Battery identification apparatus and associated method

• US 5,656,917 A
• Filed: 12/14/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amperex Technology Limited (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Theobald, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Law, Patrick B.
• Application Number:
  US08/572,837
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/15, 320/22, 320/23, 320/35
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery identification system (100) includes a battery (104), a device (102), and an apparatus (106). The battery (104) is of a particular type (e.g., NiCd, NiMH, Lithium Ion) and is detachably coupled to the device (102). The device (102) includes a controller (112) that determines the type of the battery (104) and generates a number of signals according to the type. The apparatus (106) is detachably coupled to the device (102) and includes a current source (164) and a controller (162) that detects the number of signals. The controller (162), responsive to the controller (112), controls the current source (164) to initially provide charging current at a first rate to the battery (104) until reception of a first one of the number of signals. The controller (162) thereafter identifies the type of the battery (104) from the detection of additional ones of the number of signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for identifying a type of a battery detachably coupled to an electronic device that is detachably coupled to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an output;

an input;

a charging circuit for supplying a charging current at the output for charging the battery; and

a control circuit coupled to the input for coupling to the electronic device, the control circuit coupled to the charging circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for interrupting the charging current upon reception of a first predetermined signal from the electronic device, the control circuit including circuitry responsive to a predetermined number of additional first predetermined signals received from the electronic device to identify the type of battery.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry responsive to the predetermined number of additional first predetermined signals includes:

a counter circuit for counting the additional first predetermined signals.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry responsive to the predetermined number of additional first predetermined signals includes:

a timer, initiating responsive to reception of the first predetermined signal, for timing a period over which the predetermined number of additional first predetermined signals should be received from the electronic device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the additional first predetermined signals includes a pulse having a predetermined duration.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

the apparatus is a battery charger,

the charging current of the charging circuit is a first charging current or a second charging current,

the circuitry for interrupting the charging current interrupts the first charging current upon reception of a first predetermined signal from the electronic device, and

the control circuit further includes circuitry for supplying the second charging current responsive to the circuitry responsive to the predetermined number of additional first predetermined signals.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a battery voltage meter coupled to the output for indicating a voltage of the battery to the control circuit.

7. A device for communicating a type of a battery detachably coupled thereto, the device comprising:

a connector for communicating signals; and

a control circuit coupled to the battery and the connector, the control circuit sensing an identification voltage provided by the battery, the identification voltage corresponding to a temperature of the battery, the control circuit comparing the identification voltage to predetermined identification voltages and determining the type of the battery, the predetermined identification voltages corresponding to a predetermined temperature range, the control circuit coupling a predetermined number of first predetermined signals to the connector when the temperature falls outside of the predetermined temperature range, the predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery.

8. A device for communicating a type of a battery detachably coupled thereto, the device comprising:

a connector for communicating signals; and

a control circuit coupled to the battery and the connector, the control circuit sensing an identification voltage provided by the battery, the control circuit comparing the identification voltage to predetermined identification voltages and determining the type of the battery, the control circuit coupling a predetermined number of first predetermined signals to the connector, the predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery, wherein a first one of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals changes charging rate.

9. A device for communicating a type of a battery detachably coupled thereto, the device comprising:

a connector for communicating signals; and

a control circuit coupled to the battery and the connector, the control circuit sensing an identification voltage provided by the battery, the control circuit comparing the identification voltage to predetermined identification voltages and determining the type of the battery, the control circuit coupling a predetermined number of first predetermined signals to the connector, additional ones of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals corresponding to the type of the battery, each of the additional ones of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals including a pulse having a predetermined duration.

10. A device for communicating a type of a battery detachably coupled thereto, the device comprising:

a sensing circuit for sensing a temperature of the battery;

a comparator circuit coupled to the sensing circuit for comparing the temperature to a predetermined range of temperatures; and

a signalling circuit coupled to the comparator circuit for communicating a predetermined number of first predetermined signals when the temperature falls outside of the predetermined range, the predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery.

11. A battery identification system comprising:

a battery having one of a plurality of types;

an electronic device detachably coupled to the battery, the electronic device detecting a type of the battery and generating a predetermined number of first predetermined signals responsive thereto; and

an apparatus detachably coupled to the electronic device, the apparatus including circuitry for supplying a charging current to the battery and detecting the predetermined number of first predetermined signals, the apparatus supplying the charging current until reception of a first one of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals, the apparatus thereafter identifying the type of the battery in response to reception of additional ones of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals.

12. A battery identification system according to claim 11 wherein the battery is a lithium battery.

13. A battery identification and charging system:

a battery having an identity;

a radiotelephone detachably receiving the battery, the radiotelephone including

radio frequency circuitry to be powered by the battery,

a device connector,

a device controller coupled to the battery and the device connector, the device controller sensing a temperature of the battery, device controller comparing the temperature to a predetermined range of temperatures, the device controller coupling a predetermined number of signals to the device connector when the temperature falls outside of the predetermined range of temperatures, the device controller initially communicating a first one of the predetermined number of signals to change charging rate, the device controller thereafter communicating additional ones of the predetermined number of signals to indicate the identity of the battery; and

a charger including

a charger connector detachably coupled to the device connector, the charger connector including an input and an output,

a current source for supplying a first charging current or a second charging current at the output of the charger connector for charging the battery, and

a charger controller coupled to the input of the charger connector and the current source, the charger controller initially supplying the first charging current until reception of the first one of the predetermined number of signals, the charger controller identifying the battery according to reception of additional ones of the predetermined number of signals within a predetermined time period, the charger controller thereafter supplying the second charging current.

14. A method of identifying a type of a battery detachably coupled to an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a charging current to the battery;

interrupting the charging current after reception of a first predetermined signal; and

counting additional receptions of the first predetermined signal to identify the type of the battery.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of counting is preceded by a step of:

starting a timer.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of counting is followed by a step of:

stopping the timer a predetermined time period after the step of starting, the predetermined time period being a period over which the additional receptions of the first predetermined signal should occur.

17. A method of charging a battery having a type detachably coupled to an electronic device, the method comprising steps of:

supplying a first charging current to the battery;

interrupting the first charging current after reception of a first predetermined signal;

counting additional receptions of the first predetermined signal to identify the type of the battery; and

supplying, responsive to identifying the type of the battery, a second charging current to the battery.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of supplying is followed by a step of:

interrupting the second charging current when the battery reaches a predetermined voltage.

19. A method of communicating a type of a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an identification voltage provided by the battery;

comparing the identification voltage to a plurality of predetermined identification voltages and determining the type of the battery; and

generating, responsive to determining the type of the battery, a predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery, a first one of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals to change charging rate.