Charging method for rechargeable batteries and device therefor

• US 20050134231A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Cho, Kyu-Woong
• Granted Patent: US 7,504,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process

Abstract

A charging method and device for a rechargeable battery to make more stable and faster full charging possible. One embodiment of a charging method for the rechargeable battery includes charging the battery by applying a constant current, and then charging the battery by applying a constant current pulse having uniform pulse width. The charging method further comprises charging the battery by applying or interrupting the constant current and then applying the dynamic constant current pulse based on a voltage across terminals of the battery.

Claims

1. A charging method for a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a) firstly charging the battery by applying a constant current;

b) secondly charging the battery by applying or interrupting a constant current based on a predetermined pulse width and period of time; and

c) thirdly charging the battery by applying or interrupting a constant current based on a voltage across terminals of the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thirdly charging comprises:

interrupting the constant current when the voltage across the terminals of the battery is at or above a first voltage; and

applying the constant current when the voltage across the terminals of the battery is at or below a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thirdly charging comprises a plurality of cycles, each cycle constituting an applying period and an interrupting period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondly charging comprises a plurality of cycles, each cycle constituting an applying period and an interrupting period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the applying period is longer than the interrupting period.

6. A charging method of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a) firstly charging the battery by applying a constant current;

b) secondly charging the battery by applying or interrupting the constant current based on a voltage across terminals of the battery; and

c) thirdly charging the battery by applying or interrupting the constant current based on a predetermined pulse width and period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondly charging includes:

interrupting the constant current when the voltage across the terminals of the battery is at or above a first voltage; and

applying the constant current when the voltage across the terminals of the battery is at or below a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondly charging comprises a plurality of cycles, each cycle including an applying period and an interrupting period.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the thirdly charging comprises a plurality of cycles, each cycle including an applying period and an interrupting period.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying period is longer than the interrupting period.

11. A device for charging a rechargeable battery by applying a constant current, comprising:

a voltage detector for detecting a voltage across terminals of the battery;

a switching device for controlling application or interruption of a constant current to the battery; and

a charging controller coupled to the switching device and the voltage detector for controlling the switching device based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the charging controller controls the switching device to be turned off when the voltage detected by the voltage detector is at or above a first voltage, and controls the switching device to be turned on when the voltage detected by the voltage detector is at or below a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the charging device further comprises a full charging detector for detecting a full charging signal,

wherein the charging controller controls the switching device to charge the battery until a full charging signal detected by the full charging detector is received.