Quick charge control apparatus and control method thereof
First Claim
1. A quick charge control apparatus for effecting quick charging of a secondary battery during a charging period which includes an initial stage at the beginning of the charging period, comprising:
- (a) a charging circuit for supplying a charging current for quick charge use to the secondary battery;
(b) constant current means for effecting control so as to maintain the charging current from the charging circuit to the secondary battery at a selected value;
(c) switching means for effecting step switching of a current value of the charging current from the constant current means; and
(d) controller means for controlling the switching means in such a manner as to cause a step increase of the value of the charging current supplied to the secondary battery during successive predetermined periods in the initial stage of the charging period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A apparatus for quick charging either a Nickel-Cadmium battery or a Nickel-Metal hydride battery. An adaptor/charger is comprised of a constant current circuit for maintaining a constant charging current, a switching circuit for switching a current value of this constant current circuit, and a microcomputer for effecting several controls. In the initial stage of the quick charge, the microcomputer causes the charging current to be increased in steps every predetermined period. The quick charge control apparatus is further provided with a switch to discern whether the secondary battery is a Nickel-Cadmium battery or a Nickel-Metal hydride battery so that the identification of the completion of charge is changed corresponding to each type of battery.
47 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A quick charge control apparatus for effecting quick charging of a secondary battery during a charging period which includes an initial stage at the beginning of the charging period, comprising:
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(a) a charging circuit for supplying a charging current for quick charge use to the secondary battery; (b) constant current means for effecting control so as to maintain the charging current from the charging circuit to the secondary battery at a selected value; (c) switching means for effecting step switching of a current value of the charging current from the constant current means; and (d) controller means for controlling the switching means in such a manner as to cause a step increase of the value of the charging current supplied to the secondary battery during successive predetermined periods in the initial stage of the charging period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A quick charge control apparatus for controlling the quick charge of a secondary battery, the quick charge control apparatus comprising:
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(a) a holder portion capable of selectively holding a plurality of types of secondary battery; (b) a charging circuit for supplying a charging current for quick charge use to the secondary batteries; (c) completion identifying means for detecting variations in the voltage value of the secondary battery which is being charged, and identifying the completion of the quick charge, and the completion identifying means detecting a drop in the voltage value from a peak value by a predetermined value after the voltage value of the secondary battery has reached the peak value; (d) charge controller means for controlling the charging circuit so as to terminate the charging current when a signal is fed from the completion identifying means and the completion of charge is identified; (e) discriminator means for discerning the type of battery placed in the holder portion; and (f) changing means for changing a predetermined value to be used when the completion identifying means detects the completion of charge in response to a result of the discrimination from the discriminator means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A quick charge control method for effecting the quick charge of a secondary battery with the use of a constant current during a charging period which includes an initial stage at the beginning of the charging period, the method comprising steps of:
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conducting a charging current through a charging circuit to the secondary battery; maintaining the charging current in the charging circuit at a selected constant value; and causing an increase in the consist current value during successive predetermined periods in steps in the initial stage of the charging period. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification