Battery charging system with battery pack of different charging voltages using common a battery charger

• US 5,994,874 A
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hirose, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US09/078,449
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 300/160, 300/162, 300/125
• US Class Current: 320/125
• 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 rechargeable battery pack includes a rechargeable battery having a predetermined charge voltage, and a circuit for generating a control voltage depending on a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery so that the control voltage reaches a predetermined control voltage when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined charge voltage of the rechargeable battery. A battery charger for the rechargeable battery changes the charging control from constant-current to constant-voltage depending on whether the control voltage reaches the predetermined control voltage.

Claims

1. A battery charging system comprising a battery charger and a plurality of rechargeable battery packs each having a different predetermined charge voltage,

each of the rechargeable battery packs comprising:

a rechargeable battery having a predetermined charge voltage; and

a circuit for generating a control voltage depending on a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery so that the control voltage reaches a predetermined control voltage when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined charge voltage of the rechargeable battery,

wherein the battery charger charges the rechargeable battery depending on the control voltage received from a rechargeable battery connected thereto.

2. The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined control voltage is set to a common voltage for each rechargeable battery.

3. The battery charging system according to claim 2, wherein the battery charger changes charging control from constant-current to constant-voltage depending on whether the control voltage reaches the predetermined control voltage.

4. The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein the battery charger changes charging control from constant-current to constant-voltage depending on whether the control voltage reaches the predetermined control voltage.

5. The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is a voltage divider for dividing the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery by a predetermined resistance ratio to produce the control voltage.

6. The battery charging system according to claim 5, wherein each of the rechargeable battery packs further comprises:

an open/close switch for opening the circuit when the rechargeable battery pack is removed from the battery charger and closing the circuit when the rechargeable battery pack is connected to the battery charger.

7. The battery charging system according to claim 6, wherein the open/close switch is included in the voltage divider.

8. The battery charging system according to claim 6, wherein the open/close switch comprises two separate terminals which electrically divides the voltage divider into two parts, wherein the separate terminals are closed when the rechargeable battery pack is connected to the battery charger.

9. The battery charging system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit provides the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery as the control voltage.

10. A rechargeable battery pack comprising:

a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having a predetermined charge voltage; and

a circuit for generating a control voltage depending on a battery voltage of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery so that the control voltage reaches a predetermined control voltage when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined charge voltage of the rechargeable battery, wherein the predetermined control voltage is set to a common voltage for another rechargeable battery.

11. The rechargeable battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the circuit is a voltage divider for dividing the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery by a predetermined resistance ratio to produce the control voltage.

12. The rechargeable battery pack according to claim 11, wherein each of the rechargeable battery packs further comprises:

an open/close switch for opening the circuit when the rechargeable battery pack is removed from the battery charger and closing the circuit when the rechargeable battery pack is connected to the battery charger.

13. The rechargeable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the open/close switch is included in the voltage divider.

14. The rechargeable battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the open/close switch comprises two separate terminals which electrically divides the voltage divider into two parts, wherein the separate terminals are closed when the rechargeable battery pack is connected to the battery charger.

15. The rechargeable battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the circuit provides the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery as the control voltage.

16. A battery charging method for a rechargeable battery pack, comprising the steps of:

a) generating a control voltage depending on a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery so that the control voltage reaches a predetermined control voltage when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined charge voltage of the rechargeable battery; and

b) charging the rechargeable battery depending on the control voltage.

17. The battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined control voltage is set to a common voltage to another rechargeable battery.

18. The battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein the step b) comprises the step of changing charging control from constant-current to constant-voltage depending on whether the control voltage reaches the predetermined control voltage.

19. The battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein the step a) comprises the step of dividing the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery by a predetermined resistance ratio to produce the control voltage.

20. The battery charging method according to claim 16, wherein the step a) comprises the step of providing the battery voltage of the rechargeable battery as the control voltage.