Battery charger for portable rechargeable batteries
First Claim
1. A method of charging a portable rechargeable battery, said method comprisingproducing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage,initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, andterminating the rapid charging of the battery after the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said upper threshold being substantially below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity.
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Abstract
The method of charging a portable rechargeable battery produces an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage. Rapid charging of the battery is initiated by supplying a high charging current to the battery when a signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold. The battery voltage at this lower threshold is high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by the battery. The rapid charging of the battery is terminated after the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold. The battery voltage at the upper threshold is substantially below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of charging a portable rechargeable battery, said method comprising
producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, and terminating the rapid charging of the battery after the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said upper threshold being substantially below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity.
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2. A method of charging a portable rechargeable battery, said method comprising:
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producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, starting the measurement of a preselected time interval when the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said upper threshold being below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity, and terminating the rapid charging of the battery and initiating a trickle charge by supplying a low charging current to the battery when said preselected time interval expires. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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16. A method of charging a portable rechargeable battery, said method comprising:
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producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, and continuing the rapid charging of the battery for a preselected time interval after the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said upper threshold being below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity.
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17. A method of charging a portable rechargeable battery, said method comprising:
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producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, and terminating the rapid charge of the battery after the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said upper threshold being below the output voltage of a battery that is charged to 100% of its nominal capacity, wherein a difference between said upper and said lower thresholds is established by artificially increasing the level of said signal representing the battery output voltage when the battery is not being rapidly charged, and removing said artificial increase upon initiation of rapid charging of the battery.
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18. A system for charging a portable rechargeable battery from the electrical system of a vehicle, said system comprising
means for producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, means for initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, and means for terminating the rapid charging of the battery after the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold.
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19. A system for charging a portable rechargeable battery from the electrical system of a vehicle, said system comprising:
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means for producing an electrical signal representing the battery output voltage, means for initiating rapid charging of the battery by supplying a high charging current to the battery when the signal representing the battery output voltage drops below a preselected lower threshold, the battery output voltage corresponding to said lower threshold being high enough to maintain the operation of a device powered by said battery, means for starting the measurement of a preselected time interval when the signal representing the battery output voltage rises to a preselected upper threshold, and means for terminating the rapid charging of the battery and initiating a trickle charge by supplying a low charging current to the battery when said preselected time interval expires. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification