System and circuit for charging a rechargeable battery
First Claim
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1. An electrical circuit for charging a rechargeable cell comprising:
- current input receiving means adapted to be connected to an external source of direct current;
a pair of first current branches, each branch in said pair adapted to receive at least one rechargeable cell and in electrically parallel relationship with the other branch in said pair;
a pair of second current branches, one of said second branches in said pair disposed in electrically parallel relationship with one of said first branches and the other of said second branches disposed in electrically parallel relationship with the other first branch;
a pair of charge current indicators, one of said indicators disposed in one of said second branches and the other of said indicators disposed in the other of said second branches and each of said charge current indicators adapted to provide an indication of the passage of a first predetermined level of charge current through one of said first current branches;
a pair of switches, one of said switches disposed in one of said second current branches and the other of said switches disposed in the other of said second current branches, each of said switches operable in a first mode to prevent the flow of current through its respective second current branch and operable in a second mode to permit the flow of current through its respective second current branch, one of said pair of switches operable in said second mode in response to said first level of current through one of said first current branches and the other of said switches operable in said second mode in response to said first level of current through the other of said first current branches;
means for comparing a first parameter in one of said first current branches with a reference parameter and providing a signal to one of said switches in response to a first predetermined difference between said parameters, said one of said switches operative in said second mode in response to said signal to permit the flow of current through its respective second current branch and permit one of said charge current indicators to provide an indication of the passage of charge current through said one of said first current branches, said first predetermined difference being selected so as to preclude said comparing means from providing said signal when said current input receiving means is disconnected from said external source of current and a circulating current is circulating in said circuit as a result of a difference in the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in one of said first current branches from the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in the other of said current branches.
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Abstract
A system and circuit for charging a rechargeable battery from an external source of direct current is provided wherein the circuit includes an indicator for indicating the passage of charge current through the circuit. The circuit precludes the indicator from providing a false indication of the passage of charging current.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An electrical circuit for charging a rechargeable cell comprising:
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current input receiving means adapted to be connected to an external source of direct current; a pair of first current branches, each branch in said pair adapted to receive at least one rechargeable cell and in electrically parallel relationship with the other branch in said pair; a pair of second current branches, one of said second branches in said pair disposed in electrically parallel relationship with one of said first branches and the other of said second branches disposed in electrically parallel relationship with the other first branch; a pair of charge current indicators, one of said indicators disposed in one of said second branches and the other of said indicators disposed in the other of said second branches and each of said charge current indicators adapted to provide an indication of the passage of a first predetermined level of charge current through one of said first current branches; a pair of switches, one of said switches disposed in one of said second current branches and the other of said switches disposed in the other of said second current branches, each of said switches operable in a first mode to prevent the flow of current through its respective second current branch and operable in a second mode to permit the flow of current through its respective second current branch, one of said pair of switches operable in said second mode in response to said first level of current through one of said first current branches and the other of said switches operable in said second mode in response to said first level of current through the other of said first current branches; means for comparing a first parameter in one of said first current branches with a reference parameter and providing a signal to one of said switches in response to a first predetermined difference between said parameters, said one of said switches operative in said second mode in response to said signal to permit the flow of current through its respective second current branch and permit one of said charge current indicators to provide an indication of the passage of charge current through said one of said first current branches, said first predetermined difference being selected so as to preclude said comparing means from providing said signal when said current input receiving means is disconnected from said external source of current and a circulating current is circulating in said circuit as a result of a difference in the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in one of said first current branches from the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in the other of said current branches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electrical circuit for recharging a rechargable cell comprising:
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current input receiving means adapted to be connected to an external source of direct current; an electrical circuit having a pair of first current branches, each branch in said pair adapted to receive at least one rechargeable cell and in electrically parallel relationship with the other branch in said pair; indicator means electrically connected in said circuit for indicating the passage of charge current through at least one of said first current branches; means for preventing said indicating means from indicating the passage of charge current through said one current branch when said circuit is disconnected from said external source of current and a circulating current is circulating in said circuit as a result of a difference in the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in one of said first current branches from the state of charge of the rechargeable cell in the other of said current branches.
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Specification