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Battery charging and cycling devices

  • US 4,755,733 A
  • Filed: 02/03/1987
  • Issued: 07/05/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A battery cell charging device comprising:

  • means for connecting battery cells of different types to said charging device;

    means for generating charging currents of different amplitudes, each charging current amplitude being suitable to charge one type of battery cell; and

    means for selecting the type of at least one battery cell of one type to be charged, said at least one battery cell being connected to the charging device through the connecting means, and said cell type selecting means comprising means for producing an output signal indicative of the selected type of battery cell;

    said charging current generating means comprising means for automatically selecting, in response to said indicative output signal, one of the charging currents having the amplitude suitable to charge the selected type of battery cell, and means for supplying said selected charging current to said at least one battery cell in order to charge the latter; and

    said charging current supplying means comprising an adjustable constant current source with feedback, including (a) a first PNP transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter connected to a voltage source through a first resistor, (b) a second PNP transistor having an emitter connected to the base of the first transistor, a collector connected to the collector of the first transistor, and a base, and (c) a comparator having an output connected to the base of the second transistor through a second resistor, an inverting input connected to the emitter of the first transistor through a third resistor, and a non-inverting input to which a control signal is applied.

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