Adaptive fast charging of lithium-ion batteries
First Claim
1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
- providing a first current to the rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage;
providing a second current to the battery, the second current being less than the first current;
starting a timer when the voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches the threshold voltage;
discontinuing the second current when the timer indicates that a predetermined time period has elapsed.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Following the constant-current portion of a rechargeable battery charging scheme with repeated current pulses having a lower current value than that of the constant current portion, for at least part of the period of the pulse, can increase the amount of time that elapses before the voltage of the rechargeable battery is at or above a threshold voltage, thereby decreasing the total charge time for the rechargeable battery. Various current pulse shapes can be used to reduce the total charge time for the rechargeable battery, including, for example, a ramped pulse that begins at a low current level and increases over some or all of the period of the pulse, and a constant current pulse whose current level is reduced from that of the constant-current portion of the rechargeable battery charging scheme by a specified amount. The specified amount of reduction can, for example, be a fixed percentage of the current level of the constant-current portion of the rechargeable battery charging scheme, or it can be based on the parameters of the battery being charged.
143 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
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providing a first current to the rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage; providing a second current to the battery, the second current being less than the first current; starting a timer when the voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches the threshold voltage; discontinuing the second current when the timer indicates that a predetermined time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery charger comprising:
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a controller; and an adjustable charging unit coupled to the controller and capable of receiving at least one control signal from the controller;
the adjustable charging unit operable, depending upon the at least one control signal, to;provide a first current to a rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage; provide a second current to the battery, the second current being less than the first current; and discontinue the second current after the elapse of a predetermined time period after the rechargeable battery reaches the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and a battery charger including; a charger controller; and an adjustable charging unit coupled to the charger controller and capable of receiving at least one control signal from the charger controller;
the adjustable charging unit operable, depending upon the at least one control signal, to;provide a first current to a rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage; provide a second current to the battery, the second current being less than the first current; and discontinue the second current after the elapse of a predetermined time period after the rechargeable battery reaches the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
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applying a first current to the rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage; applying a plurality of current pulses to the rechargeable battery, ones of the plurality of current pulses being separated, respectively, in time by a plurality of no-charge periods when substantially no current is applied to the battery; and wherein at least one of the plurality of current pulses is defined by a current pulse profile representing the application of current over a period of the at least one of the plurality of current pulses, the pulse profile including at least one current level less than that of the first current. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A battery charger comprising:
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a means for controlling the battery charger; and a charging means coupled to the means for controlling, the charging means for; providing a first current to a rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold voltage; providing a second current to the battery, the second current being less than the first current; and discontinuing the second current after the elapse of a predetermined time period after the rechargeable battery reaches the threshold voltage; the charging means being further capable of receiving at least one control signal from the means for controlling the battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification