CHARGER AND METHOD FOR CHARGING FOR SILVER ZINC BATTERIES
First Claim
1. A zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack, comprising:
- a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein each cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, wherein the anode comprises zinc, the cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or any combination thereof, and the alkaline electrolyte comprises an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal; and
recharging management circuitry that is connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the recharging management circuitry comprisesa processor,a first voltage detector/controller connected to the processor,a second voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, anda current sensor connected to the processor, wherein the first voltage detector/controller, the second voltage detector/controller, and the current sensor are connected to the electrochemical cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack is disclosed. The zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack includes a casing including a plurality of electrochemical cells and recharging management circuitry. Each cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells includes an alkaline electrolyte, an anode and a cathode. The anode comprises zinc. The cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or a combination of the silver, the oxide of silver and the silver metal. The alkaline electrolyte includes an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal. The recharging management circuitry is connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells. The recharging management circuitry includes a processor, a first voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, a second voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, and a current sensor connected to the processor. The first voltage detector/controller, the second voltage detector/controller and current sensor are connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells. A system for charging a zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack is also disclosed. A method for charging the rechargeable battery pack is also disclosed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack, comprising:
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a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein each cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, wherein the anode comprises zinc, the cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or any combination thereof, and the alkaline electrolyte comprises an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal; and recharging management circuitry that is connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the recharging management circuitry comprises a processor, a first voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, a second voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, and a current sensor connected to the processor, wherein the first voltage detector/controller, the second voltage detector/controller, and the current sensor are connected to the electrochemical cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for charging a zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack, comprising:
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a host device comprising an AC/DC converter and a host controller; and a casing removably-coupled to the host device at an interface, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, wherein the anode comprises zinc, the cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or any combination thereof, and the alkaline electrolyte comprises an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal; and recharging management circuitry associated with one of the host device or the casing, wherein the recharging management circuitry is connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells, and the recharging management circuitry comprises a processor, a first voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, a second voltage detector/controller connected to the processor, and a current sensor connected to the processor, wherein the first voltage detector/controller, the second voltage detector/controller and current sensor are connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for charging a zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein each cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, wherein the anode comprises zinc, the cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or any combination thereof, and the alkaline electrolyte comprises an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal; providing recharging management circuitry connected to the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the recharging management circuitry is provided for detecting a voltage of at least one cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells, detecting a charging capacity of the cell, reducing a constant current applied to the cell when the cell has been charged to about a maximum voltage, and arresting the constant current applied to the cell when the cell has been charged to about a maximum capacity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for charging a zinc alkaline rechargeable battery pack, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, wherein the anode comprises zinc, the cathode comprises silver, an oxide of silver, silver metal, or any combination thereof, and the alkaline electrolyte includes an aqueous hydroxide of an alkali metal; providing a user-defined target capacity of at least one cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells; measuring an open circuit voltage of at least one electrochemical cell; determining if the open circuit voltage is greater than or less than an open circuit voltage threshold value; and calculating a period of time for charging the electrochemical cell; and limiting a charging period of the electrochemical cell according to the provided user-defined target capacity. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification