Battery charger status monitor circuit and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a charge level on a battery, the battery being charged with current pulses, the method comprising:
- incrementing a counter with a clock signal;
resetting said counter with a charge signal corresponding to the current pulses for charging the battery; and
disabling said clock signal and said charge signal from respectively incrementing and resetting said counter when said counter reaches at a predetermined count.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger status monitor circuit (40) for monitoring the status of a battery (12) charged with current pulses. The current pulses charging the battery (12) are reduced in frequency and duty cycle as the battery approaches a fully charged condition. By monitoring the number of current pulses charging the battery within a predetermined time period, the charge status of the battery (12) is determined. If no pulses are detected within the predetermined time period, the battery (12) is fully charged. A counter (47) is incremented by a clock signal. A charge signal resets the counter (47). The charge signal corresponds to the current pulses charging the battery. If the counter (47) reaches a predetermined count, the clock and charge signals are disabled. Reaching the predetermined count before resetting indicates the battery (12) is fully charged. When the counter is below the predetermined count, the battery (12) is being charged.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a charge level on a battery, the battery being charged with current pulses, the method comprising:
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incrementing a counter with a clock signal; resetting said counter with a charge signal corresponding to the current pulses for charging the battery; and disabling said clock signal and said charge signal from respectively incrementing and resetting said counter when said counter reaches at a predetermined count. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring a charge level on a battery, the battery being charged with current pulses, the method comprising:
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sensing a first current pulse for charging the battery; indicating the battery is charging when a second current pulse is detected within a predetermined time period after said first current pulse is sensed; and indicating the battery is charged when said second current pulse is not detected within said predetermined time period after said first current pulse is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A battery charger status monitor circuit for monitoring a charge level of a battery, the battery is charged with current pulses, the battery status monitor circuit comprising:
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a counter; a first logic circuit responsive to a clock signal for incrementing said counter; a second logic circuit responsive to a charge signal for resetting said counter, said charge signal corresponding to said current pulses for charging the battery; and a decode circuit responsive to said counter for disabling said first and second logic circuits from respectively incrementing and resetting said counter when said counter reaches a predetermined count. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification