Method and system for discriminating between different types of batteries and charging the same

• US 6,236,186 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP
• Inventors: Helton, Patrick, Nierescher, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/470,818
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/116
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charging system for discriminating between different battery packs and charging the battery packs according to battery type and charging parameters of the battery pack. The battery charging system has a battery having a label and a charging dock for receiving the battery. Charging dock has a label reader for reading the label when the battery pack is operationally coupled to the charging dock. A discriminator, which is coupled to the label reader, generates at least one charge control signal based on information received from the label reader. A charger that is coupled to the discriminator receives the charge control signal and charges the battery pack based on the charge control signal.

Claims

1. A battery charging system for determining battery type and charging parameters of a plurality of different battery pack types and adopting its charging parameters accordingly, said battery charging system comprising:

a battery pack having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a label; and

a charging dock for receiving the battery pack, said charging dock having a first terminal for contacting the first terminal of the battery pack when battery pack is operationally coupled to the charging dock;

a second terminal for contacting the second terminal of the battery pack when battery pack is operationally coupled to the charging dock;

a label reader for reading the label when the battery pack is operationally coupled to the charging dock;

a discriminator, coupled to the label reader, for receiving information from the label reader and based thereon for generating at least one charge control signal; and

a charger, coupled to the discriminator, for receiving the charge control signal and charging the battery pack based on the charge control signal.

2. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein the discriminator reads information from the label, decodes the information, and generates at least one charge control signal based on the decoded information.

3. The battery charging system of claim 1 further comprising:

a decoder coupled to the label reader for receiving information from the label reader and decoding the information to provide decoded information; and

a communication circuit coupled to the label reader to receive information from the label reader, the communication circuit coupled to the decoder for providing information to the decoder and for receiving decoded information therefrom, and coupled to the discriminator for providing decoded information thereto.

4. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein said charger changes at least one battery charging parameter based on the charge control signal to charge said battery pack.

5. The battery charging system of claim 4 wherein the battery charging parameters are selected from the group consisting essentially of charge voltage, charge current, temperature, charge capacity, and charging methods.

6. The battery charging system of claim 4 wherein said charger affects the charge voltage and the charge current provided to the first and second terminals of the charging dock and adjusts the charge time based on the charge control signal.

7. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein said label includes a magnetic strip, said label reader is a magnetic strip reader, and wherein said discriminator includes a magnetic strip decoder for decoding information read from the magnetic strip.

8. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein said label includes an RF tag, said label reader is a RF tag interrogator device, and wherein said discriminator includes a decoder for decoding information read from the RF tag.

9. The battery charging system of claim 1 wherein said charging dock includes at least one contact position reader, and where the battery pack includes a first contact having one of a first position and a second position, with the contact position reader providing at least one charge control signal when said battery is inserted in charging dock based on the position of the first contact.

10. A battery charging system, comprising:

a) a battery pack having at least one of a plurality of batteries;

the plurality of batteries including batteries of a first battery type and batteries of a second battery type, the batteries of the first battery type having charging parameters that are different from the batteries of the second battery type; and

b) a charging dock for receiving the battery pack, the charging dock including a battery charger for charging the at least one of a plurality of batteries, the battery charger further including a battery discriminator for identifying whether the at least one of a plurality of batteries is of the first battery type or of the second battery type, the battery type identifying being a function of a reflective feature of the battery pack;

wherein the reflective feature has at least one reflective section having a width;

wherein information is encoded in the section by modifying the level of reflectivity of the section and wherein the encoded information is independent of the width of the reflective section;

wherein the battery charger charges the one of a plurality of batteries in accordance with the identification of the battery type determined by the battery discriminator.

11. The system as in claim 10 wherein the reflective feature further comprises:

a plurality of reflective sections;

wherein each reflective section has substantially the same width as the other sections.

12. The system as in claim 10 wherein the battery back has a housing;

wherein the reflective section is one of printed on the housing of the battery pack, formed integrally with the housing of the battery pack, and formed on a label that is physically affixed to the housing of the battery pack.

13. The system as in claim 10 wherein a battery type identifier is encoded in the level of reflectivity of the reflective region.

14. The system as in claim 10 wherein the battery discriminator includes a photo emitter and photo detector for each reflective region;

wherein the photo emitter and photo detector are utilized for reading the respective reflective region.

15. The system as in claim 10 wherein each reflective region represents a single bit of information.

16. A method for charging a battery pack comprising the steps of:

coupling the battery pack to a charging dock, the charging dock being adapted to charge at least one battery of the battery pack, the at least one battery being any one of a plurality of battery types having different charging parameters, the at least one battery being housed in a battery pack, the battery pack being any one of a plurality of types of battery packs corresponding to the plurality of battery types;

using the charging dock to discriminate the type of the at least one battery from the plurality of battery types based on the type of battery pack, wherein the charging dock discriminates the type of the at least one battery based on a signal received from the battery pack corresponding to a reflective feature of the battery pack, the signal being representative of the type of the at least one battery; and

charging the at least one battery according to the determined type of the at least one battery;

wherein the reflective feature has at least one reflective section having a width;

wherein information is encoded in the section by modifying the level of reflectivity of the section and wherein the encoded information is independent of the width of the reflective section.