METHOD FOR CHARGING BATTERY
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
- measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage;
operating in a charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage, wherein operating in the charging mode comprises applying a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal;
measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current; and
operating in a maintenance mode if the battery'"'"'s current consumption is less than the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the charging signal to the battery.
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Abstract
A method for charging a battery includes measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage. The method includes operating the battery in a charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage, wherein operating in the charging mode comprises applying a charging signal to the battery. The charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal. The method includes measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current. The method includes operating in a maintenance mode if the battery'"'"'s current consumption is less than the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the charging signal to the battery. The method includes measuring, during operation in the maintenance mode, the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the measured voltage to a second threshold voltage. The method includes applying the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal until the battery'"'"'s voltage is equal to or greater than the second threshold voltage.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
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measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage; operating in a charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage, wherein operating in the charging mode comprises applying a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal; measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current; and operating in a maintenance mode if the battery'"'"'s current consumption is less than the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the charging signal to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
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operating initially in a charging mode, which applies a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal; measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage; continuing to operate in the charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage; if the measured battery voltage is equal to or greater than the first threshold voltage, measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption; comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current; continuing to operate in the charging mode if the current consumption is greater than the first threshold current; and switching from the charging mode to a maintenance mode if the current consumption is less than or equal to the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. A method for charging a battery, comprising applying a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal, the oscillating triangular waveform characterized by a relatively short linear rise time followed by a substantially long linear fall time.
Specification