Battery charging circuit and method for an ambulatory feeding pump
First Claim
1. A device having a rechargeable electrical power source which may be attached to abase unit for charging said source, said unit having a charging circuit controllable to provide a high charging current and a low charging current, said device comprising:
- means for detecting the attachment of the device to the base unit; and
means, responsive to said detecting means, for controlling said charging circuit to selectively provide said high or said low charging current including means for causing said charging circuit to provide said low charging current a first predetermined amount of time after starting to provide said high charging current and for preventing said charging circuit from providing with high charging current until a second predetermined time has elapsed after said first predetermined amount of time.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device having a rechargeable power source with an associated battery charger base having a quick charge current output and a trickle charge current output. A control circuit within the device is also provided that monitors if and for how long the device is attached to the base and determines the present capacity of the power source. Based on these signals, the control circuit selects an appropriate charge current output. The control circuit also includes timer circuits and circuits to measure the battery voltage during charging to allow for maximum but safe quick charging to protect the power source from long-term damage.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A device having a rechargeable electrical power source which may be attached to abase unit for charging said source, said unit having a charging circuit controllable to provide a high charging current and a low charging current, said device comprising:
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means for detecting the attachment of the device to the base unit; and means, responsive to said detecting means, for controlling said charging circuit to selectively provide said high or said low charging current including means for causing said charging circuit to provide said low charging current a first predetermined amount of time after starting to provide said high charging current and for preventing said charging circuit from providing with high charging current until a second predetermined time has elapsed after said first predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In combination, a device having a rechargeable electrical power source and a base unit to which said device may be attached,
said base unit including a charging circuit selectable between at least a first charging current and a second charging current, said currents being applied to the power source when said device and said base are attached, said device including detecting means having a first state when said device is attached to said base and a second state when said device is detached from said base. means, responsive to said detecting means, for selecting one of said charging currents when said detecting means is in said first state, first timer means for determining the amount of time said first charging current is applied to said source and for causing said selecting means to select said second charging current when the amount of time has reached a first predetermined value, second timer means for determining the amount of time since the amount of time determined by said first timer means reached said first predetermined value, and, means for preventing said selecting means from selecting said first charging current until the amount of time determined by said second timer means has reached a second predetermined value.
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17. The method of determining the charging of a rechargeable electrical power source in a device which may be attached to a base unit comprising a charging circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the attachment of the device to the base unit in response to the attachment of the device to the base unit; enabling the charging circuit to provide a first charging current to the power source; timing the time the first charging current is provided to the power source; and
causing the charging current to provide allow charging current of the power source after a first preselected period of time has elapsed; andpreventing the charging circuit from again providing the first charging current after said first preselected period of time for a second preselected period of time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In combination, a base unit and a plurality of devices each having a rechargeable electrical power source and which may be attached to said base for charging said source, said combination comprising:
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a charging circuit within said base unit controllable to provide a high charging current and a low charging current; each of said devices having means for detecting the attachment of each of said devices to said unit; and each of said devices being independent means, responsive to said detecting means for controlling said charging circuit, for selectively providing either said high or said low charging current, each of said controlling means controlling said circuit independently of other controlling means of other devices. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification