Apparatus and method of monitoring battery temperature during charging
First Claim
1. A method of charging a battery having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal, wherein a thermistor is positioned across said negative terminal and said third terminal, said charging method comprising the following steps:
- (a) determining whether a battery is connected to a battery charger for charging;
(b) determining whether said battery is also connected to a portable communication device in an operational state;
(c) selectively biasing said thermistor by a current from one of said portable communication device and said battery charger so that a voltage is provided at said third battery terminal representative of a temperature in said battery;
(d) determining whether said battery temperature is within a designated temperature range; and
(e) charging said battery with a charge current so long as said battery temperature is within said designated temperature range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for charging a battery having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal is disclosed, where a thermistor is positioned across the negative terminal and the third terminal. The apparatus includes a positive contact positioned so as to engage the positive terminal of the battery, a negative contact positioned so as to engage the negative terminal of the battery, a third contact positioned so as to engage the third terminal of the battery, and a logic circuit connected to the positive, negative and third terminals. In addition, a switching device is provided which receives an input from the logic circuit that dictates whether the switching device is positioned closed so as to connect the third contact to a biasing source. The position of the switching device is determined by comparing the voltage at the third contact to a predetermined threshold voltage.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of charging a battery having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal, wherein a thermistor is positioned across said negative terminal and said third terminal, said charging method comprising the following steps:
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(a) determining whether a battery is connected to a battery charger for charging; (b) determining whether said battery is also connected to a portable communication device in an operational state; (c) selectively biasing said thermistor by a current from one of said portable communication device and said battery charger so that a voltage is provided at said third battery terminal representative of a temperature in said battery; (d) determining whether said battery temperature is within a designated temperature range; and (e) charging said battery with a charge current so long as said battery temperature is within said designated temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for charging a battery having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal, wherein a thermistor is positioned across said negative terminal and said third terminal to provide a voltage representative of a temperature in said battery, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a positive contact positioned so as to engage said positive terminal of said battery; (b) a negative contact positioned so as to engage said negative terminal of said battery; (c) a third contact positioned so as to engage said third terminal of said battery; (d) a logic circuit connected to said positive, negative, and third contacts; and (e) a switching device receiving an input from said logic circuit which dictates whether said switching device is positioned closed so as to connect a biasing source to said third contact or positioned open; wherein the position of said switching device is determined by said voltage received from said third battery terminal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of monitoring temperature of a battery by both a portable communication device and a battery charger connected to said battery, said battery including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal with a temperature sensor positioned across said negative terminal and said third terminal, comprising the following steps:
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(a) determining whether said portable communication device is in an operational state; (b) selectively biasing said temperature sensor by a current from one of said portable communication device and said battery charger; (c) providing a voltage representative of said battery temperature from said temperature sensor to said third terminal of said battery; (d) monitoring the voltage at said third terminal of said battery by said portable communication device; and (e) monitoring the voltage at said third terminal of said battery by said battery charger.
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Specification