Method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable cell
First Claim
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1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment, comprising:
- providing a charging circuit including a dc-to-dc converter, the charging circuit being configured for electrical interconnection with two battery packs, at least one of which is a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment; and
connecting the battery packs to the charging circuit such that the charging circuit charges the rechargeable battery pack by scavenging charge from the other battery pack.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable cell or cells for portable electronic equipment (such as a rechargeable battery pack for a notebook computer) employing a DC-to-DC converter circuit to transfer energy from one or more source cells to one or more target cells. In one embodiment, a scavenging charger circuit is configurable to accommodate a variety of different types of rechargeable cells or battery packs depending upon factors such as the types, numbers and arrangements of rechargeable cells involved.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment, comprising:
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providing a charging circuit including a dc-to-dc converter, the charging circuit being configured for electrical interconnection with two battery packs, at least one of which is a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment; and
connecting the battery packs to the charging circuit such that the charging circuit charges the rechargeable battery pack by scavenging charge from the other battery pack.
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2. A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment, comprising:
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providing a boost-buck converter circuit configured for electrical interconnection with two battery packs, at least one of which is a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment; and
connecting the battery packs to the boost-buck converter circuit such that the boost-buck converter circuit charges the rechargeable battery pack by scavenging charge from the other battery pack.
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3. A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer, comprising:
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providing a charging circuit including a dc-to-dc converter, the charging circuit being configured for electrical interconnection between at least two partially charged battery packs, at least one of which is a rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer; and
connecting the partially charged battery packs to the charging circuit such that the charging circuit charges the rechargeable battery pack by scavenging charge from the other partially charged battery pack.
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4. A method of charging a rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer, comprising:
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providing a boost-buck converter circuit configured for electrical interconnection with two battery packs, at least one of which is a rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer; and
connecting the battery packs to the boost-buck converter circuit such that the boost-buck converter circuit charges the rechargeable battery pack by scavenging charge from the other battery pack.
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5. A method of designing a scavenging charger circuit, comprising:
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selecting a regulator for a scavenging charger circuit depending upon voltage ranges of a source battery pack and of a rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment;
selecting components for the scavenging charger circuit such that an approximate range of charge transfer efficiency from the source battery pack to the rechargeable battery pack is provided by the scavenging charger circuit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A circuit for charging one or more rechargeable cells for portable electronic equipment, comprising:
a regulator and a plurality of components selected as a function of expected possible combinations of rechargeable cells that are to be charged and source cells that are to have energy scavenged from them by the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification