Charging device for commonly charging various kinds of battery

• US 5,889,382 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Jung, Yeon-Tak
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US08/889,039
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/162, 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A charging device for commonly charging various kinds of batteries is provided. The charging device includes a switching portion controlled to interrupt the supply of power to the charging device and a plurality of charging paths located between a charging power supply port and the battery'"'"'s charging port, corresponding to the kinds of battery. A charging voltage detector detects a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the first sensing resistor of a battery assembly in order to detect the charged voltage of the battery and a capacity detector detects a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the second sensing resistor of the battery assembly in order to detect the charged capacity of the battery. A main controller determines the kind of battery and selects a corresponding charging path according to the voltage and current value respectively detected from the charging voltage detector and capacity detector so as to allow the selected charging path to be connected to the battery'"'"'s charging port.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging different kinds of batteries by electrically connecting to a battery assembly having a charging battery with charging ports and first and second sensing resistors coupled to the battery, the charging device comprising:

a switching portion controlled to interrupt the supply of power to the charging device;

a plurality of charging paths located between a charging power supply port and the battery'"'"'s charging port;

a charging voltage detector for detecting a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the first sensing resistor of the battery assembly in order to detect the charged voltage of the battery;

a capacity detector for detecting a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the second sensing resistor of the battery assembly in order to detect the charged capacity of the battery; and

a controller for determining the kind of battery and selecting a corresponding charging path according to the voltage and current value respectively detected from said charging voltage detector and capacity detector, said controller connecting the selected charging path to the battery'"'"'s charging port.

2. The charging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output voltage controller connected to the positive battery charging port for determining whether the voltage currently charged in the battery is higher than a proper charging voltage of a corresponding battery, said output controller generating a predetermined feedback signal to said switching portion when the voltage currently charged in the battery is higher, said feedback signal opening said switching portion.

3. The charging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display connected to said controller and adapted to provide visual indication of predetermined states so that a user can confirm the state of charging.

4. A charging device for commonly charging various kinds of batteries, the device charging them when connected to a battery assembly having a charging battery and first and second sensing resistors coupled to the battery, the charging device comprising:

a connector having a voltage feedback port, a positive charging port, a current feedback port and a ground port, said connector coupling the voltage feedback port and current feedback port to the battery via the first and second sensing resistors, respectively, when the battery assembly is mounted on the charging device;

a switching portion controlled to interrupt the supply of power to the charging device;

a plurality of charging paths located between a charging power supply port and the connector'"'"'s charging port;

an output voltage controller connected to the positive charging port of said connector, for determining whether the voltage currently charged in the battery is higher than a proper charging voltage of a corresponding battery, and generating a predetermined feedback signal to the switching portion when the voltage currently charged in the battery is higher, said feedback signal opening said switching portion;

a charging voltage detector for detecting a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the first sensing resistor of the battery assembly via the voltage feedback port of the connector;

a capacity detector for detecting a predetermined voltage or current formed when connected to the second sensing resistor of the battery assembly via the current feedback port of the connector;

a memory for storing a predetermined charging voltage and capacity reference value according to the kind of the battery;

an analog-to-digital converter for digitalizing analog voltage and current detected from said charging voltage detector and capacity detector; and

a CPU for accessing said memory according to the voltage and current value transmitted from said analog-to-digital converter, said CPU deciding the kind of the battery, and generating a battery type deciding signal to select one charging path.

5. The charging device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a display adapted to provide visual indication of predetermined states so that a user can confirm the state of charging.

6. A charging device for charging different kinds of batteries by electrically connecting to a battery assembly having a charging battery and sensing means coupled to a battery, the charging device comprising:

a plurality of charging paths located between a charging power supply port and the battery'"'"'s charging port;

detection means connected to the sensing means for detecting the charged voltage and capacity of the battery; and

controller means for determining the kind of battery and connecting a selected charging path in response to detected voltage and capacity values.