9 / 6 5 3 , 9 6 3 , ? l e d S e p . 1 , 2 0 0 0 , e n t i t l e d SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWERGENERATIONAND TORAGE; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 1 7 4 , 1 1 0 ,? l e d J u n . 1 8 , 2 0 0 2 , e n t i t l e d DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTCONTROL USING AN INTELLIGENT POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 4 8 8 , 7 7 5 , ? l e d J u l .2 1 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d ULTRASONICALLY ASSISTEDCHARGING; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 2 5 8 , 4 4 1 , ? l e d A p r . 9 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d CURRENT MEASURING IRCUIT SUITEDFORBATTERIES; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 7 0 5 , 0 2 0 , ? l e d N o v . 1 1 , 2 0 0 3 ,e n t i t l e d APPARATUSANDMETHODFORSIMULATINGA BATTERY TESTER WITH A FIXED RESISTANCELOAD; . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 6 8 1 , 6 6 6 , ? l e d O c t . 8 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e dELECTRONICBATTERYTESTERWITHPROBE IGHT;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 7 4 8 , 79 2 , ? l e d D e c . 3 0 , 2 0 0 3 , e n t i t l e d A P P ARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING THEREMAINING DISCHARGETIME OFA BATTERY; U . S .S e r . N o . 1 0 / 7 8 3 , 6 8 2 , ? l e d F e b . 2 0 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d REPLACEABLE CLAMP FOR ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER;U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 5 4 8 , 5 1 3 , ? l e d F e b . 2 7 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d WIRELESS BATTERY MONITOR; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 7 9 1 , 1 4 1 ,? l e d M a r . 2 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR AUDITINGABATTERY EST; U . S . S e r . No. 6 0 / 5 5 7 ,3 6 6 , ? l e d M a r . 2 9 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY MONITORINGSYSTEMWITHOUT CURRENT MEASUREMENT; . S .S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 2 3 , 1 4 0 , ? l e d A p r . 1 3 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d THEFTPREVENTION DEVICEFORAUTOMOTIVEVEHICLESERVICE CENTERS; . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 5 7 5 , 9 4 5 , ? l e d J u n . 1 ,2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERYTESTERCAPABLEOF IDENTIFYING FAULTY BATTERYPOSTADAPTERS; . S . S e r .N o . 6 0 / 5 7 7 , 3 4 5 , ? l e d J u n . 4 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d NEWMETHODFOR AUTOMATICALLY TESTING A BATTERY ANDTRANSMITTING DATA TOANOTHER MODULE IN AVEHICLE; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 6 4 , 9 0 4 , ? l e d J u n . 9 , 2 0 0 4 ,e n t i t l e d ALTERNATOR ESTER; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 6 7 , 3 8 5 ,? l e d J u n . 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d ENERGY MANAGEMENTSYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE; U . S . S e r . No.1 0 / 8 7 0 , 6 8 0 , ? l e d J u n . 1 7 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONICBATTERY TESTER WITH RELATIVE TEST OUTPUT;U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 5 8 2 , 9 2 5 , ? l e d J u n . 2 5 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BATTERY TESTER WITH BATTERY POTENTIAL FORRECOVERYOUTPUT; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 8 3 , 0 1 9 , ? l e d J u l .1 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d MODULAR ELECTRONIC BATTERYTESTER; U . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 5 8 5 , 7 0 0 , ? l e d J u l . 6 , 2 0 0 4 ,e n t i t l e d TEST STATION; . S . S e r . N o . 6 0 / 5 8 7 , 2 3 2 , ? l e d J u l .1 2 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d WIRELESS BATTERY TESTER; U . S .S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 9 6 , 8 3 5 , ? l e d J u l . 2 2 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d BROADBAND LOW-INDUCTANCE CABLES FOR MAKINGKELVIN CONNECTIONS TO ELECTROCHEMICALCELLS AND ATTERIES; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 9 6 , 8 3 4 , ? l e dJ u l . 2 2 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER;U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 8 9 7 , 8 0 1 , ? l e d J u l . 2 3 , 2 0 0 4 , e n t i t l e d SHUNTCONNECTIONTOAPCB FORANENERGYMANAGEMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN AN AUTOMOTIVEVEHICLE; U . S . S e r . N o . 1 0 / 9 1 4 , 3 0 4 , ? l e d A u g . 9 , 2 0 0 4 ,


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US 8 , 4 4 2 , 8 7 7 B2I n some embodiments o f h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , t a g 1 0 2 a l s o

i n c l u d e s b a r - c o d e d b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o n 1 1 4 in a d d i t i o n t o t h eRFID encoded b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o n . I n some e m b o d i m e n t s ,t h e b a r - c o d e d b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o n may e a copy o f t h e RFIDe n c o d e d i n f o r m a t i o n . I n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t s , t h e b a r - c o d e di n f o r m a t i o n may be d i f f e r e n t from t h e RFID encoded i n f o rm a t i o n . Of c o u r s e , i n s u c h e m b o d i m e n t s , b a t t e r y t e s t e r /c h a r g e r 104 i n c l u d e s a barcode r e a d e r 1 1 6 i n a d d i t i o n t o RFr e c e i v e r 1 0 8 . T a g s / l a b e l s W i t h t h e b a r c o d e a n d RFID b a t t e r yi n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e p r i n t e d from s i n g l e p r i n t e r t h a t i n c l u d e st h e n e c e s s a r y l a b e l p r i n t e r / e n c o d e r p r o g r a m s . I t s h o u l d b en o t e d t h a t i t i s p o s s i b l e t o p r o d u c e b a r c o d e t a g s t h a t c a nc o n t a i n p r e v i o u s t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t c o u l d b e u s e f u l i n p r ov i d i n g p r e v i o u s t e s t r e s u l t i n f o r m a t i o n , W h i c h c o u l d b e u s e di n combination W i t h RFID t a g s , o r s t a n d a l o n e i n f o r m a t i o n .P r o d u c t i o n o f b a r c o d e t a g s t h a t c o n t a i n b a t t e r y t e s t i n f o r m at i o n i s d e s c r i b e d i n U S . P a t . N o . 6 , 0 5 1 , 9 7 6 , e n t i t l e dMETHOD AND APPARATUS FORAUDITINGA BATTERY E S T , W h i c h i s i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r e i n b y r e f e r e n c e .

I n a d d i t i o n t o h e l p i n g a u t o m a t e t h e b a t t e r y t e s t i n g / c h a r gi n g p r o c e ss , b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o n s t o r e d i n RFID t a g 1 0 2 h a so t h e r u s e s such s t o h e l p determine Whether o r n o t a p a r t i c ul a r b a t t e r y i s t o o o l d t o be s o l d . I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a tb a t t e r i e s may o t be s u i t a b l e f o r s a l e a f t e r t h e e x p i r a t i o n ofc e r t a i n p e r i o d ( 1 6 m o n t h s , f o r e x a m p l e ) . The a g e o f t h e b a tt e r y c a n e a s i l y b e d e t e r m i n e d b y r e a d i n g t h e b a t t e ry d a t e o fmanufacture from RFID t a g 1 0 2 . An RFID r e a d e r t h a t cana u t o m a t i c a l l y d e t e c t , i d e n t i f y a n d a c c e p t b a t t e r y i n f o r m a t i o nf o r m l l RFID a g s i n i t s r e a d i n g ? e l d i s e s p e c i a l l y s u i t a b l e f o ra r e t a i l e r t o r a p i d l y i d e n t i f y o l d b a t t e r i e s . I n f o r m a t i o n , s u c ha s t h e d a t e o f s a l e o f h e b a t t e r y , i n c l u d e d i n RFID a g 1 0 2 , canb e u s e d f o r a u t o m a t i n g W a r r a n t y c l a i m s p r o c e s s i n g W h i c h i sb a s e d on h e b a t t e r y a g e , d a t e o f a l e , e t c . T h u s , RFID a g 1 0 2i s u s e f u l f o r b a t t e r y p r o d u c t i o n , s t o r a g e , m o n i t o r i n g a n dt r a c k i n g .

I n some embodiments o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , RFID t a g1 0 2 i n c l u d e s s e c u r i t y c i r c u i t r y 1 1 8 , W h i c h may e c o u p l e d t oRF t r a n s m i t t e r 112 and may a l s o i n c l u d e a r e c e i v e r ( n o ts h o W n i n F I G . 1 ) W h i c h i s c a p a b l e o f r e c e i v i n g s i g n a l s f r o ma n e x t e r n a l t r a n s m i t t e r ( n o t shoWn i n F I G . 1 ) t h a t t r a n s m i t ss e c u r i t y s i g n a l s . D e t a i l s r e g a r d i n g s u c h a s e c u r i t y s y s t e m a r ei n c l u d e d in US. S e r . N o . l 0 / 8 2 3 , l 4 0 , ? l e d A p r. 1 3 , 2 0 0 4 ,e n t i t l e d THEFTPREVENTIONDEVICEFORAUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SERVICE CENTERS, Which s i n c o r p or a t e d h e r e i n b y r e f e r e n c e . D e t a i l s r e g a r d i n g c o m p o n e n t s o fb a t t e r y t e s t e r / c h a r g e r 1 0 4 a r e p r o v i d e d b e l o W i n c o n n e c t i o nW i t h FIGS. 3 and .

F I G . 3 i s a s i m p l i ? e d b l o c k d i a g r a m o f a b a t t e r y c h a r g i n gs y s t e m 300 i n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h an embodiment o f t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n . S y s t e m 3 0 0 i s shoWn c o u p l e d t o b a t t e r y 2 0 0 . S y stem 3 0 0 i n c l u d e s b a t t e r y c h a r g e r c i r c u i t r y 3 1 0 a n d t e s t c i rc u i t r y 3 1 2 . B a t t e r y c h a r g e r c i r c u i t r y 3 1 0 g e n e r a l l y i n c l u d e san l t e r n a t i n g c u r r e n t (AC) s o u r c e 3 1 4 , a t r a n s f o r m e r 31 6 anda r e c t i ? e r 3 1 8 . S y s t e m 3 0 0 c o u p l e s t o b a t t e r y 2 0 0 t h r o u g he l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n 3 2 0 Which c o u p l e s t o t h e p o s i t i v e b a tt e r y co n t a c t 3 0 4 and l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n 3 2 2 Which o u p l e st o t h e n e g a t i v e b a t t e r y c o n t a c t 3 0 6 . I n o n e p r e f e r r e d embodim e n t , a f o u r p o i n t ( o r K e l v i n ) c o n n e c t i o n t e c h n i q u e i s u s e d i nW h i c h b a t t e r y c h a r g e c i r c u i t r y 3 1 0 c o u p l e s t o b a t t e r y 3 0 0t h r o u g h e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s 320A n d 322A W h i l e b a t t e r yt e s t i n g c i r c u i t r y 3 1 2 c o u p l e s t o b a t t e r y 2 0 0 t h r o u g h e l e c t r i c a lc o n n e c t i o n s 320B and 322B.

B a t t e r y t e s t i n g c i r c u i t r y 3 1 2 i n c l u d e s v o l t a g e m e a s u r e m e n tc i r c u i t r y 3 2 4 and c u r r e n t measurement c i r c u i t r y 326 Whichp r o v i d e o u t p u t s t o m i c r o p r o c e s s o r 3 2 8 . M i c r o p r o c e s s o r 3 2 8a l s o c o u p l e s t o a s y s t e m c l o c k 330 a nd memory 332 Which sused t o s t o r e i n f o r m a t i o n and programming i n s t r u c t i o n s . I n

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1 0t h e embodiment o f t h e i n v e n t i o n shoWn i n F I G . 3 , m i c r o p r oc e s s o r 328 a l s o c o u p l e s t o RF r e c e i v e r 1 0 8 , u s e r o u t p u t c i rc u i t r y 3 3 4 , u s e r i n p u t c i r c u i t r y 3 3 6 a n d b a r c o d e s c a n n e r 1 1 6 ,Which may be i n c l u d e d i n some embodiments.

V o l t a g e m e a s u r e m e n t c i r c u i t r y 3 2 4 i n c l u d e s c a p a c i t o r s3 3 8 W h i c h c o u p l e a n a l o g t o d i g i t a l c o n v e r t e r 3 4 0 t o b a t t e r y2 0 0 t h o r o u g h e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s 320B a n d 3 2 2 B . Anyt y p e o f c o u p l i n g mechanism may e u s e d f o r e l e m e n t 3 3 8 a n dc a p a c i t o r s a r e merely shoWn a s one p r e f e r r e d embodiment.F u r t h e r , t h e d e v i c e may a l s o c o u p l e t o DC i g n a l s . C u r r e n tmeasurement c i r c u i t r y 326 i n c l u d e s a s h u n t r e s i s t o r ( R ) 342a n d c o u p l i n g c a p a c i t o r s 3 4 4 . S h u n t r e s i s t o r 3 4 2 i s c o u p l e d i ns e r i e s W i t h b a t t e r y c h a r g i n g c i r c u i t r y 3 1 0 . O t h e r c

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