METHOD FOR CHARGING AND MAINTAINING A BATTERY

• US 20080100267A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Shen, Yi-Hung, Lin, Chun-Te
• Application Number:
  US11/951,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

A method for charging and maintaining a rechargeable battery is provided. The method includes the steps of enabling a life extending mode; determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a predetermined charging level; charging the battery when the battery is connected with a power supply; and maintaining the electric potential of the battery at the predetermined battery level, in which the predetermined battery level is set at approximately from 50% to 70% of the full capacity of the battery.

Claims

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

enabling a life extending mode;

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a predetermined charging level;

charging the battery when the battery is connected with a power supply; and

maintaining the electric potential of the battery at a predetermined battery level;

wherein the predetermined battery level is set at approximately from 50% to 70% of the full capacity of the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the predetermined battery level of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the electric potential of the battery; and

discharging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the predetermined battery level of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the electric potential of the battery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level; and

charging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is used in a laptop.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a Ni-MH battery or a Ni—

Cd battery.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether a predetermined time is reached before the enabling step.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the predetermined time is reached, the enabling step is carried out;

otherwise, the enabling step is not carried out.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined time is predetermined by a time scheduling program.

9. A method for charging and maintaining a rechargeable battery, comprising:

enabling a life extending mode;

determining whether the unused period of the battery exceeds a predetermined time basis;

discharging the battery;

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the low quantity level of the battery;

charging the battery when the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the low quantity level of the battery; and

maintaining the electric potential of the battery at a predetermined battery level;

wherein the predetermined battery level is set at approximately from 50% to 70% of the full capacity of the battery.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the predetermined battery level of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the electric potential of the battery; and

discharging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the electric potential of the battery is more than the predetermined battery level.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level; and

charging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the battery is used in a laptop.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the battery is a Ni-MH battery or a Ni—

Cd battery.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of determining whether the predetermined time is reached or a predetermined hot key is started before the first determining step.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein if the predetermined time is reached or the predetermined hot key is started, the first determining step is carried out.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined time is predetermined by a time scheduling program.

17. A method for charging and maintaining a rechargeable battery, comprising:

enabling a life extending mode;

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a predetermined charging level;

determining whether the unused period of the battery exceeds a predetermined time basis;

discharging the battery;

charging the battery when the battery is connected with a power supply; and

maintaining the electric potential of the battery at a predetermined battery level;

wherein the predetermined battery level is set at approximately from 50% to 70% of the full capacity of the battery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the predetermined battery level of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the electric potential of the battery; and

discharging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the predetermined battery level of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the electric potential of the battery.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the maintaining step further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level; and

charging the battery until the electric potential of the battery being equal to the predetermined battery level when the electric potential of the battery is less than or substantially equal to the predetermined battery level.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the battery is used in a laptop.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the battery is a Ni-MH battery or a Ni—

Cd battery.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of determining whether the predetermined time is reached before the enabling step.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein if the predetermined time is reached, the enabling step is carried out;

otherwise, the enabling step is not carried out.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined time is predetermined by a time scheduling program.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of determining whether a predetermined time is reached or a predetermined hot key is started before the first determining step.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein if the predetermined time is reached or the predetermined hot key is started, the first determining step is carried out.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined time is predetermined by a time scheduling program.