Battery charger having a temperature sensor and a rechargeable battery charging method
First Claim
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1. A battery charger having a temperature sensor comprising:
- (a) a power supply circuit with heat producing elements;
(b) a control means connected between the power supply circuit and a rechargeable battery to control rechargeable battery charging; and
the control means comprising;
(1) a voltage detection section to determine battery voltage;
(2) a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of heat producing elements in the power supply circuit; and
(3) a control circuit to operate on the voltage detected by the voltage detection section and control rechargeable battery charging, to stop charging when the rechargeable battery reaches full charge, to operate on the signal input From the temperature sensor to determine the temperature of heat producing elements in the power supply circuit, to reduce rechargeable battery charging current when the detected temperature becomes greater than or equal to a specified temperature, and to suspend detection of full rechargeable battery charge when the charging current is reduced.
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Abstract
A temperature sensor avoids battery charger over-heating when rechargeable batteries arc charged In succession. The battery charger is provided with a control means having a voltage detection section and a control circuit. The control circuit stops charging when a rechargeable battery reaches full charge. The control means also has a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of heat producing elements in the power supply circuit. Charging current is reduced when the temperature of heat generating elements exceeds a specified temperature. Full charge detection is suspended when charging current is reduced to avoid false detection.
69 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A battery charger having a temperature sensor comprising:
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(a) a power supply circuit with heat producing elements; (b) a control means connected between the power supply circuit and a rechargeable battery to control rechargeable battery charging; and
the control means comprising;(1) a voltage detection section to determine battery voltage; (2) a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of heat producing elements in the power supply circuit; and (3) a control circuit to operate on the voltage detected by the voltage detection section and control rechargeable battery charging, to stop charging when the rechargeable battery reaches full charge, to operate on the signal input From the temperature sensor to determine the temperature of heat producing elements in the power supply circuit, to reduce rechargeable battery charging current when the detected temperature becomes greater than or equal to a specified temperature, and to suspend detection of full rechargeable battery charge when the charging current is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A rechargeable battery charging method comprising:
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(a) detecting battery voltage with a voltage detection section; (b) detecting the temperature of heat producing elements in a power supply circuit with a temperature sensor; and (c) with a control circuit, operating on the detected battery voltage to stop charging when a rechargeable battery reaches full charge, operating on the signal detected from the temperature sensor to reduce rechargeable battery charging current when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes greater than or equal to a specified temperature, and suspending rechargeable battery full charge detection when the charging current is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification