CHARGER AND CHARGING APPARATUS

• US 20130009593A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kazuo Fuda, Sachio Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Kazuo Fuda, Sachio Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Sachio, Fuda, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 9,293,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery

Abstract

A reduction in breakdown voltage and mechanical deterioration of an electrode plate of a rechargeable battery are suppressed, and a charging time is shortened.

There is provided a charger 10 which charges a rechargeable battery, comprising: a first output unit which outputs a first voltage; a second output unit which outputs a second voltage having a predetermined voltage value different from that of the first voltage; a charge control unit 16 which inputs the first voltage and the second voltage, alternately outputs these voltages, and supplies them to the rechargeable battery as charging voltages; a charged-amount detection unit 14 which measures a charged amount of the rechargeable battery; and an output control unit 15 which carries out control in such a manner that an output time of the first voltage and/or the second voltage in the charge control unit 15 is prolonged as the charged amount increases.

Claims

1. A charger which charges a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a first output unit which outputs a first voltage;

a second output unit which outputs a second voltage having a predetermined voltage value different from that of the first voltage;

a charge control unit which inputs the first voltage and the second voltage, alternately outputs these voltages, and supplies them to the rechargeable battery as charging voltages;

a charged-amount detection unit which measures a charged amount of the rechargeable battery; and

an output control unit which carries out control in such a manner that an output time of the first voltage and/or the second voltage in the charge control unit is prolonged as the charged amount increases.

2. A charging apparatus which charges a plurality of rechargeable batteries, comprising:

the plurality of chargers according to claim 1,

wherein each charger is connected to each rechargeable battery based on a one-on-one correspondence.

3. The charging apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a switch between the rechargeable battery and the charger,

wherein the switch changes over a first path along which the plurality of rechargeable batteries are disconnected from each other and each charger is connected to each rechargeable battery and a second path along which each charger is disconnected from each rechargeable battery and the plurality of rechargeable batteries are coupled with each other.

4. The charging apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the switch has an electric relay which switches the first path and the second path, and

this electric relay has:

a first contact point connected to the first path;

a second contact point connected to the second path;

a connection member which is connected to one of the first contact point and the second contact point;

a gear portion which rotates or rotationally moves to move the connection member; and

a worm portion which rotates or rotationally moves the gear portion.