Battery charging system having means for distinguishing between primary and secondary batteries

• US 4,628,243 A
• Filed: 10/11/1984
• Issued: 12/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mullersman, Ferdinand H., Hodgman, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/659,918
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-5, 320/13, 320/14, 320/20-24, 320/35, 320/36, 320/48, 429/7, 429/10, 429/92, 429/93, 429/96, 429/97, 429/176, 429/177, 429/178, 429/179
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A battery charging system is provided including a charger and a rechargeable battery of "standard" size and configuration. The rechargeable battery bears a special indicia that is sensed by the charger as a precondition to enabling the charging circuit of the charger. The indicia-bearing battery can thus be used in place of "standard" non-rechargeable batteries in battery using products of various sorts, but non-rechargeable batteries, lacking the special indicia, cannot be charged in the charger. Potential damage to the charger or product and other adverse effects associated with charging of non-rechargeable batteries is thus avoided.

Claims

1. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a nonrechargeable battery type, both said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:

a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivery electrical energy;

indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery;

a charging device including 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 when said rechargeable battery is connected to the charger, said first and second charging contacts each engageable by one of a pair of load terminals of a non-rechargeable battery; and

enabling means in said charging device for sensing the presence of the indicia means on the rechargeable battery and in response thereto enabling said charging mode, whereby the charger will be enabled to deliver charge current only by batteries of the rechargeable type.

2. The combination as set out in claim 1 in which said indicia means has a predetermined value, and said enabling means senses said value and responds only if that predetermined value is present.

3. The combination as set out in claim 1 further including means for isolating said indicia means from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said enabling means comprises a pair of spaced-apart electrical contacts, and said indicia means comprises means for establishing electrical contact between said pair of electrical contacts to enable said charging mode.

5. The combination as set out in claim 1 wherein the indicia means includes a conductive strip on the exterior of the rechargeable battery positioned for sensing by the enabling means when the battery is connected to the charger.

6. The combination as set out in claim 5, wherein said conductive strip is electrically isolated from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device.

7. The combination as set out in claim 1 wherein the charging device includes means for accepting and charging a plurality of rechargeable batteries each having said indicia, and a similar plurality of enabling means for sensing the presence of said indicia on each battery and enabling said charging mode only when the indicia on all batteries is sensed.

8. The combination as set out in claim 1 wherein the indicia means includes a conductive strip on the battery and an impedance of predetermined magnitude in electrical connection with the conductive strip.

9. The combination as set out in claim 8 wherein the enabling means includes means for sensing the magnitude of the impedance and said charging mode is enabled only when the sensed magnitude of the impedance is within a predetermined range.

10. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charging current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising;

a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery;

a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load;

indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger, thereby preventing delivery of charging current to non-rechargeable batteries; and

means for isolating said indicia means from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said enabling means comprises a pair of spaced apart electrical contacts and said indicia means includes means for establishing electrical contact between said pair of contacts to enable said charging mode.

12. The invention as set out in claim 10 wherein the indicia means includes a conductive strip on the exterior of the rechargeable battery positioned for sensing by the enabling means when the battery is connected to the charger.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 further including means for isolating said indicia means from said load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device.

14. The invention as set out in claim 10 wherein the indicia means includes a conductive strip on the battery and an impedance of predetermined magnitude connected between the conductive strip and one of the battery load terminals.

15. The combination as set out in claim 14 wherein said predetermined magnitude of impedance activates said charger enabling means only when the sensed magnitude of the impedance is within a predetermined range.

16. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish between rechargeable secondary and non-rechargeable primary batteries of substantially similar size and configuration, comprising in combination:

a charging device including a battery charging circuit for delivering charging current to a received battery;

a rechargeable secondary battery having load terminals for delivering electrical energy;

means for providing an initiating signal to a battery received in said charging device;

means associated with said rechargeable secondary battery for generating and transmitting to said charging device an information signal in response to said initiating signal; and

means associated with said charging device for permitting the delivery of charging current to fully charge the rechargeable secondary battery only in response to said information signal from said rechargeable secondary battery, said permitting means further including means for preventing the delivery of charging current to a battery of the non-rechargeable type not providing said information signal.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said charge permitting means includes means for evaluating said information signal for magnitude and permitting the delivery of said charging current only if the information signal is of the proper magnitude.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17 further including means for generating a reference signal and wherein said evaluating means includes comparison means for comparing said information signal to said reference signal and permits the delivery of charging current to said rechargeable secondary battery in response to said comparison.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said charge permitting means includes switch means responsive to said information signal to permit the delivery of said charging current to said rechargeable secondary battery.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 19 wherein said charge permitting means includes means for evaluating said information signal by comparing said information signal with a reference signal generated in said charging device, said switch means further including switch means actuable in response to said comparison to permit the delivery of said rechargeable charging current to said secondary battery.

21. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charging current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising;

a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery;

a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load; and

indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger and for permitting charging current to flow through said rechargeable battery via a current path other than through said indicia means.

22. A rechargeable battery for use in a battery charging system having a battery charger which alternatively receives a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable battery, said charger adapted to deliver charger current to said rechargeable battery, said charger further having enabling means for switching the charger between a non-charging mode and a charging mode, said rechargeable battery comprising:

a rechargeable battery of a size and configuration permitting said battery to be received by said charger which alternatively receives a non-rechargeable battery;

a pair of load terminals for delivering current to a load; and

indicia means for activating the charger enabling means for charging of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery is adapted to energize the charger, thereby preventing delivery of charging current to non-rechargeable batteries and permitting the delivery of charging current to said load terminals of said rechargeable battery, said load terminals receiving said charging current directly from said battery charger.

23. 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, said system comprising, in combination:

a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy;

indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery;

a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode, said circuit having first and second charging contacts; and

enabling means in said charger for sensing the presence of the indicia means of the rechargeable battery and in response thereto for enabling the flow of charging current through said rechargeable battery via a current path other than through said indicia means, whereby the charger will be enabled to deliver charge current only by batteries of the rechargeable type.

24. A battery charging system adapted to distinguish a rechargeable battery type from a non-rechargeable battery type, both of said types being of substantially similar size, said system comprising, in combination:

a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy;

indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing a signal distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery;

a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode; and

enabling means in said charging circuit of said charging device for enabling said circuit to operate in said second charging mode, said enabling means including a switch disposed within said charging device and connected in said charging circuit, said switch having a first non-conducting mode for maintaining said circuit in said first non-charging mode and a second conducting mode for maintaining said circuit in said second charging mode respectively, said switch operable in said second conducting mode in response to said signal from said indicia means.

25. 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, said system comprising, in combination:

a rechargeable battery having first and second external load terminals for delivering electrical energy;

indicia means on the rechargeable battery for providing an indication distinguishing said rechargeable battery from a non-rechargeable battery;

means disposed on said rechargeable battery for isolating said indicia means from said external load terminals when said rechargeable battery is not residing in said charging device;

a charging device including a battery charging circuit having a first non-charging mode and a second charging mode; and

enabling means in said charging device for sensing the presence of the indicia means on the rechargeable battery and in response thereto enabling said charging mode.