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New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

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Andrew Smallshaw

Jan 1, 1970
0
From a brief read, this doesn't look like proprietary ends. It seems to
just depend on the standard geometry of normal cylindrical batteries.

Good point. On re-reading the article I see you're right.
 
J

Jon Kirwan

Jan 1, 1970
0
isn't this a solution to a non-problem. How many people see the
embossed image and still get it wrong?

My wife. Despite knowing well and trying hard, still gets it
wrong at times. Not every device has symbology that is
entirely legible, either. A few have given me a struggle
just to find them.
The cost of the royalty could be as much as a lossless rectification,
if one really cared about such a feature.

From the OP's post: "The InstaLoad technology will be
licensed on a royalty-free basis, Microsoft said."

Jon
 
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Jon Kirwan

Jan 1, 1970
0
People who don't understand how to read the clearly imprinted battery
insertion diagrams on electronic devices shouldn't be using electronic
devices!

Despite knowing well and trying hard, my wife still gets it
wrong at times. As one gets older, eyesight changes.

Besides, not every device has symbology that is entirely
legible, either. A few have given me a struggle just to find
them. Some are quite easy to read. But not all by any
means.

Not that I'm arguing for or against, here. I just don't find
the above a particularly good argument against it.
Like putting an automatic choke and electric start on a chainsaw.
Watch how many people cut their limbs off.

I lost a limb (finger tip) using a device I'd been using
safely for more than 12 years of routine and regular use and
knew extremely well.

I'm not supporting automoatic chokes and electric starts on
chainsaws, either. But your argument here is non sequitur.

Jon
 
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Joe Pfeiffer

Jan 1, 1970
0
bigbrownbeastie said:
isn't this a solution to a non-problem. How many people see the
embossed image and still get it wrong?

I've hit the age (53) where my near-vision is going. Seeing that
embossed image (especially when its only embossed and there's no
black-on-white or white-on-black outline) is getting more and more
difficult. So yes, there are a bunch of us to whom that embossed image
is becoming less and less of a useful guide...

While I think this idea is pretty cool, it isn't clear to me
that, in practical terms, it's actually better than the various holder
designs that make it hard to put the batter in backwards or that won't
make contact if you do.
 
R

Rod Speed

Jan 1, 1970
0
Oldus said:
How the **** are you Rod, long time no speak.

Pretty good, apart from it being winter, my least favorite season.
 
M

Meindert Sprang

Jan 1, 1970
0
message
isn't this a solution to a non-problem. How many people see the
embossed image and still get it wrong?

Well, if I have to replace the four batteries in my digital camera in a dim
environment, I really need my reading glasses to see where the + and -
markings are. Being able to just "throw" the batteries in the hole would be
a great thing.

Meindert
 
M

Meindert Sprang

Jan 1, 1970
0
son of a bitch said:
Most Equip, works well below the Battery Volts.
Depending on the Power Req. can be .2 to .6 voltage drop X 2

Ehhhmm... a total drop of 1.2 - 1.4V on *each* battery voltage of 1.5V seems
quite a show stopper to me....

Meindert
 
T

tim....

Jan 1, 1970
0
Meindert Sprang said:
message


Well, if I have to replace the four batteries in my digital camera in a
dim
environment, I really need my reading glasses to see where the + and -
markings are. Being able to just "throw" the batteries in the hole would
be
a great thing.

If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember how the
ones you have just taken out were positioned?

tim
 
M

Meindert Sprang

Jan 1, 1970
0
tim.... said:
If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember how the
ones you have just taken out were positioned?

Not if they're inserted vertically. I'd have to feel which ones have the +
on top without glasses....

Meindert
 
T

terryc

Jan 1, 1970
0
Well, if I have to replace the four batteries in my digital camera in a
dim environment, I really need my reading glasses to see where the + and
- markings are. Being able to just "throw" the batteries in the hole
would be a great thing.

Could you work it out from the flats/bumps on the flap?
 
T

terryc

Jan 1, 1970
0
If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember how
the ones you have just taken out were positioned?

For my canon EOS, four batteries in pairs and the second one falls over
when you take the first out. Then it is a case of reading the +/- signs.
 
J

Joe Pfeiffer

Jan 1, 1970
0
tim.... said:
If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember how the
ones you have just taken out were positioned?

One would think. But in my experience... no.
 
R

Rod Speed

Jan 1, 1970
0
Meindert said:
Ehhhmm... a total drop of 1.2 - 1.4V on *each* battery voltage of 1.5V seems quite a show stopper to me....

Doesnt have to be anything like that much of a drop.
 
A

atec77

Jan 1, 1970
0
Doesnt have to be anything like that much of a drop.
So you are going to wave that magic "wand "of yours woddles changing the
laws of physics ?
name the device you are thinking of by number to prove your claim thanks
 
C

Clifford Heath

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joe said:
One would think. But in my experience... no.

Right. And when you're bouncing along a bush track in the back
of a 4x4, trying to navigate on paper maps using the light of
a head-torch during a hidden-transmitter hunt, and you need to
change 3 AAA batteries in the round cartridge, you have to get
all three right and do it *now*... while juggling the torch,
the maps, the cartridge, the old batteries, the new batteries...
well, you can see why it's easier just to take a spare head-torch ;-)

But this tech would often be a help, and personally I'd pay a
little extra for it!
 
J

Joe Pfeiffer

Jan 1, 1970
0
Clifford Heath said:
Right. And when you're bouncing along a bush track in the back
of a 4x4, trying to navigate on paper maps using the light of
a head-torch during a hidden-transmitter hunt, and you need to
change 3 AAA batteries in the round cartridge, you have to get
all three right and do it *now*... while juggling the torch,
the maps, the cartridge, the old batteries, the new batteries...
well, you can see why it's easier just to take a spare head-torch ;-)

But this tech would often be a help, and personally I'd pay a
little extra for it!

Geez, I was just at the level of "which way was that again? Aw, crap,
dig for the reading glasses...." :)
 
A

Andrew Smallshaw

Jan 1, 1970
0

I was thinking along similar lines albeit BJTs rather than MOSFETs
- it is not for nothing than MOSFETs are often drawn with a parasitic
reverse biased diode.

I've actually done this kind of thing using BJTs in the past although
the intent there was to reduce heat dissipation rather than voltage
drop although that pretty much means the same thing at the end of
the day. The drop is reduced to two collector-emitter losses.

You do need to watch the voltage though since my experience is that
BJTs can breakdown far faster than you might expect when reverse
biased. However that is unlikely to be a problem for battery
powered equipment particularly when you are having one circuit per
cell as here.

Actually, thinking about that I'll have to go through it and see
if the system I used would actually work in that arrangement. It's
just possible the other cells could interfere with the biasing and
I don't have a schematic in front of me to consider that possibility.
 
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