Fast battery charging system and method

• US 6,043,630 A
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unova Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Koenck, Steven E., Miller, Phillip, Becker, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shin, K.
• Application Number:
  US09/223,983
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/137, 320/127-136, 324/426, 324/427, 324/430, 324/433-435, 340/636, 429/90-94
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/162 of electrical cells or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 : Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 : with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 : the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 : in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 : of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 : for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/10 : Nonbattery load controls charging

Abstract

In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging.. The system may automatically identify battery type and progressively increase charging current while monitoring for an increase in battery terminal voltage to ascertain the level of load current. The battery temperature may be brought into a relationship to surrounding temperature such that by applying a suitable overcharge current value and observing any resultant temperature increase, the level of remaining battery charge can be determined. For example, if the battery is found to be relatively fully discharged, a relatively high fast-charge rate may be safely applied while monitoring battery temperature. If the battery is initially relatively fully charged or reaches such a state during fast charge, the system may automatically dynamically select a maintenance charge rate according to battery type and temperature. A preferred system may automatically recharge the batteries of a portable device according to an optimum schedule of essentially maximum safe charging rates as a function of battery temperature, and thereafter safely maintain the batteries at essentially fully charged condition in readiness for maximum duration portable operation.

Claims

1. A battery monitoring and charging control system comprising:

a battery;

a first processor for generating battery information using at least one measured battery parameter; and

a second processor for receiving the battery information, the second processor using the battery information for generating control signals for controlling charging of the battery.

2. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising a two-way communication link between the first and second processors.

3. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 2 wherein the battery information is communicated to the second processor via the two-way communication link.

4. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising circuitry responsive to the control signals for charging the battery.

5. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising circuitry for measuring the at least one battery parameter.

6. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the battery information is stored in memory.

7. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the second processor stores in memory a measured value of capacity of the battery.

8. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the first processor is located in a battery pack.

9. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 8 wherein the second processor is located externally of the battery pack.

10. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the second processor uses the battery information to control discharge of the battery.

11. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the first processor is located in a portable utilization device.

12. A battery monitoring and charging control system comprising:

a battery;

first circuitry for measuring at least one battery parameter;

a first processor for generating battery information using the at least one battery parameter;

a second processor for receiving the battery information and for generating a charging control signal using the battery information; and

second circuitry responsive to the charging control signal for charging the battery.

13. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 further comprising a two-way communication link between the first and second processors.

14. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is communicated to the second processor via the two-way communication link.

15. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is stored in memory.

16. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is communicated from the memory to the second processor.

17. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the first processor is located in a battery pack.

18. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 17 wherein the second processor is located externally of the battery pack.

19. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the first processor is located in a portable utilization device.

20. A method of monitoring and charging a battery in a battery system comprising:

measuring at least one battery parameter;

generating by a first processor battery information using at least one battery parameter;

communicating the battery information to a second processor;

generating by the second processor a control signal using the battery information; and

charging the battery based on the control signal.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising storing the battery information in memory.