Method and apparatus for charging batteries

• US 20030062872A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniele C. Brotto
• Original Assignee: Daniele C. Brotto
• Inventors: Brotto, Daniele C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,747,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for charging a rechargeable battery pack includes identifying battery capacity, determining sampling interval length according to the battery capacity, and implementing the determined sampling interval length. Also disclosed herein is a method for charging batteries comprising identifying battery capacity, determining current-on period length in duty cycle according to the battery capacity, and implementing the determined current-on period length. Further, disclosed herein is a battery charging apparatus comprising a charger for charging first and second batteries, where the first battery comprises a microprocessor. The charger further comprises at least one terminal for receiving a battery identification signal, so that the charger can distinguish between the first and second batteries. Also disclosed herein is a battery/charger combination comprising a battery comprising first, second and third terminals, at least one cell disposed between the first and second terminals and a microprocessor disposed within the battery between the first and third terminals, a charger connected to the battery via the first, second and third terminals, wherein the microprocessor controls charging of the battery by sending instructions to the charger.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

first, second, third and fourth terminals;

at least one cell disposed between the first and second terminals;

a temperature sensing device disposed between the first and third terminals, for providing a signal corresponding to temperature of the at least one cell; and

a battery identification device disposed between the first and fourth terminals for identifying the battery pack.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device is a thermistor.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device is a capacitor.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery identification device is a resistor.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a processor disposed between at least two of the terminals, for providing charging instructions to a battery charger.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the processor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

7. A system comprising:

a charger; and

a battery pack removably attached to the charger, the battery pack comprising;

first, second, third and fourth terminals for connection to the charger;

at least one cell disposed between the first and second terminals;

a temperature sensing device disposed between the first and third terminals, for providing a signal corresponding to temperature of the at least one cell, and

a battery identification device disposed between the first and fourth terminals for identifying the battery pack.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensing device is a thermistor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensing device is a capacitor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the battery identification device is a resistor.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a processor disposed between at least two of the terminals, for providing charging instructions to the charger.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the charger selects a charging process dependent upon the battery identification device.

14. A method for charging batteries having different battery types, comprising the steps of:

identifying type of a first battery;

selecting a first charging process according to identification of the battery type, and effecting the first charging process.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifying step comprises obtaining a signal representative of a battery identification device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying step further comprises interpreting the signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal interpretation step comprises accessing a table.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal interpretation step comprises manipulating value of the signal.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifying step comprises measuring voltage drop across a battery identification device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifying step further comprises accessing a table.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifying step further comprises manipulating value of the voltage drop

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying type of a second battery;

selecting a second charging process according to identification of the battery type; and

effecting the second charging process.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second charging process comprises receiving charging instructions from the second battery.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second charging process comprises receiving initial charging instructions from the second battery.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a charger for receiving the batteries of different types, and inserting the first battery in the charger.

26. A system comprising:

a charger; and

a first battery pack removably attached to the charger, the first battery pack comprising at least two terminals and a first battery identification device disposed between said two terminals;

a second battery pack removably attached to the charger, the second battery pack comprising at least two terminals, a second battery identification device disposed between said at least two terminals, and a processor disposed between said at least two terminals for sending charging instructions to the charger.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first battery identification device is a first resistor having a first value.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second battery identification device is a second resistor having a second value.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first battery pack does not have a processor.

30. A method for charging normal and smart batteries, comprising the steps of:

providing a charger, a normal battery removably attached to the charger, the normal battery comprising at least two terminals and a first battery identification device disposed between said two terminals, and a smart battery removably attached to the charger, the smart battery comprising at least two terminals, a second battery identification device disposed between said at least two terminals, and a processor disposed between said at least two terminals for sending charging instructions to the charger;

inserting one of the normal and smart batteries into the charger;

distinguishing inserted battery according to battery identification device of the inserted battery.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the distinguishing step comprises obtaining a signal representative of a battery identification device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the distinguishing step further comprises interpreting the signal.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the signal interpretation step comprises accessing a table.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the signal interpretation step comprises manipulating value of the signal.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the distinguishing step comprises measuring voltage drop across the battery identification device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the distinguishing step further comprises accessing a table.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the distinguishing step further comprises manipulating value of the voltage drop.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the first battery identification device is a first resistor having a first value.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second battery identification device is a second resistor having a second value.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the normal battery does not have a processor.

41. A system comprising:

a charger; and

a battery pack comprising a processor for providing charging instructions to the charger, said battery pack being removably attached to the charger.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the battery pack comprises:

first, second, third and fourth terminals for connection to the charger;

at least one cell disposed between the first and second terminals;

a temperature sensing device disposed between the first and third terminals, for providing a signal corresponding to temperature of the at least one cell; and

a battery identification device disposed between the first and fourth terminals for identifying the battery pack.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing device is a thermistor.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing device is a capacitor.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the battery identification device is a resistor.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is disposed between at least two of the terminals.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

48. A battery pack comprising a processor for providing charging instructions to a charger.

49. The battery pack of claim 48, further comprising:

first, second, third and fourth terminals;

at least one cell disposed between the first and second terminals;

a temperature sensing device disposed between the first and third terminals, for providing a signal corresponding to temperature of the at least one cell; and

a battery identification device disposed between the first and fourth terminals for identifying the battery pack.

50. The battery pack of claim 49, wherein the temperature sensing device is a thermistor.

51. The battery pack of claim 49, wherein the temperature sensing device is a capacitor.

52. The battery pack of claim 49, wherein the battery identification device is a resistor.

53. The battery pack of claim 49, wherein the processor is disposed between at least two of the terminals.

54. The battery pack of claim 49, wherein the processor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

55. A method comprising:

providing a battery and a charger for charging the battery;

identifying battery capacity of the battery;

calculating C-rate; and

determining sampling interval length according to the C-rate.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the C-rate is calculated by dividing current output of the charger by the battery capacity.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the sampling interval length is determined by dividing a predetermined sampling interval length by the C-rate.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the predetermined sampling interval length is between about 30 and 60 seconds.

59. The method of claim 55, further comprising terminating battery charging after a predetermined number of sampling intervals has occurred.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the predetermined number is between 30 and 140.

61. A method comprising:

providing a battery comprising a battery identification device having a value, and a charger for charging the battery; and

selecting sampling interval length according to the value of the battery identification device.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the sampling interval length is selected by inputting the value into an equation.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the sampling interval length is selected by using the value to access a table.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising terminating battery charging after a predetermined number of sampling intervals has occurred.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the predetermined number is between 30 and 140.

66. A method comprising:

providing a battery and a charger for charging the battery;

identifying battery capacity of the battery;

calculating C-rate; and

determining current-on period length according to the C-rate.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the C-rate is calculated by dividing current output of the charger by the battery capacity.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the current-on period length is determined by multiplying a predetermined length by the C-rate.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the predetermined length is between about 30 and 60 seconds.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising terminating battery charging after a predetermined number of current-on periods has occurred.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the predetermined number is between 30 and 140.

72. A method comprising:

providing a battery comprising a battery identification device having a value, and a charger for charging the battery; and

selecting current-on period length according to the value of the battery identification device.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the current-on period length is selected by inputting the value into an equation.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the current-on period length is selected by using the value to access a table.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising terminating battery charging after a predetermined number of current-on periods has occurred.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the predetermined number is between 30 and 140.