Battery charging system
First Claim
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1. A battery charging system for a battery charger having at least one battery charging pocket for fast charging at least one battery with a fast charging current when positioned at the at least one battery charging pocket, said system including:
- means electrically connected to the at least one battery charging pocket for supplying said fast charging current to the at least one battery when positioned at the at least one battery charging pocket and the fast charging current is of a level greater than a preset level;
means, coupled to receive signals indicative of levels of the fast charging current supplied by said means for supplying the fast charging current to the at least one battery, for generating a current regulation status signal indicative of values of the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery by the means for supplying;
means, including timer circuitry, coupled to receive the current regulation status signal generated by said means for generating, and operative responsive to levels of the current regulation status signal, for determining when the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery by said means for supplying is less than a preset level for at least a predetermined portion of a time period; and
means, coupled to the means for supplying and operative responsive to times when said means for determining determines the fast charging current supplied to be less than the preset level for at least the predetermined portion of the time period for discontinuing supply of the fast charging current to the at least one battery.
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Abstract
A system and associated method for fast charging a battery. The current level of a fast charging curent supplied to a battery for the charging thereof is monitored. When the charging current falls below a predetermined level for a certain proportion of a time period, fast charging of the battery is terminated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery charging system for a battery charger having at least one battery charging pocket for fast charging at least one battery with a fast charging current when positioned at the at least one battery charging pocket, said system including:
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means electrically connected to the at least one battery charging pocket for supplying said fast charging current to the at least one battery when positioned at the at least one battery charging pocket and the fast charging current is of a level greater than a preset level; means, coupled to receive signals indicative of levels of the fast charging current supplied by said means for supplying the fast charging current to the at least one battery, for generating a current regulation status signal indicative of values of the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery by the means for supplying; means, including timer circuitry, coupled to receive the current regulation status signal generated by said means for generating, and operative responsive to levels of the current regulation status signal, for determining when the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery by said means for supplying is less than a preset level for at least a predetermined portion of a time period; and means, coupled to the means for supplying and operative responsive to times when said means for determining determines the fast charging current supplied to be less than the preset level for at least the predetermined portion of the time period for discontinuing supply of the fast charging current to the at least one battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for fast charging at least one battery with a fast charging current, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying the fast charging current to the at least one battery; generating a current regulation status signal indicative of values of the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery; determining when the fast charging current supplied to the at least one battery is less than a preset level for at least a predetermined portion of a time period; and disconnecting the battery from the fast charging current after a predetermined time period when the fast charging current supplied to the battery is less than the preset level for the at least predetermined portion of the time period. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification