Method for charging a rechargeable battery
First Claim
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1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery comprising the steps of:
- measuring the charging current or the corresponding voltage and the temperature of the battery;
charging the battery with a constant current until the measured battery temperature is a predetermined temperature;
controlling the charging current or the corresponding voltage after the predetermined temperature is reached such that the temperature of the battery is held constant;
determining a charging efficiency by measuring a portion of electrical energy inputted to the battery that is conveyed into heat per unit of time; and
ending the constant temperature charging when the determined charging efficiency falls below a predetermined level.
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Abstract
In a method for charging a rechargeable battery an ultra-fast charging of in particular NiMH-batteries is achieved by controlling the charging current and the charging voltage, respectively, such that the temperature of the battery is constant. Due to the constant temperature control it is avoided that unnecessary electrical energy is waisted for heating the battery. The end of charging is preferably determined by detecting a predetermined change of the charging efficiency.
31 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery comprising the steps of:
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measuring the charging current or the corresponding voltage and the temperature of the battery; charging the battery with a constant current until the measured battery temperature is a predetermined temperature; controlling the charging current or the corresponding voltage after the predetermined temperature is reached such that the temperature of the battery is held constant; determining a charging efficiency by measuring a portion of electrical energy inputted to the battery that is conveyed into heat per unit of time; and ending the constant temperature charging when the determined charging efficiency falls below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Method for determining the end of the charging of a rechargeable battery, comprising the following steps:
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(a) detecting the portion of the inputted electrical energy that is chemically stored in the battery in the beginning of the charging process; (b) detecting a current value for the portion of the inputted that is chemically stored in the battery; (c) determining a (relative) charging efficiency by determining the ratio of the portions determined in steps (a) and (b); (d) comparing the charging efficiency determined in step (c) with a predetermined value; and (e) determining the end of the charging if the comparison in step (d) indicates that the charging efficiency is smaller than the predetermined value.
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Specification