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Battery charging apparatus

  • US 5,541,491 A
  • Filed: 08/08/1994
  • Issued: 07/30/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A battery charging apparatus for charging a chargeable battery, comprising:

  • a dc power source for generating a charging current;

    current control means connected between said dc power source and a chargeable battery to be charged;

    charging controller means connected to said current control means for controlling a flow of said charging current from said dc power source to said chargeable battery, and for supplying a pulse train of control pulses to said current control means for supplying said charging current to said chargeable battery corresponding to a change in self-discharge after a completion of charging of said battery; and

    charging condition detecting means for detecting when said chargeable battery is fully charged and when said chargeable battery starts discharging at a self-discharge rate;

    wherein said charging controller means supplies said control pulse train to said current control means and the pulse width and the interval between the control pluses of said pulse train are selected by said charging controller means based at least upon the rate of self-discharge of said chargeable battery such that said chargeable battery receives pulses of said charging current corresponding to said control pulse train which are sufficient to affect said self-discharging.

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