Rechargeable battery and charging system
First Claim
1. A rechargeable multiple cell battery comprising:
- a plurality of serially connected cells, each having a positive and negative terminal,a plurality of conductive straps for connecting said positive and negative terminals from different cells together to form a series connection among said plurality of cells defining a voltage between a first positive terminal of one of said cells and a second negative terminal from another cell representing the sum of the individual cell voltages and further defining intermediate terminals between said first and second terminals, said intermediate terminals representing the junction between the series connected cells;
a housing for housing said plurality of cells;
an external positive and negative terminal, electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively, said external positive and negative terminals carried externally by said housing; and
a plurality of external auxiliary terminals carried externally by said housing, said external auxiliary terminals being electrically connected to said intermediate terminals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging system for multiple series connected battery cells which includes a plurality of shunt regulators, adapted to be connected in parallel with each of the cells. The voltage of each cell is monitored during charging. When a cell is fully charged, excess charging current is shunted around the fully charged cell to enable the remaining cells to continue to charge. Circuitry is also provided to prevent the charging system from discharging the cells when the battery is not being charged. In an alternative battery charging system, a voltage source is connected across each of the serially connected batteries. Each voltage source is capable of sourcing or sending charging current. During charging conditions, the voltage sources source charging current to the cells. In order to prevent fully charged cells from being overcharged, the voltage across each cell is monitored. When the cell becomes fully charged, as indicated by the cell voltage, excess charging current is sunk to ground. In another embodiment of the invention, a rechargeable battery, formed from multiple internally series connected cells is provided with an integral battery charger within the battery housing.
47 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A rechargeable multiple cell battery comprising:
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a plurality of serially connected cells, each having a positive and negative terminal, a plurality of conductive straps for connecting said positive and negative terminals from different cells together to form a series connection among said plurality of cells defining a voltage between a first positive terminal of one of said cells and a second negative terminal from another cell representing the sum of the individual cell voltages and further defining intermediate terminals between said first and second terminals, said intermediate terminals representing the junction between the series connected cells; a housing for housing said plurality of cells; an external positive and negative terminal, electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively, said external positive and negative terminals carried externally by said housing; and a plurality of external auxiliary terminals carried externally by said housing, said external auxiliary terminals being electrically connected to said intermediate terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A rechargeable multiple cell battery comprising:
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a plurality of serially connected cells, each having a positive and negative terminal, said serially connected cells being coupled to connect said positive and negative terminals from different cells together to form a series connection among said plurality of cells defining a voltage between a first positive terminal of one of said cells and a second negative terminal from another cell representing the sum of the individual cell voltages and further defining intermediate terminals between said first and second terminals, said intermediate terminals representing the junction between the series connected cells; a housing configured to house said plurality of cells; an external positive and negative terminal, electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively, said external positive and negative terminals carried externally by said housing; and a plurality of external auxiliary terminals carried externally by said housing, said external auxiliary terminals being electrically connected to said intermediate terminals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification