System and method for charging a battery

• US 20070182380A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: DiGiovanna, Robert, Cantillo, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/341,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery

Abstract

A system and method for recharging a rechargeable battery. A battery charger includes a measuring element to measure a temperature of the rechargeable battery, the battery charger disables a charge to the rechargeable batter when the temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the measuring element re-measures the temperature of the battery after a predetermined time period from the disabling of the charge and the battery charger enables the charge when the re-measured temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, wherein the second predetermined threshold is based on the first predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

measuring a temperature of a battery to be recharged;

disabling a battery charger when the temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold;

enabling the battery charger after a predetermined time period;

re-measuring the temperature of the battery; and

recharging the battery when the re-measured temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, where the second predetermined threshold is based on the first predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is one of an individual cell and a multi-cell battery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a level of charge current being supplied to the battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined threshold temperature is 45°

C.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 120 seconds.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined threshold temperature is less than the first predetermined threshold temperature.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting a charge rate based on the level of charge current being supplied to the battery.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a charge to the battery is active; and

disabling a charger when the signal is not active.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the battery charger while charging the battery.

10. A system, comprising:

a rechargeable battery; and

a battery charger including a measuring element to measure a temperature of the rechargeable battery, the battery charger disabling a charge to the rechargeable batter when the temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the measuring element re-measuring the temperature of the battery after a predetermined time period from the disabling of the charge and the battery charger enabling the charge when the re-measured temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, wherein the second predetermined threshold is based on the first predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the battery charger detects a level of charge current being supplied to the rechargeable battery.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable battery and the battery charger are included in a mobile computing device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable battery is one of an individual cell and a multi-cell battery.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first predetermined threshold temperature is set from 40°

C.-50°

C.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined time period is one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 120 seconds.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second predetermined threshold temperature is less than the first predetermined threshold temperature.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the measuring element is initialized to measure the temperature of the rechargeable battery upon the battery charger detecting a triggering event.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the triggering event is placement of a device including the battery charger and the rechargeable battery into a charging cradle.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a monitoring element to monitor the battery charger while charging the battery.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the monitoring element is comprised of a temperature gauge, a timer, and a voltage gauge.

21. A system, comprising:

a measuring means for measuring a temperature of a rechargeable battery;

a disabling means for disabling a charge to the rechargeable batter when the temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold, wherein the measuring means re-measures the temperature of the battery after a predetermined time period from the disabling of the charge; and

an enabling means for enabling the charge when the re-measured temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, wherein the second predetermined threshold is based on the first predetermined threshold.