Battery charging system including means for distinguishing between rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries
First Claim
1. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size and having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy, said system comprising, in combination:
- a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts arranged for engagement with the first and second external load terminals respectively of when a battery is connected to the contacts;
sensing means for sensing the value of at least one parameter common to both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, said value for a rechargeable battery differing from said value for a non-rechargeable battery;
enabling means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said charging circuit when said value is indicative of a non-rechargeable battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging system is provided which distinguishes between primary and secondary batteries by sensing a charging or discharging parameter of a battery placed into the system. A sensing means is included in the system which senses the value of at least one parameter of the battery. The parameter has a value for secondary batteries which is distinctive from its value for primary batteries. In response to an indication from the sensing means that the battery in the system is a primary battery, an enabling means disables charging of the primary battery by the system. The enabling means, in response to an indication from the sensing means that the battery in the system is a secondary battery, enables charging of the secondary battery by the system. One battery parameter which is particularly useful in discriminating between primary and secondary batteries is the low frequency impedance of the battery during charging.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size and having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy, said system comprising, in combination:
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a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts arranged for engagement with the first and second external load terminals respectively of when a battery is connected to the contacts; sensing means for sensing the value of at least one parameter common to both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, said value for a rechargeable battery differing from said value for a non-rechargeable battery; enabling means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said charging circuit when said value is indicative of a non-rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a non-rechargeable battery from a rechargeable battery, both said batteries being of substantially similar size and both having first and second external terminals for delivering electrical energy to a load, said system comprising;
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a charging circuit for delivering charging current to a rechargeable battery, said charging circuit adapted to receive a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery; sensing means for sensing the value of at least one electrical parameter common to said rechargeable battery and said non-rechargeable battery; and enabling means responsive to said sensed value for enabling the delivery of charging current to said rechargeable battery by said charging circuit when said sensed value is indicative of a rechargeable battery and for inhibiting the delivery of charging current to a non-rechargeable battery when said sensed value is indicatve of a non-rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of distinguishing a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size and having first and second external load terminals for deliverying electrical energy, said method comprising the steps of:
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charging a battery at said first and second external load terminals with pulses of charge current; sensing a value of a parameter of the battery; comparing the sensed value of the parameter with a predetermined reference value; and discontinuing the charging of the battery in response to an indication from the comparison of the sensed and predetermined reference values that the battery is a non-rechargeable type. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification