×

Battery charging method and apparatus using initial charging step with gradually increasing charging current, quick charging step with large charging current and final charging step with decreasing charging current

  • US 5,500,584 A
  • Filed: 11/03/1993
  • Issued: 03/19/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A battery charging method comprising the steps of:

  • an initial charging step of applying a first gradually increasing charging current, to start charging of a battery,a monitoring step of monitoring the charging current in the initial charging step after elapse of a predetermined charging time, to provide a detected value,a comparing step of comparing said detected value with a predetermined value,a quick charging step of thereafter intermittently applying a second charging current which is larger than the first charging current, while monitoring a terminal voltage of the battery, to charge the battery to a charge-end voltage, when said detected value is greater than said predetermined value in said comparing step, said quick charging step including the steps alternately repeating;

    a charging period during which an intermittent supply of the second charging current is continued, anda charging suspension period during which the intermittent supply of the second charging current is suspended,until the terminal voltage of the battery reaches the charge-end voltage, anda final charging step of thereafter applying a gradually decreasing charging current, to finish charging of the battery.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×