Process and apparatus for charging lithium cells or the like
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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Abstract
A process for charging one or more lithium containing electrochemical cells which exhibit a plurality of characteristics with respect to time while either being charged with or while discharging energy, wherein the charging process includes an unpetrify phase, a fast phase, a top up phase, a done phase, a good phase, and a low phase.
27 Citations
5 Claims
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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:
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(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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2. A process for charging an electrochemical cell utilized for supplying operational power in a portable electronic device, the process comprising:
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(a) supplying power to the electrochemical cell, thereby charging the electrochemical cell; (b) determining the state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the voltage across the electrochemical cell as the electrochemical cell is charged with a constant current; (c) further determining the state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the magnitude of current being supplied to the electrochemical cell; (d) further determining the state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the direction of current flow with respect to the electrochemical cell; (e) further determining the state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the duration for which the electrochemical has been charging; and (f) charging the electrochemical cell according to the determined state of charge of the electrochemical cell.
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3. A process for charging an electrochemical cell exhibiting a characteristic electrical output as a function of the charge condition of the cell and as a function of time wherein a plurality of charge states are defined based upon the electrical output of the cell and the duration for which the cell is charged, the process comprising:
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(a) determining the charge state of the electrochemical cell based upon the electrical output of the electrochemical cell and the duration for which the electrochemical cell has been charging; (b) charging the electrochemical cell according to the charge state of the electrochemical cell; (c) detecting a change in the charge state of the cell to a succeeding charge state; and (d) charging the electrochemical cell according to the succeeding charge state. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An apparatus for charging an electrochemical cell exhibiting electrical characteristics indicative of a charge state of the electrochemical cell while charging or discharging including voltage, current magnitude, current direction, and charge time, comprising:
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a controller for controlling the charging and discharging of the electrochemical cell based upon the exhibited electrical characteristics of the electrochemical cell, said controller receiving a signal representative of the voltage of the electrochemical cell; a sense resistor coupled in series with the electrochemical cell for sensing the current magnitude and direction of the electrochemical cell; first and second amplifiers coupled to said sense resistor and providing an output to said controller representative of the magnitude and direction, respectively, of current flowing through the electrochemical cell; and a switch controlled by said controller for controlling the charging and discharging of the electrochemical cell wherein said controller monitors the electrical characteristics of the electrochemical cell including voltage, current magnitude, current direction and charge time to thereby determine the charge state of the electrochemical cell, and controls the charging of the electrochemical cell based upon the determined charge state of the electrochemical cell.
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Specification