Battery charging system
First Claim
1. A charging system comprising:
- a working battery;
a charging battery electrically coupled to the working battery to thereby charge the working battery,wherein the charging battery is coupled to the working battery with substantially no intervening current limit circuitry to limit the level of current delivered by the charging battery to the working battery, andwherein a number of cells in the charging battery is greater than a number of cells in the working battery, the series voltage of the number of cells in the charging battery being less than or equal to a maximum rated voltage of the working battery;
a charging unit, electrically coupled to the charging battery, the charging unit converting ac current from an external ac source to dc charging current to charge the charging battery; and
current limit circuitry that limits the level of the dc charging current produced by the charging unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging system enables rapid recharging of a working battery without immediate access to ac power and without the need for current limit and/or overvoltage protection. The battery charging system makes use of a charging battery having a number of cells that is greater than the number of cells in the working battery. The charging battery produces a charging current that is proportional to the difference in the number of cells in each battery. In this manner, the battery recharging system is capable of rapidly recharging the working battery. The number of cells in the charging battery is selected, however, such that the series voltage of the charging battery cells is less than or equal to the maximum rated voltage of the working battery. Thus, the voltage of the charging battery is greater than the operating voltage of the working battery but less than or equal to the maximum voltage rating of the working battery. As a result, the charging battery is generally incapable of overcharging the working battery, and therefore does not require current limit and/or overvoltage protection circuitry.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A charging system comprising:
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a working battery; a charging battery electrically coupled to the working battery to thereby charge the working battery, wherein the charging battery is coupled to the working battery with substantially no intervening current limit circuitry to limit the level of current delivered by the charging battery to the working battery, and wherein a number of cells in the charging battery is greater than a number of cells in the working battery, the series voltage of the number of cells in the charging battery being less than or equal to a maximum rated voltage of the working battery; a charging unit, electrically coupled to the charging battery, the charging unit converting ac current from an external ac source to dc charging current to charge the charging battery; and current limit circuitry that limits the level of the dc charging current produced by the charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification