Battery charging system and method of reducing variation in battery charging cycle count

• US 20090212738A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stinger Industries LLC (Enovate Medical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Werthman, Dean A., Inthaluxay, Ary, Coonan, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,855,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A battery charging system includes a housing having a plurality of docking stations coupled therewith. A control device is coupled with a battery charging interface of each of the plurality of docking stations, and is configured to reduce variation in charging cycle count among a plurality of batteries configured to dock with the battery charging interfaces. A method of reducing variation in charging cycle count in a system of batteries includes receiving inputs associated with a charging cycle count for each of a plurality of interchangeable batteries docked with a common battery charger, and outputting a battery selection signal based at least in part on the inputs.

Claims

1. A battery charging system comprising:

a housing having an electrical power system therein;

a plurality of docking stations coupled with the housing, for charging a plurality of batteries, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface electrically connected with the electrical power system; and

a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces, and configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, via each of the battery charging interfaces, the control device being further configured to output a battery selection signal based at least in part on the inputs.

2. The battery charging system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor which includes the control device, the microprocessor being configured to determine a charging cycle count based on the inputs for a plurality of batteries simultaneously docked with a plurality of the docking stations, the microprocessor being further configured to compare the charging cycle counts and generate the battery selection signal responsive to comparing the charging cycle counts.

3. The battery charging system of claim 2 further comprising an indicating device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicating device having a plurality of different indicating states and being configured to switch among the plurality of different states in response to the battery selection signal.

4. The battery charging system of claim 3 wherein the indicating device comprises a plurality of different lights associated one with each of the docking stations, and wherein the indicating device is configured to illuminate a selected one of the plurality of different lights in response to the battery selection signal.

5. The battery charging system of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a width and a height which is less than the width, and wherein the plurality of docking stations are positioned side-by-side along the width.

6. The battery charging system of claim 5 wherein each of the docking stations comprises a blind end and an open end for docking a battery therewith, and an electrical connector located at the corresponding blind end.

7. The battery charging system of claim 6 wherein each of the docking stations defines a guide for guiding a battery assembly when docking therewith which includes a narrowing taper from the open end toward the blind end.

8. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data inputs indicative of battery charging cycle count via each of the battery charging interfaces, and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to output the battery selection signal based solely on battery charging cycle count for a plurality of recharged batteries simultaneously docked with the docking stations.

9. A battery system for a group of mobile battery powered devices comprising:

a set of interchangeable batteries;

a battery charger which includes a housing having an electrical power system and a plurality of docking stations for simultaneously recharging a plurality of batteries of the set, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface electrically connected with the electrical power system; and

a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces, and configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, via each of the battery charging interfaces, the control device being further configured to output a battery selection signal based at least in part on the inputs.

10. The battery system of claim 9 further comprising at least one charging cycle counter.

11. The battery system of claim 10 wherein the at least one charging cycle counter comprises a plurality of charging cycle counters each resident on one of the interchangeable batteries and configured to communicate with the control device when the corresponding battery is docked with one of the docking stations.

12. The battery system of claim 11 further comprising a microprocessor resident on the battery charger and including the control device.

13. The battery system of claim 12 wherein the microprocessor is configured to compare a charging cycle count for a plurality of batteries simultaneously docked with a plurality of the docking stations, and further configured to generate the battery selection signal responsive to comparing the charging cycle count.

14. The battery system of claim 13 wherein the battery charger includes an indicating device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicating device having a plurality of different indicating states and being configured to switch among the plurality of different indicating states in response to the battery selection signal.

15. A method of reducing variation in charging cycle count in a system of interchangeable batteries comprising the steps of:

docking a plurality of interchangeable batteries with a common battery charger;

receiving inputs associated with a charging cycle count for each of the plurality of interchangeable batteries; and

outputting a battery selection signal which is based at least in part on the inputs.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of counting charging cycles of each one of the plurality of interchangeable batteries, and comparing the charging cycle counts with one another, wherein the step of outputting the battery selection signal comprises outputting the battery selection signal responsive to comparing the charging cycle counts.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of receiving inputs indicative of a charge status of each one of the plurality of interchangeable batteries, wherein the step of outputting a battery selection signal comprises outputting a battery selection signal which is based also in part on the indicated charge statuses.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

assigning a subset of the plurality of interchangeable batteries to an available category, if the indicated charge status for the subset is above a predetermined level; and

assigning a subset of the plurality of interchangeable batteries to an unavailable category, if the indicated charge status for the subset is below a predetermined level;

wherein the step of comparing the charging cycle counts comprises comparing the charging cycle counts of the subset of batteries assigned to the available category.