Multi-Battery Charger

• US 20080067975A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hung H.I. Law
• Original Assignee: Hung H.I. Law
• Inventors: Law, Hung Hi
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/110
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A multi-battery charger for at least one rechargeable battery includes a charger case, and a multi-battery charging module. The charger case includes a plurality of electrically neutral charging terminals spacedly provided thereon, and an electric input terminal adapted for electrically connecting with an external DC power source. The multi-battery charging module is provided in the charger case to electrically communicate with the charging terminals, and includes a recharging circuitry and a polarity detection circuitry. The polarity detection circuitry is electrically connected with the recharging circuitry to accurately detect a positive polarity and a negative polarity of the first and the second battery terminal when the first and the second battery terminals are electrically connected with two of the charging terminals, in such a manner that when a correct polarity of the first and the second battery terminals is determined, the recharging circuitry is activated to properly recharge the rechargeable battery.

Claims

1. A multi-battery charger for at least one rechargeable battery having a first and a second battery terminal, comprising:

a charger case comprising at least three electrically neutral charging terminals as spacedly provided thereon as multi-contact terminals of said charger case, and an electric input terminal adapted for electrically connecting with an external DC power source; and

a multi-battery charging module, which is provided in said charger case to electrically communicate with said charging terminals, and comprises;

a recharging circuitry having a positive recharge terminal and a negative recharge terminal adapted for electrically connecting with said battery terminals in correct polarity through said charging terminals for properly recharging said rechargeable battery; and

a polarity detection circuitry electrically connected with said recharging circuitry to accurately detect a positive polarity and a negative polarity of said first and Is said second battery terminal when said first and said second battery terminals are electrically connected with at least two of said charging terminals, in such a manner that when a correct polarity of said first and said second battery terminals is determined, said recharging circuitry is activated to properly recharge said rechargeable battery.

2. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 1, wherein said recharging circuitry is adapted for electrically connecting to said first battery terminal and said second battery terminal for recharging said rechargeable battery, in such a manner that when said battery is properly recharged, a potential difference between said positive recharge terminal and said negative recharge terminal follows a predetermined reference voltage pattern, wherein said polarity detection circuitry comprises a central processing module electrically communicated with said recharging circuitry to control and monitor an operation thereof;

and a terminal rerouting circuitry electrically communicating between said recharging circuitry and said central processing module, in such a manner that when said first and said second battery terminals are electrically connected with said charging terminals, said terminal rerouting circuitry electrically connects one of said charging terminals to said negative recharge terminal of said recharging circuitry, and another of said charging terminals to said positive recharge terminal of said recharging circuitry for attempting recharging of said battery by said recharging circuitry and producing a recharging voltage pattern between said positive and said negative recharging terminal, wherein when said recharging voltage pattern substantially departs from said predetermined reference voltage pattern, said terminal rerouting circuitry is electrically controlled by said central processing module to electrically reconnect said charging terminals with said negative and said positive recharge terminals of said recharging circuitry, until said predetermined reference voltage patterns occurs in said recharging circuitry so as to ensure that said battery is properly recharged in correct polarity.

3. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 2, wherein said terminal rerouting circuitry comprises a negative connection circuitry electrically connected with said charging terminals and said central processing module, and a positive connection circuitry electrically connected with said charging terminals and said central processing module, wherein said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry is electrically connected to said negative connection circuitry, while said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry is electrically connected with said positive connection circuitry in such a manner that said positive connection circuitry and said negative connection circuitry facilitate electrical reconnection of said charging terminals with said recharging circuitry when said recharging voltage pattern substantially departs from said reference voltage pattern.

4. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 3, wherein said multi-battery charging module further comprises a current monitoring circuitry electrically connected with said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry and said central processing unit for detecting a charging current of said rechargeable battery when said rechargeable battery is recharged by said recharging circuitry, wherein said charging current is utilized to assess said charging voltage pattern of said rechargeable battery.

5. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 4, wherein said central processing module is programmed to monitor a change of a battery voltage of said rechargeable battery, wherein said change of said battery voltage is combined with said charging current to form said recharging voltage pattern which is utilized to compare with said reference voltage pattern for confirming proper recharge of said rechargeable battery.

6. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 4, wherein said multi-battery charging module further comprises a charging terminal circuitry electrically connecting said charging terminals of said charger case with said central processing module for transmitting electrical signal to said rechargeable battery for recharging thereof, and an activation control circuitry electrically connected to said central processing module for detecting presence of said rechargeable battery, and activating said central processing module to recharge said rechargeable battery when said rechargeable battery is electrically connecting with said charging terminals for recharging said rechargeable battery.

7. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 5, wherein said multi-battery charging module further comprises a charging terminal circuitry electrically connecting said charging terminals of said charger case with said central processing module for transmitting electrical signal to said rechargeable battery for recharging thereof, and an activation control circuitry electrically connected to said central processing module for detecting presence of said rechargeable battery, and activating said central processing module to recharge said rechargeable battery when said rechargeable battery is electrically connecting with said charging terminals for recharging said rechargeable battery.

8. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 1, wherein said charger case further has a receiving cavity indently formed therein, a top opening communicating said receiving cavity with an exterior of said charger case, and a plurality of adjustable battery compartments formed on said receiving cavity of said charger case to fittedly receive said rechargeable battery, wherein said charging terminals are spacedly provided on said battery compartments to electrically connect with said polarity detection circuitry.

9. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 6, wherein said charger case further has a receiving cavity indently formed therein, a top opening communicating said receiving cavity with an exterior of said charger case, and a plurality of adjustable battery compartments formed on said receiving cavity of said charger case to fittedly receive said rechargeable battery, wherein said charging terminals are spacedly provided on said battery compartments to electrically connect with said polarity detection circuitry

10. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 7, wherein said charger case further has a receiving cavity indently formed therein, a top opening communicating said receiving cavity with an exterior of said charger case, and a plurality of adjustable battery compartments formed on said receiving cavity of said charger case to fittedly receive said rechargeable battery, wherein said charging terminals are spacedly provided on said battery compartments to electrically connect with said polarity detection circuitry.

11. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 8, wherein said charger case further has a plurality of sliding tracks formed along two longitudinal inner side surfaces of said receiving cavity, and comprises an adjustment slider slidably coupled with said sliding tracks in said receiving cavity to divide said receiving cavity into a plurality of said adjustable battery compartments for receiving at least one rechargeable battery therein.

12. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 10, wherein said charger case further has a plurality of sliding tracks formed along two longitudinal inner side surfaces of said receiving cavity, and comprises an adjustment slider slidably coupled with said sliding tracks in said receiving cavity to divide said receiving cavity into a plurality of said adjustable battery compartments for receiving at least one rechargeable battery therein.

13. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 11, wherein said adjustment slider has a plurality of L-shaped retention shoulders formed on two top corner portions thereof respectively for facilitating fit accommodation of said rechargeable battery into said corresponding battery compartment.

14. The multi-battery charger, as recited in claim 12, wherein said adjustment slider has a plurality of L-shaped retention shoulders formed on two top corner portions thereof respectively for facilitating fit accommodation of said rechargeable battery into said corresponding battery compartment.

17. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g.1) electrically disconnecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry from said second charging terminal;

(g.2) electrically connecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry with one of said remaining charging terminals which has not been electrically connected for said tester charging process;

(g.3) re-starting said tester charging process by said central processing module for acquiring a corresponding said recharging voltage pattern;

(g.4) re-starting said substantive recharge process when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern so as to fully recharge said rechargeable battery by said recharging circuitry; and

(g.5) restarting said step (g.1) to said step (g.4) when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern departs substantially from said reference voltage pattern, until said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern, wherein when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern, re-performing said step (f).

19. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein said step (g) further comprises the step of:

(g.6) when said recharging voltage pattern does not match said reference voltage pattern for all of said charging terminals, electrically disconnecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry from said charging terminal which is regarded as said reference charging terminal, and electrically disconnecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry from said charging terminal which is regarded as said tester charging terminal; and

(g.7) electrically connecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry to one of said charging terminals except said first charging terminal as a new said reference charging terminal, and electrically connecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry to one of said charging terminals except said second charging terminal as said new tester charging terminal, and re-performing said step (d) through said step (g) until said recharging voltage pattern resembles said reference voltage pattern.

15. A method of charging a rechargeable battery by a multi-battery charger comprising a plurality of charging terminals, a recharging circuitry, and a central processing module, wherein the rechargeable battery has a first and a second battery terminal but unknown polarity, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) electrically connecting one of said charging terminals and another of said charging terminals with said first battery terminal and said second battery terminal respectively, wherein said charging terminal electrically which connects to said first battery terminal is defined as a reference charging terminal, and said charging terminal which electrically connects to said another of said charging terminals is defined as a tester charging terminal;

(b) electrically connecting said reference charging terminal with a negative terminal of said recharging circuitry;

(c) electrically connecting said tester charging terminal with a positive terminal for said recharging circuitry;

(d) starting a tester charging process by said central processing module for acquiring a recharging voltage pattern;

(e) comparing said recharging voltage pattern with a reference voltage pattern; and

(f) starting a substantive recharge process when said recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern so as to fully recharge said rechargeable battery by said recharging circuitry; and

(g) electrically re-connecting said charging terminals with said recharging circuitry when said recharging voltage pattern departs substantially from said reference voltage pattern.

16. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein said step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d.1) monitoring a charging current of said rechargeable battery by a current monitoring circuitry of said multi-battery charger; and

(d.2) monitoring a change of battery voltage of said rechargeable battery by said central processing circuitry, wherein said recharging voltage pattern is obtained by observing said change of said charging current with respect to said battery voltage, in such a manner that when said rechargeable battery is properly recharged in correct polarity, a gradual increase in said battery voltage with gradual decrease in said charging current is observed as said reference voltage pattern.

18. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein said step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g.1) electrically disconnecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry from said second charging terminal;

(g.2) electrically connecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry with one of said remaining charging terminals which has not been electrically connected for said tester charging process;

(g.3) re-starting said tester charging process by said central processing module for acquiring a corresponding said recharging voltage pattern;

(g.4) re-starting said substantive recharge process when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern so as to fully recharge said rechargeable battery by said recharging circuitry; and

(g.5) restarting said step (g.1) to said step (g.4) when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern departs substantially from said reference voltage pattern, until said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern, wherein when said corresponding recharging voltage pattern substantially resembles said reference voltage pattern, re-performing said step (f).

20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said step (g) further comprises the step of:

(g.6) when said recharging voltage pattern does not match said reference voltage pattern for all of said charging terminals, electrically disconnecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry from said charging terminal which is regarded as said reference charging terminal, and electrically disconnecting said positive terminal of said recharging circuitry from said charging terminal which is regarded as said tester charging terminal; and

(g.7) electrically connecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry to one of said charging terminals except said first charging terminal as a new said reference charging terminal, and electrically connecting said negative terminal of said recharging circuitry to one of said charging terminals except said second charging terminal as said new tester charging terminal, and re-performing said step (d) through said step (g) until said recharging voltage pattern resembles said reference voltage pattern.