Method and apparatus for charging a battery powered electronic device
First Claim
1. A method for charging using a controller-less battery charger an electronic device having a battery, the battery having a battery parameter, the method comprising the steps of:
- at the electronic device;
sending a first control signal from the electronic device to the battery charger;
monitoring the battery parameter;
sending a second control signal to the battery charger if the battery parameter has reached a predetermined level;
monitoring the electronic device for any changes in the state of the electronic device while the battery is being charged;
sending a third control signal to the battery charger if the electronic device has changed state; and
at the controller-less battery charger;
receiving the first control signal;
providing the first control signal to a variable current source;
charging the battery using the variable current source at a first charge rate corresponding to the control signal;
charging the battery at a second charge rate corresponding to the second control signal when the second control signal is provided to the variable current source;
receiving the third control signal if it is sent by the electronic device; and
modifying the charge rate at which the battery is being charged as a function of the third control signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger (102) includes an input terminal (124) for receiving control signals from radio (104). The control signals are received by a charge controller (112) which provides a charge rate to radio battery pack (106) which is a function of the control signal. Radio (104) includes a controller (126) which can sense the state of the radio battery pack (106), as well as changes in the state of radio (104). Controller (126) can then modify the control signal sent to charger (102) and therefor the battery charge rate proved by charger (102) based on certain changes in the state of battery pack (106) or radio (104).
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A method for charging using a controller-less battery charger an electronic device having a battery, the battery having a battery parameter, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at the electronic device; sending a first control signal from the electronic device to the battery charger; monitoring the battery parameter; sending a second control signal to the battery charger if the battery parameter has reached a predetermined level; monitoring the electronic device for any changes in the state of the electronic device while the battery is being charged; sending a third control signal to the battery charger if the electronic device has changed state; and at the controller-less battery charger; receiving the first control signal; providing the first control signal to a variable current source; charging the battery using the variable current source at a first charge rate corresponding to the control signal; charging the battery at a second charge rate corresponding to the second control signal when the second control signal is provided to the variable current source; receiving the third control signal if it is sent by the electronic device; and modifying the charge rate at which the battery is being charged as a function of the third control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An electronic device having a rechargeable battery which can be recharged using a controller-less battery charger, the rechargeable battery having at least one battery parameter, the electronic device comprising:
-
control means for determining the at least one battery parameter from the rechargeable battery; output means for providing a control signal which is a function of the at least one battery parameter to the controller-less battery charger, the control signal sets the rate at which the rechargeable battery is charged; and
the control means also determines if the amount of current which is being consumed by the electronic device has changed by a predetermined amount and if so, the control means informs the output means to send a new control signal to the battery charger in order to modify the rate at which the rechargeable battery is being charged. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
Specification