Battery chargers
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a battery pack comprising battery cells and a first temperature sensor coupled to the battery cells, and a battery charger comprising a power source circuit arranged and constructed to supply charging current to the battery cells, a second temperature sensor coupled to the power source circuit and a processor arranged and constructed to (i) select charging current that will be supplied by the power source circuit to the battery cells based at least upon battery temperature from the first temperature sensor and power source circuit temperature from the second temperature sensor, and (ii) supply the selected charging current to the battery cells.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Battery pack (50) may include rechargeable batteries (55) and first temperature sensor TM1 for detecting the temperature of batteries (55). Battery charger (10) may include power source circuit (32) for supplying charging current to batteries (55) of battery pack (50). Battery charger (10) may also include second temperature sensor TM2 located in the vicinity of power source circuit (32). Battery charger (10) may further include a processor for controlling power source circuit (32). The processor may select charging current that will be supplied by power source circuit (32) to batteries (55) based at least upon battery temperature from first temperature sensor TM1 and power source circuit temperature from second temperature sensor TM2, and supply the selected charging current to batteries (55).
34 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a battery pack comprising battery cells and a first temperature sensor coupled to the battery cells, and a battery charger comprising a power source circuit arranged and constructed to supply charging current to the battery cells, a second temperature sensor coupled to the power source circuit and a processor arranged and constructed to (i) select charging current that will be supplied by the power source circuit to the battery cells based at least upon battery temperature from the first temperature sensor and power source circuit temperature from the second temperature sensor, and (ii) supply the selected charging current to the battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A battery charger adapted to supply current to a removable battery pack comprising battery cells, a first temperature sensor coupled to the battery cells and a charging terminal, comprising:
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a power source circuit, a second temperature sensor coupled to the power source circuit, a first terminal arranged and constructed to couple to the first temperature sensor, a second terminal coupled to the power source circuit and arranged and constructed to conduct charging current via the charging terminal to the battery cells, and a controller coupled to the first terminal, the second temperature sensor and the power source circuit, the controller being arranged and constructed to select the amount of charging current supplied to the second terminal based at least upon battery temperature signal received from the first terminal and power source circuit temperature signal received from the second temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification