Life cycle extending batteries and battery charging means, methods and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A battery charging method including the steps of:
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i. ascertaining or determining the characteristic full charge voltage of the battery while being charged, ii. charging said battery, iii. monitoring and recording the terminal voltage of said battery, iv. repeating steps ii. and iii. and effectively stop charging of said battery when a pre-determined maximum charging voltage has been reached, wherein said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being lower than said characteristic full charge voltage of said battery by a pre-determined charging voltage margin and said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being reached before said characteristic full charge voltage is reached.
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Abstract
A battery charging method including the steps of:—
i. ascertaining or determining the characteristic full charge voltage of the battery while being charged,
ii. charging the battery,
iii. monitoring and recording the terminal voltage of the battery,
iv. repeating steps ii. and iii. and effectively stop charging of the battery when a pre-determined maximum charging voltage has been reached,
wherein the pre-determined maximum charging voltage being lower than the characteristic full charge voltage of the battery by a pre-determined charging voltage margin and the pre-determined maximum charging voltage being reached before the characteristic full charge voltage is reached.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A battery charging method including the steps of:
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i. ascertaining or determining the characteristic full charge voltage of the battery while being charged, ii. charging said battery, iii. monitoring and recording the terminal voltage of said battery, iv. repeating steps ii. and iii. and effectively stop charging of said battery when a pre-determined maximum charging voltage has been reached, wherein said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being lower than said characteristic full charge voltage of said battery by a pre-determined charging voltage margin and said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being reached before said characteristic full charge voltage is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A battery charger including:
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i. means for ascertaining the characteristic full charge voltage of said battery and setting a pre-determined maximum charging voltage based on said characteristic full charge voltage and a pre-determined charging voltage margin, ii. charging means for charging said battery, iii. data acquisition means for reading and recording the terminal voltage of said battery, iv. comparison means to compare said on-charge voltage with said pre-determined maximum charging voltage, v. control means to effectively stop charging of said battery when said pre-determined maximum charging voltage value has reached, wherein said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being lower than said characteristic full charge voltage value of said battery and said pre-determined maximum charging voltage being reached before said characteristic full charge voltage is reached. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23)
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19. A battery charger including:
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means for determining the characteristic full charge voltage of a battery, said characteristic full charge voltage being used as a reference to determine a maximum charging voltage of said battery, control means to effectively end charging at or before said maximum charging voltage according to parameters measured during a characterisation charging cycle of said battery before said characteristic full charge voltage is reached. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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24. A battery including:
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i. means for ascertaining the characteristic full charge voltage of said battery and setting a pre-determined maximum charging voltage based on said characteristic full charge voltage and a pre-determined charging voltage margin, ii. charging means for charging said battery, iii. data acquisition means for reading and recording the terminal voltage of said battery, iv. comparison means to compare said terminal voltage with said pre-determined maximum charging voltage, V. control means to effectively stop charging of said battery when said pre-determined maximum charging voltage value has reached, wherein said pre-determined voltage value being lower than said characteristic full charge voltage value of said battery and said pre-determined voltage valued being reached before said characteristic full charge voltage is reached. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification