Battery charger and charging method
First Claim
1. A battery charger comprising:
- a memory for storing a map for mapping an allowable value of current, with which a battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising, based only on a battery temperature and a battery temperature rise;
a temperature detection device for detecting a current temperature of the battery;
a temperature rise output device for obtaining the temperature rise from the temperature detected by said temperature detection device;
an allowable current retrieval device for retrieving the map of said memory device from the temperature detected by said temperature detection device and the temperature rise outputted from said temperature rise output device, and for obtaining said allowable value; and
a charging device for charging the battery with the allowable current retrieved by said allowable current retrieval device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery for a short period of time while suppressing the battery temperature from rising, by incorporating in the battery charger memory a look-up table for mapping an allowable value of current with which the battery can be charged based on a battery temperature and a battery temperature rise only. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a temperature rise is calculated from the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current map is then retrieved from the detected temperature and the obtained temperature rise, an allowable current with which the battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising is obtained (in step S16) and the battery is charged with the allowable current (in step S20). Since the allowable current which the battery can be charged with, while suppressing battery temperature from rising is retrieved using the map which the allowable current is mapped, based on battery temperature and battery temperature rise, and charging current is controlled, it is possible to charge the battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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a memory for storing a map for mapping an allowable value of current, with which a battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising, based only on a battery temperature and a battery temperature rise;
a temperature detection device for detecting a current temperature of the battery;
a temperature rise output device for obtaining the temperature rise from the temperature detected by said temperature detection device;
an allowable current retrieval device for retrieving the map of said memory device from the temperature detected by said temperature detection device and the temperature rise outputted from said temperature rise output device, and for obtaining said allowable value; and
a charging device for charging the battery with the allowable current retrieved by said allowable current retrieval device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A charging method comprising:
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detecting current temperature of a battery;
obtaining a temperature rise from said detected temperature;
retrieving an allowable current map based only on battery temperature and battery temperature rise, from said detected temperature and said obtained temperature rise, and obtaining an allowable value of current, with which the battery can be charged while suppressing the battery temperature from rising; and
charging the battery with said retrieved allowable current. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification