BATTERY CHARGER CAPABLE OF SELECTIVELY PERFORMING A PARTIAL OR FULL STATE-Of-HEALTH EVALUATION ON A BATTERY BASED ON THE HISTOR OF THE BATTERY
First Claim
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1. A battery charger, said battery charger including:
- a socket for removably receiving a battery, said socket having components through which charging current can be supplied to the battery and through which data from the battery can be read;
a current source connected to said socket components for applying a charging current to the battery;
test components that are connected to said battery through said socket components to which the battery is selectively connected as part of processes for performing a plurality of different state-of-health evaluations on the battery; and
a processor, said processor being;
connected to said socket components for reading data from the battery;
connected to said current source for regulating the charging of the battery and being connected to said test components for regulating the state-of-health evaluations performed on the battery wherein, said processor is configured to;
read from the battery data indicating if the battery was exposed to a harsh environment;
if the battery data indicates the battery was not exposed to a harsh environment, cause said test components to perform a partial state-of-health evaluation on the battery; and
if the battery data indicates that the battery was exposed to a harsh environment, cause said test components to perform a full state-of-health evaluation on the battery, the full state-of-health evaluation including the partial state-of-health evaluation and a further state-of-health evaluation.
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Abstract
A rechargable battery with an internal microcontroller. The microcontroller contains a memory in which data regarding the environment to which the battery is exposed are stored. These data are read by a processor integral with the charger used to charge the battery. If these data indicates the battery may have been subjected to a harsh environment, such as being exposed to an excessive temperature, the charger performs a fulle state of health evaluation of the battery.
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1 Claim
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1. A battery charger, said battery charger including:
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a socket for removably receiving a battery, said socket having components through which charging current can be supplied to the battery and through which data from the battery can be read; a current source connected to said socket components for applying a charging current to the battery; test components that are connected to said battery through said socket components to which the battery is selectively connected as part of processes for performing a plurality of different state-of-health evaluations on the battery; and a processor, said processor being;
connected to said socket components for reading data from the battery;
connected to said current source for regulating the charging of the battery and being connected to said test components for regulating the state-of-health evaluations performed on the battery wherein, said processor is configured to;read from the battery data indicating if the battery was exposed to a harsh environment; if the battery data indicates the battery was not exposed to a harsh environment, cause said test components to perform a partial state-of-health evaluation on the battery; and if the battery data indicates that the battery was exposed to a harsh environment, cause said test components to perform a full state-of-health evaluation on the battery, the full state-of-health evaluation including the partial state-of-health evaluation and a further state-of-health evaluation.
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Specification