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Battery charging method and apparatus with thermal mass equalization

  • US 5,548,201 A
  • Filed: 09/13/1994
  • Issued: 08/20/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of charging a battery including detection of an onset of an overcharge phase of a battery charging cycle, the method comprising:

  • prior to charging the battery, periodically measuring the temperature of the battery with a first temperature sensor and measuring the change in temperature of the battery'"'"'s environment to determine a characteristic delay in temperature change at the battery in response to a temperature change of the environment of the battery;

    as the battery is being charged, monitoring the temperature of the environment of the battery having an external temperature effect on the battery to determine temperature changes occurring in the monitored temperature of the environment;

    determining an anticipated temperature change at the battery in response to the monitored temperature changes of the environment of the battery by adjusting the temperature changes determined by the temperature monitoring step for the characteristic delay in temperature at the battery;

    measuring the actual temperature change at the battery with a temperature sensor;

    comparing the anticipated temperature change at the battery with the actual temperature change at the battery during said monitoring intervals to determine whether the actual temperature measured at the battery is increased over the anticipated temperature change at the battery indicating an onset of an overcharge phase of the battery charging cycle; and

    discontinuing charging of the battery.

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