Battery charger and method of charging rechargeable batteries
First Claim
1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
- charging the battery with a charging current;
interrupting the charging current periodically to create a current-free period;
sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery during the current-free period;
identifying an indicator of adverse charging within the battery, said indicator being a decrease in chemical polarization over time derived from the sampled open circuit voltage;
lowering the charging current if the indicator is identified; and
continuing charging with the charging current if the indicator is not identified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current; sampling a charging voltage of the battery during charging to recognize potential adverse conditions within the battery; interrupting the charging current periodically to create current-free periods and sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery at a plurality of points during each current-free period to identify potential overcharge conditions in the battery; lowering the charging current if any of the above-identified adverse conditions are identified and continuing charging with the charging current if the potential adverse charging condition is not identified; and terminating charging when a negative slope on a chemical polarization versus time curve is identified below a pre-determined minimum level. The battery charger and method of the present invention may also be utilized to determine the type, design, and chemistry of the battery being charged based on pre-determined chemical polarization values.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
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charging the battery with a charging current; interrupting the charging current periodically to create a current-free period; sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery during the current-free period; identifying an indicator of adverse charging within the battery, said indicator being a decrease in chemical polarization over time derived from the sampled open circuit voltage; lowering the charging current if the indicator is identified; and continuing charging with the charging current if the indicator is not identified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery charger for charging a rechargeable battery or cell comprising:
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a power supply to provide charging current to said battery or cell; a charge interrupter for periodically interrupting the charging current; a voltage sensor for sampling voltage values of the battery, the sampled voltage values of the battery being utilized to derive chemical polarization voltage, VCP, of the battery; a data compiler for compiling and analyzing the voltage values to identify indicators of a need to adjust charging; and a charging current adjuster for adjusting the charging current when said indicators are identified. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A battery charger capable of recognizing what type of battery is being charged, comprising:
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a power supply to provide charging current to said battery; a charge interrupter for periodically interrupting the charging current; a voltage sensor for sampling open-circuit voltage values of the battery, said sampled voltage values of the battery being utilized to derive a chemical polarization voltage, VCP, of the battery; and a data compiler for compiling and analyzing voltage values to identify indicators of the type of battery being charged. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification