Battery charger, method of and software program for operating a battery charger, and method of and combination for charging a battery
First Claim
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1. A battery charger comprising:
- a battery charging circuit connectable to a power source and to a battery and operable to charge the battery; and
a Microcontroller electrically connected to and for operating said circuit, the battery, when connected to said circuit, supplying power to operate said Microcontroller.
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Abstract
A battery charger, a method for charging a battery, and a software program for operating the battery charger. The battery charger is capable of charging different types of batteries and capable of operating on alternate sources of AC power or alternate sources of DC power. Also, the battery charging circuit will not operate if one of the power source, the battery, the power switch means and the control means (including the Microcontroller) malfunctions. In addition, in the battery charging circuit, the battery under charge enables the operation of the battery charging circuit.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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a battery charging circuit connectable to a power source and to a battery and operable to charge the battery; and
a Microcontroller electrically connected to and for operating said circuit, the battery, when connected to said circuit, supplying power to operate said Microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 17)
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6. A method for operating a battery charger, the battery charger including a battery charging circuit connectable to a power source and to a battery and operable to charge the battery, and a Microcontroller electrically connected to and for operating the circuit, said method comprising the acts of:
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providing a battery;
connecting the battery to the circuit; and
supplying power from the battery to the Microcontroller to operate the Microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A combination for charging a battery, said combination comprising:
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a battery;
a power source;
a battery charging circuit connectable to the power source and to the battery and operable to charge the battery; and
a Microcontroller electrically connected to and for operating the circuit, the battery, when connected to the circuit, supplying power to operate the Microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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18. A method of charging a battery, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a battery charger having a Microcontroller and a terminal;
electrically connecting the battery charger to a power source;
electrically connecting the battery to the terminal of the battery charger;
activating the Microcontroller in response to electrically connecting the battery to the terminal of the battery charger; and
transferring power from the power source to the battery in response to activating the Microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
enabling a switch with power from the battery in response to electrically connecting the battery to the terminal of the battery charger, and powering the Microcontroller with power from the power source in response to enabling the switch with power from the battery. -
25. The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the act of enabling a switch includes the act of enabling the switch with a battery voltage less than five volts.
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26. The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the act of transferring power from the power source to the battery charges the battery to a charged voltage of at least five volts.
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27. The method as set forth in claim 26 wherein the act of enabling a switch includes the act of enabling the switch with a battery voltage less than two volts.
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28. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the act of electrically connecting the battery charger to a power source includes electrically connecting the battery charger to a direct current power source.
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29. The method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the act of electrically connecting the battery charger to a power source includes electrically connecting the battery charger to a vehicle battery.
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30. The method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the act of electrically connecting the battery charger to a power source includes electrically connecting the battery charger to a alternating current power source.
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31. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the charger is operable to charge a first type of battery and a second type of battery, and wherein the method further comprises, prior to the act of transferring power:
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identifying the chemistry of the battery; and
providing a signal to the Microcontroller identifying the chemistry of the battery.
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32. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the battery charger includes a power switch to control the transfer of power from the power source to the battery in response to a control signal, wherein the method further comprises powering the power switch in response to electrically connecting the battery to the terminal of the battery charger, and wherein the act of transferring power includes controlling the power switch with a control signal from the Microcontroller.
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33. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein the act of activating the power switch includes the act of powering the power switch with power from the battery.
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34. A battery charger for charging a battery with power from a power source, the battery charger comprising:
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an input terminal electrically connectable to the power source;
a power switch electrically connected to the input terminal and operable to controllably transfer power from the power source to the battery in response to receiving a control signal;
an output terminal electrically connected to the power switch and electrically connectable to the battery; and
a controller electrically connected to the power switch and to the output terminal, the controller being powered by the battery and being operable to generate the control signal in response to being powered. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A combination for charging a battery, the combination comprising:
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a battery; and
a battery charger including a power switch electrically connectable to a power source and connected to the battery, the power switch being operable to controllably transfer power from the power source to the battery in response to a control signal, and a Microcontroller electrically connected to the battery and to the power switch, the Microcontroller being powered by the battery and being operable to generate the control signal when being powered. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification