Patent ID: 11894707
Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 12:
13. A method for providing a charge state indication on a battery pack for use with a portable device utility locator, comprising:
determining, in a charge state monitor circuit of the battery pack, a charge state of a battery cell or cells of the battery pack; and
providing a visual indication of the charge state by illuminating two or more lighting elements of the battery pack in two or more different colors;
wherein when the charge state is above a predefined intermediate charge state threshold, a first steady light output signal is provided from a first colored lighting element and a first varying light output signal is provided from a second the colored lighting element, with the first varying light output reflecting a decrease from a fully charged state of the battery cell assembly when the battery charge state is above a predefined intermediate charge state threshold; and
wherein when the battery charge state is below the predefined intermediate charge state threshold, a second varying light output signal is provided from the first of the colored lighting elements and a first steady light output signal is provided from the second of the colored lighting elements, with the second varying light output signal reflecting a decrease from a fully charged state of the battery cell assembly when the battery charge state is below the predefined intermediate charge, state threshold; and
wherein the varying light output signals are duty-cycle modulated signals, wherein the duty-cycle is proportionate with a current charge state of the battery pack.