Methods and systems for recharging a battery
First Claim
1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery having multiple voltage plateaus wherein the battery has a voltage, VBatt, that is less than its highest voltage plateau comprising:
- a1) Charging the battery with a charging current, I1, wherein the charging current, I1, is applied until the battery is charged to a first voltage, V1;
b1) Controlling the charging current, I1, when the voltage of the battery is V1, so that the voltage of the battery is maintained at V1 with a deviation of no more than about ±
20% of V1; and
c1) Monitoring for each of the following occurrences and arresting the charging current, I1, at the first of the following occurrences1) the battery has been charged with charging current, I1, for a period of 9 hrs±
3 hrs;
2) the battery has been charged with a target capacity CT by the charging current, I1;
or3) the charging current, I1, has an amperage of about 15% or less of its highest amperage, Imax, after the battery is charged with I1 for a period, T1, of from about 60 min to about 240 min,wherein V1 is less than the voltage of a natural polarization peak, VPP;
wherein VPP is associated with a voltage plateau, VP, wherein VP is greater than VBatt, and V1 is greater than VP;
wherein CT is calculated according to equation (7) and inequality (8)
CT=m×
t0+Cmin and
(7)
CT≤
CR
(8)wherein t0 is the time required to charge the battery from a voltage of VBatt to V1, m is from about 0.01 mAh/min to about 10 mAh/min, Cmin is from about 5 mAh to about 200 mAh, and CR is the rated capacity of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery having multiple voltage plateaus wherein the battery has a voltage, VBatt, that is less than its highest voltage plateau comprising:
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a1) Charging the battery with a charging current, I1, wherein the charging current, I1, is applied until the battery is charged to a first voltage, V1; b1) Controlling the charging current, I1, when the voltage of the battery is V1, so that the voltage of the battery is maintained at V1 with a deviation of no more than about ±
20% of V1; andc1) Monitoring for each of the following occurrences and arresting the charging current, I1, at the first of the following occurrences 1) the battery has been charged with charging current, I1, for a period of 9 hrs±
3 hrs;2) the battery has been charged with a target capacity CT by the charging current, I1;
or3) the charging current, I1, has an amperage of about 15% or less of its highest amperage, Imax, after the battery is charged with I1 for a period, T1, of from about 60 min to about 240 min, wherein V1 is less than the voltage of a natural polarization peak, VPP; wherein VPP is associated with a voltage plateau, VP, wherein VP is greater than VBatt, and V1 is greater than VP; wherein CT is calculated according to equation (7) and inequality (8)
CT=m×
t0+Cmin and
(7)
CT≤
CR
(8)wherein t0 is the time required to charge the battery from a voltage of VBatt to V1, m is from about 0.01 mAh/min to about 10 mAh/min, Cmin is from about 5 mAh to about 200 mAh, and CR is the rated capacity of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification