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Process and apparatus for charging lithium cells or the like

  • US 6,091,227 A
  • Filed: 05/20/1997
  • Issued: 07/18/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for charging one or more electrochemical cells wherein one or several of the component parts of said cells are fabricated from lithium or any ion, nuclide, variation, combination, compound or derivative thereof, said cells exhibiting a plurality of characteristics with respect to time while either being charged with or while discharging energy, such process comprising:

  • (a) supplying power for charging one or more lithium type electrochemical cells;

    (b) determining the state of charge of one or more lithium type electrochemical cells based upon the current state of charge of said cells and the voltage across the terminals of said cells as the cells are charged with a constant current;

    (c) determining the state of charge of one or more lithium type electrochemical cells based upon the current state of charge of said cells and the magnitude of the current with which the cells are charging or which the cells are discharging;

    (d) determining the state of charge of one or more lithium type electrochemical cells based upon the current state of charge of said cells and the direction of current flowing into or out of said cells;

    (e) determining the state of charge of one ore more lithium type electrochemical cells based upon the duration of time for which the cells are charging; and

    (c) supplying power to one or more lithium type electrochemical cells for charging said cells based upon an analysis of the thus determined state of charge of said cells and the plurality of characteristics exhibited by said cells with respect to time.

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