Method of updating the charging characteristics of a charging device and a battery

• US 20010035732A1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Sakakibara, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,433,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Connecting to a home page via the Internet, selecting the mode of use of the battery desired by the user, downloading the charging characteristics which match the selected mode of use, and reading the charging characteristics into a EEPROM of charging device 30. Because of this, the optimal charging characteristics can be matched with the desires of the user and read into the EEPROM of the charging device.

Claims

1. A method of updating the charging characteristics stored on a storage medium of a charging device and a battery via the Internet, comprising:

connecting the charging device and battery to a computer;

connecting to an information provider via the Internet, and selecting the mode of use of the battery that a user desires;

downloading via the Internet charging characteristics which match the selected mode of use, and writing the charging characteristics into the storage medium of the charging device and battery.

3. The method of updating the charging characteristics of the charging device and the battery according to

claim 1

, wherein said mode of use of said battery desired by said user is either preservation of battery life or shortening the time of charging.

2. A method of updating the charging characteristics stored on a storage medium of a charging device and a battery via the Internet, comprising:

connecting the charging device and battery to a computer;

connecting to an information provider via the Internet, and reading out an identifier of the charging device and battery connected to the computer;

selecting the mode of use of the battery desired by the user;

adapting to the specific charging device and battery by means of said identifier, downloading the charging characteristics which match the selected mode of use via the Internet, and writing the charging characteristics into the storage medium of the battery pack.

4. The method of updating the charging characteristics of the charging device and the battery according to

claim 2

, wherein said mode of use of said battery desired by said user is either preservation of battery life or shortening the time of charging.

5. A method of updating the charging characteristics stored on a storage medium of a charging device and a battery via a computer communication line, comprising:

writing the history of use into the storage medium of the charging device and battery;

connecting said charging device and battery to a computer;

reading out the identifier of the charging device and battery connected to the computer via a communication line;

reading out the history of use read into the storage medium of the charging device and battery via the communication line, adapting to the specific charging device and battery by means of the identifier, downloading the charging characteristics which match the history of use via the communication line, and writing the charging characteristics into the storage medium of the charging device and the battery.