Asymmetrical charger

• US 6,424,120 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-Lead Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: E-Lead Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Tonny
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/987,067
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/116, 320/118, 320/125, 320/127, 320/128, 320/137, 320/160
• US Class Current: 320/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits

Abstract

An improved asymmetrical charger for charging a plurality of batteries of different capacity and voltage values, and automatically judging the residual power capacity and charge saturation level of every battery mainly includes a control unit, a voltage detection unit, a battery dock, an alternate power supply circuit, a current detection and rapid/slow charging switch unit, a battery detection unit, and a human machine interface. The battery dock is connected to a main circuit of the alternate power supply circuit, and connects in series at least one battery chamber which has two parallel circuits; one of the parallel circuits has a short circuit switch driven by the current detection and rapid/slow charging switch unit and another one of the parallel circuits has a positive conductor and a negative conductor to connect a battery thereby to provide a safe charger for charging batteries of different capacities without risking overcharge or undercharge of the batteries.

Claims

1. An improved asymmetrical charger comprising a control unit, a voltage detection unit, a battery dock, an alternate power supply circuit, a current detection and rapid/slow charging switch unit, a battery detection unit, and a human machine interface, wherein:

the battery dock is connected to a main circuit of the alternate power supply circuit, and connects in series at least one battery chamber which has two parallel circuits, one of the parallel circuits has a short circuit switch driven by the current detection and rapid/slow charging switch unit and another one of the parallel circuits has a positive conductor and a negative conductor to connect a battery thereby to provide a safe charger for charging batteries of different capacities without risking overcharge or undercharge of the batteries.

2. The improved asymmetrical charger of claim 1, wherein the current detection and rapid/slow charging switch unit is controlled by the control unit to switch voltage and current values output by the alternate power supply circuit, and to drive the short circuit switch of the battery chamber to perform switching operation.