Battery charger for preventing memory effect
First Claim
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1. A battery charger for preventing deterioration from memory effect, comprising:
- first and second terminals positioned to respectively receive the positive and negative terminals of a rechargeable battery; and
a switching circuit responsive to first and second reference voltages, said second reference voltage being lower than said first reference voltage, coupled to automatically discharge the battery when a battery voltage displayed by the battery across said first and second terminals is between the first and second reference voltages, and to automatically charge the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage, said switching circuit further comprising;
a first switch disposed between the positive terminal of the battery and a reference potential, said first switch acting in response to the battery voltage and without user intervention to electrically connect the positive terminal of the battery to the reference potential to discharge the battery when the battery voltage is between the first and second reference voltages; and
a second switch disposed between a voltage source of said battery charger and the positive terminal of the battery said second switch acting in response to the battery voltage and without user intervention to electrically connect the voltage source to the positive terminal of the battery to charge the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage.
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Abstract
A battery charger, for preventing deterioration from the memory effect, that includes a switching circuit with first and second reference voltages. The second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage. The switching circuit forcibly discharges a battery where the voltage level corresponding to battery capacity is between the first and second reference voltages, and charges the battery after the battery capacity reaches the second reference voltage.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A battery charger for preventing deterioration from memory effect, comprising:
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first and second terminals positioned to respectively receive the positive and negative terminals of a rechargeable battery; and a switching circuit responsive to first and second reference voltages, said second reference voltage being lower than said first reference voltage, coupled to automatically discharge the battery when a battery voltage displayed by the battery across said first and second terminals is between the first and second reference voltages, and to automatically charge the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage, said switching circuit further comprising; a first switch disposed between the positive terminal of the battery and a reference potential, said first switch acting in response to the battery voltage and without user intervention to electrically connect the positive terminal of the battery to the reference potential to discharge the battery when the battery voltage is between the first and second reference voltages; and a second switch disposed between a voltage source of said battery charger and the positive terminal of the battery said second switch acting in response to the battery voltage and without user intervention to electrically connect the voltage source to the positive terminal of the battery to charge the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A battery charger that converts alternating current into direct current and prevents deterioration from the memory effect, comprising:
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a first terminal forming an output node connectable to a first pole of a battery to be charged by said charger with the direct current; an over-discharge protector operational responsive to first and second reference voltages, said second reference voltage being lower than said first reference voltage, for generating a discharge switching signal when an output voltage occurring at said output node is between said first and second reference voltages in magnitude, and for generating a charge switching signal when said output voltage occurring at said output node reaches said second reference voltage in magnitude; a first switching circuit, operationally connected to respond to said discharge switching signal and to said charge switching signal, for accommodating flow of electrical current to charge the battery via said output node in response to said charge switching signal and for interrupting said flow of electrical current in response to said discharge switching signal; and a discharge circuit connected between said over-discharge protector and said output node, comprising a second switching circuit responding to said discharge switching signal by forming an electrical connection between said output node and a circuit ground potential for discharging the battery through the output node, and responding to said charge switching signal by opening said electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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first and second terminals positioned to respectively receive the positive and negative terminals of a rechargeable battery; and a switching circuit responsive to first and second reference voltages, said second reference voltage being lower in magnitude than said first reference voltage, coupled to automatically discharge the battery when a battery voltage displayed by the battery across said first and second terminals is between the first and second reference voltages in value, and to automatically charge the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage, said switching circuit further comprising; a first switch electrically coupled between the positive terminal of the battery and a reference potential, said first switch automatically responding to the battery voltage independently of human intervention by electrically connecting the positive terminal of the battery to the reference potential when the battery voltage is between the first and second reference voltages; and a second switch electrically coupled between a voltage source of said apparatus and the positive terminal of the battery, said second switch automatically responding to the battery voltage independently of human intervention by electrically connecting the voltage source to the positive terminal of the battery after the battery voltage reaches said second reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification