Battery charger
First Claim
1. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
- (a) means for supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to a rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery;
(b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery;
(c) means independent of the battery being charged for providing a preselected reference voltage;
(d) means for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during said interruption of said electrical charging power;
(e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage;
(f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and
(g) means for gradually reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including circuitry for supplying electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery, interrupting circuitry for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected timed interval so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said power, electrical comparing circuitry for comparing the internal resistance free voltage of said battery with a preselected reference voltage, and electrical control circuitry for reducing said power to said battery when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage so as to reduce gradually the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery and maintain said internal resistance free voltage of said battery at said preselected reference voltage.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to a rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) means independent of the battery being charged for providing a preselected reference voltage; (d) means for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during said interruption of said electrical charging power; (e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) means for gradually reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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7. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for generating a DC current at a preselected level so as to rapidly charge a rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), during a first rapid charging interval; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) circuitry means for repeatedly interrupting said current to said rechargeable batteries for a preselected time interval so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of the said current at a point in time near the end of said preselected time interval; (d) means independent of the battery being charged for electrically generating a preselected reference voltage; (e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) electrical control means activated by said comparator means for gradually reducing said current during a second reduced power charging interval when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27)
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9. A charger as claimed in 8 wherein the frequency of said interruptions is controlled by the frequency of said pulsed D.C. current.
- 10. A charger as claimed in 7 including a sample-and-hold circuit means as an analog memory means for accepting the value of the said internal resistance free potential near the end of said current interruption and to retain the value of said internal resistance free potential of said battery during said charging intervals between said current interruptions.
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20. A method of charging rechargeable batteries, including the steps of:
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(a) supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to at least one rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery; (b) repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval and at a preselected frequency so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said electrical charging power; (c) instantaneously detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during each said interruption; (d) generating a preselected reference voltage independent of the battery being charged; (e) comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time so as to produce an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) storing said output logical error signal in a logical memory means during each preselected time interval; and (g) reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal at said point in time, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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21. A method of charging rechargeable batteries, including the steps:
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(a) generating DC current at a preselected level so as to rapidly charge at least one rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), during a first rapid charging interval; (b) interrupting said current to said rechargeable batteries for a preselected time interval at a preselected frequency so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said current; (c) instantaneously detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during each said interruption; (d) generating a preselected reference voltage independent of the battery being charged; (e) comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time so as to produce an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) storing said output logical error signal in a logical memory means during each preselected time interval; and (g) reducing said current during a second reduced power charging interval when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal at said point in time, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to said rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater that 1 C) so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) means independent of the battery being charged for providing a preselected reference voltage; (d) means for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during said interruption of said electrical charging power; (e) means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) means for gradually reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage.
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32. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for generating a DC current at a preselected level so as to rapidly charge a rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C), during a first rapid charging interval; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) circuitry means for repeatedly interrupting said current to said rechargeable batteries for a preselected time interval so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of the said current at a point in time near the end of said preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds; (d) means independent of the battery being charged for electrically generating a preselected reference voltage; (e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) electrical control means activated by said comparator means for gradually reducing said current during a second reduced power charging interval when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (31, 34, 35, 36)
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33. A charger as claimed in 32 including a sample-and-hold circuit means as an analog memory means for accepting the value of the said internal resistance free potential near the end of said current interruption and to retain the value of said internal resistance free potential of said battery during said charging intervals between said current interruptions.
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37. A method of charging rechargeable batteries, including the steps of:
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(a) supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to at least one rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C) so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery; (b) repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds and at a preselected frequency so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said electrical charging power; (c) instantaneously detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during each said interruption; (d) generating a preselected reference voltage independent of the battery being charged; (e) comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time so as to produce an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) storing said output logical error signal in a logical memory means during each preselected time interval; and (g) reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal at said point in time, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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38. A method of charging rechargeable batteries, including the steps of:
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(a) generating a DC current at a preselected level so as to rapidly charge at least one rechargeable battery initially at a rate in amperes greater than the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery (i.e., greater than 1 C) during a first rapid charging interval; (b) interrupting said current to said rechargeable batteries for a preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds at a preselected frequency so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said current; (c) instantaneously detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during each said interruption; (d) generating a preselected reference voltage independent of the battery being charged; (e) comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time so as to produce an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage, (f) storing said output logical error signal in a logical memory means during each preselected time interval; and (g) reducing said current during a second reduced power charging interval when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal at said point in time, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for supplying an electrical charging power at an initial constant predetermined current level to said rechargeable battery so as to charge said rechargeable battery; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) means independent of the battery being charged for providing a preselected reference voltage; (d) means for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery at a point in time during said interruption of said electrical charging power; (e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) means for gradually reducing said electrical charging power when said internal resistance free voltage of said battery exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance free voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including:
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(a) means for generating a DC current at a preselected level so as to charge a rechargeable battery during a first charging interval; (b) means for detecting the internal resistance free voltage of said rechargeable battery; (c) circuitry means for repeatedly interrupting said current to said rechargeable batteries for a preselected time interval so as to permit the instantaneous detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of the said current at a point in time near the end of said preselected time interval of from about 0.5 to about 10 milliseconds; (d) means independent of the battery being charged for electrically generating a preselected reference voltage; (e) comparator means for comparing said internal resistance free voltage of said battery with said preselected reference voltage at said point in time and for producing an output logical error signal which is indicative of the value of said internal resistance free voltage compared to said reference voltage; (f) logical memory means wherein said output logical error signal from the output of the said comparator means is entered during each preselected time interval; and (g) electrical control means activated by said comparator means for gradually reducing said current during a second reduced power charging interval when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage as indicated by said output logical error signal, whereby the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery at said point in time is reduced so as to maintain said internal resistance voltage at said preselected reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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44. A charger as claimed in 43 including a sample-and-hold circuit means as an analog memory means for accepting the value of the said internal resistance free potential near the end of said current interruption and to retain the value of said internal resistance free potential of said battery during said charging intervals between said current interruptions.
Specification