Microcontrolled battery charger
First Claim
1. A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:
- a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged;
means for sensing the power dissipation of said power transistor; and
means for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charged as a function of the power dissipation of said power transistor.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger for use with different types of batteries, such as batteries requiring constant current charging, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, as well as batteries which not only require constant current charging, but also require constant voltage charging, such as lithium ion batteries. The battery charger includes a pulse width modulator circuit for controlling a power transistor to provide a constant current or a constant voltage output as a function of the battery characteristics. The battery charger may include dual pockets for charging two modular batteries on a time division multiplex basis. In the dual pocket application, power is divided between the two pockets as a function of the charging characteristics of the battery and the power dissipation of the power transistors used for supplying charging current to the pockets.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:
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a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power transistor; and means for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charged as a function of the power dissipation of said power transistor. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:
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a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power transistor, said sensing means including means for sensing the power dissipation of said power supply; and means for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charred as a function of the power dissipation of said power transistor, wherein said controlling means includes a pulse width modulator (PWM) and means for receiving a predetermined input signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A multipocket battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply, the battery charger comprising:
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a first pocket for receiving a first battery; a first power transistor connected between said power supply and said first pocket; means for controlling said first power transistor to provide a constant current output to said first pocket; a second pocket for receiving a second battery; a second power transistor connected between said power supply and said second pocket; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power supply; and means for controlling said first power transistor and said second power transistor so that the electrical power to said first pocket and said second pocket as a function of the power dissipation of said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A multipocket battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply, the battery charger comprising:
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a first pocket for receiving a first battery; a first power transistor connected between said power supply and said first pocket; a second pocket for receiving a second battery; a second power transistor connected between said power supply and said second pocket; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power supply; and means for controlling said first power transistor and said second power transistor so that the electrical power supplied to said first Docket and said second pocket is a function of the power dissipation of said power supply, wherein said controlling means includes a pulse width modulator (PWM), said PWM having means for receiving a predetermined input signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:
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a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power supply; and means for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charged as a function of the power dissipation of said power supply.
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15. A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:
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a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged; means for sensing the power dissipation of said power supply; and means for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charged as a function of the power dissipation of said power supply, wherein said controlling means includes a pulse width modulator (PWM) and means for receiving a predetermined input signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification