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Multiple station charging apparatus with stored charging algorithms

  • US 5,734,253 A
  • Filed: 07/26/1996
  • Issued: 03/31/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A battery charging apparatus for charging a plurality of rechargeable battery packs, the apparatus comprising:

  • a) a housing defining a plurality of charging stations and an interior region supporting apparatus electronics;

    b) the apparatus electronics including a power supply and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the power supply and the charging stations, the microprocessor controlling a charging voltage and a charging current supplied to each charging station;

    c) each charging station of the plurality of charging stations adapted to receive a rechargeable battery pack, the received battery pack being one of a plurality of battery pack types, each charging station including a memory device and circuitry for electrically coupling a battery pack received in the station to the power supply;

    d) the memory device for each charging station having a plurality of charging algorithms stored therein, one charging algorithm being stored for each of the plurality of battery pack types, each of the charging algorithms of the plurality of charging algorithms including values for a charging voltage and a charging current for charging a battery pack type; and

    e) the apparatus electronics identifying the battery pack type of a battery pack received in a selected one of the plurality of charging stations, reading the plurality of charging algorithms stored in the memory device of the selected one of the plurality of charging stations, selecting one of the plurality of charging algorithms corresponding to the battery pack type of the battery pack received in the selected one of the plurality of charging stations, and generating control signals in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of charging algorithms to control the charging voltage and charging current coupled from the power supply to the battery pack received in the selected one of the plurality of charging stations.

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