Shelf Life Extension

Er, take the battery out when it isn't in use?

thank you but ... the battery is molded in the product

If you can't take the battery out or have a mechanical switch, then how about using a light sensor? Cover the sensor with opaque tape. When the customer opens the package they can then pull the tape off. Or perhaps the package can be designed so when the product is removed the tape is automatically pulled off. You would have to design the product so that it would ignore further input from the sensor though.

Thank you !

Very interesting idea I hope I will be able to find a miniature one.

Standard practice is an insulating strip which runs over one of the battery terminals and is accessible from outside the product, this is pulled out by the customer to activate the product.

Well heck, if you're going to be a smart kitty and employ the obvious answer...where's the fun in it for the rest of us?

Hang on, you mean that you do CR4 for FUN? Strewth!

Thank you !

But the battery is molded inside the product without external access

Is this a rigid case or flexible ? If flexible, could the battery be squeezed into place with your fingers? (think of popping peas) If rigid, Could you use a magnetic strip inside the package to hold a contact open?

Thank you!

It is ridgid, do you know of any comercial miniature magnetic unit?

I was thinking along the lines of plastic magnetic strip, the cheap stuff you buy on a roll, and a magnetic contact! Something on the lines of a door sensor!

the moment i had your previous answer , i was thinking about the same but ... that's very big .

I need similar element but max 2x2 mm - do you know of something comercial like it?

check out 'reed relay' some of these magnetic switches are pretty small.

A Reed switch would be better:

http://www.reed-sensor.com/Reed_Switches/Miniature_Reed_Switches.htm

Thank you!!

Have a thin plastic insulator between the ends of the battery that can be removed from the out side of the case. To be removed before use.

So what if the battery is molded into the case, a round headed spring contact probe (ball) on a insulated piece of material, pull the insulation from the device and the contact is made.

Alternative,

a reed switch (as been stated) and a magnet inside the packaging material, as the device is removed, the reed switch goes N.C. and the device works.

If the unit is already sealed, return to manufacturer as faulty equipment and get a full refund, as the battery state is unknown and could be already 90% discharged.

THANK YOU !

HOPE i WILL BE ABLE TO LOCATE A VERY SMALL REED RELAY

How about using a tilt switch? (the switch closes only when the device is held in a specific orientation relative to the Earth's gravity)

Thank you!

Do you know of any miniature comercial item?

I can think of at least three general types of tilt switches:

1) those in which (when oriented within a certain range of angles) a droplet of liquid mercury metal falls into the gap between two electrical contacts, closing the switch. Actually, you can now find this type of tilt switch without mercury.

2) those in which a small magnet falls into position near to a reed switch, closing the switch.

3) those in which a small weight presses down on a mechanical switch to close it.

These are simple commonplace devices -- hundreds of different vendors sell them. The mercury tilt switches are not as readily available as in past decades (due to concerns about mercury toxicity), but you can still find them. Mercury tilt switches (and the mercury-free substitutes) are probably the most mechanically reliable. But reed switches and weighted mechanical switches have no mercury, and are probably less expensive (?) too.

http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Tilt-Switch.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_switch

http://www.itcelectronics.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=tilt+switch&x=0&y=0

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5332876.html

Thank you very much for your help!

Or you could have a magnet in a conductive material, a ball bearing on the magnet and a wire ring around the ball, when the device is bumped. moved with enough force, the ball moves from the magnet rest position and contacts the ring completing the circuit.

This is used (I think) in hand held remote controls for power saving feature, also in cars for inertial /bump sensing for safety systems, Bosch were making a unit once with these installed ;o)

Hi snake !

your answers really bite ... that System is a bit bulky , the volume i have in my system is mini therefore i need a miniature solution, however it seems to be the most reliable answer.

Thank you!!

Hi svengali!

Sorry for the late reply

You brought very nice ideas

Thank you!

Use silver oxide batteries such as those for hearing aids. They need air to operate. If your package is air-sealed, than this could be the solution to your problem.