Method and apparatus to charge a plurality of batteries
First Claim
1. A method of charging a plurality of batteries comprising:
- charging a first battery with a constant current until a voltage of said first battery becomes greater than a reference voltage;
charging a second battery with said constant current until a voltage of said second battery becomes greater than said reference voltage;
resuming charging of said first battery until one of a charging current is less than a reference current and the charging current is less than a limit current indicating a state of full charge; and
resuming charging of said second battery until one of said charging current is less than said reference current and a charging current is less than said limit current indicating said state of full charge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for charging a plurality of batteries. A plurality of batteries may be charged using charging voltage/current characteristics. Charging operations among the multiple batteries may be repeatedly performed. A first battery may be charged with a constant current until a voltage of the first battery becomes more than a reference voltage. Additionally, after charging of a second battery with the constant current is started, charging of a second battery may occur until a voltage of the second battery becomes more than a reference voltage. Charging of the first battery may be resumed if a charging current is not more than a reference current. Additionally, charging of the second battery may be resumed if the charging current is not more than the reference current. After charging of the first battery is resumed, and if the charging current is not more than a limit current indicating a state of full charging, then charging of the first battery is stopped. Additionally, after charging of the second battery is resumed, and if the charging current is not more than the limit current indicating the state of full charging, then charging of the second battery is stopped.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of charging a plurality of batteries comprising:
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charging a first battery with a constant current until a voltage of said first battery becomes greater than a reference voltage;
charging a second battery with said constant current until a voltage of said second battery becomes greater than said reference voltage;
resuming charging of said first battery until one of a charging current is less than a reference current and the charging current is less than a limit current indicating a state of full charge; and
resuming charging of said second battery until one of said charging current is less than said reference current and a charging current is less than said limit current indicating said state of full charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of charging a plurality of batteries comprising:
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alternatively charging each of a plurality of batteries until a charging voltage of each of said plurality of batteries becomes a reference voltage;
resume charging the first battery until a charging current of the first battery is less than a reference current; and
further resuming charging of the first battery until said charging current of the first battery is less than a limit current indicating a state of full charging. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of charging a plurality of batteries comprising:
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identifying a charging voltage/current characteristic of at least one of the plurality of batteries;
charging the first battery based on a first charging voltage/current characteristic of said first battery;
charging said second battery based on a first charging voltage/current characteristic of said second battery;
stopping charging of the first battery based on a second charging voltage/current characteristic of said first battery; and
complete charging of one of the first battery and the second battery based on the voltage/current characteristic of said one of the first battery and the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus to charge a plurality of batteries comprising:
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a first circuit to apply at least one of constant voltage and constant current to a first battery;
a second circuit to apply at least one of constant voltage and constant current to a second battery; and
a control circuit to control operations of the first circuit and the second circuit such that the first battery and the second battery are alternatively charged and such that the first battery is charged based on charging voltage/current characteristics of the first battery and the second battery is charged based on charging voltage/current characteristics of the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification