Portable battery recharge station

• US 6,624,616 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watts, Alonzo L., Parker, John Keith, Frerking, Melvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US10/195,560
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 320/162, 320/103, 320/138, 320/132, 320/137, 320/125, 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/162
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A system and method for recharging secondary batteries. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a supervisory circuit, a voltage converter, a portable power source, and one or more of a holder and a socket. The holder is adapted to receive a specific type of secondary battery of a portable device. The socket is adapted to mate with a plug of a device-specific charging cord connected to the portable device. Each of the holder and the plug can be associated with a programming resistor that provides a voltage requirement of the secondary battery. When the secondary battery is either placed in the holder or is connected to the socket, the supervisory circuit communicates with the voltage converter to supply the appropriate voltage required to recharge the secondary battery. The voltage converter receives power from the portable power source. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the portable power source up (i.e., increasing the voltage) or down (i.e., decreasing the voltage) as appropriate to recharge the secondary battery as instructed by the supervisory circuit. The portable power source of the portable battery recharge station can be one of several types of power sources. For example, the portable power source can be replaceable, rechargeable, or renewable.

Claims

1. A portable battery recharge station comprising:

(a) means for receiving a secondary battery;

(b) means for determining a voltage requirement of the secondary battery;

(c) a voltage converter connected to the determining means and the receiving means; and

(d) a power source connected to the voltage converter,

wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the receiving means, the determining means obtains the voltage requirement,

wherein the determining means instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and

wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery.

2. The station of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a holder.

3. The station of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a socket.

4. The station of claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises a supervisory circuit and a programming resistor.

5. The station of claim 1, wherein the power source is an electrical outlet.

6. The station of claim 1, wherein the power source is a vehicular battery.

7. The station of claim 1, wherein the power source is one of a replaceable battery, a rechargeable battery, a renewable battery, and a renewable fuel cell.

8. The station of claim 7, wherein the replaceable battery is one of an alkaline battery, a lithium battery, and a zinc-air battery.

9. The station of claim 7, wherein the rechargeable battery is one of a NiCd battery, a NiH₂ battery, a NiMH battery, a Li-ion battery, a Li-polymer battery, a zinc-air battery, and a lead acid battery.

10. The station of claim 9, further comprising a recharger connected to the power source, wherein the recharger is adapted to receive energy from an external power source.

11. The station of claim 7, wherein the renewable fuel cell is one of a methanol fuel cell and a renewable electrolyte type cell.

12. The station of claim 11, further comprising a reservoir adapted to contain fuel of the renewable battery.

13. The station of claim 12, further comprising a gauge adapted to measure a level of the fuel.

14. A portable battery recharge station comprising:

(a) a holder adapted to receive secondary batteries;

(b) a programming resistor connected to the holder;

(c) a supervisory circuit connected to the programming resistor;

(d) a voltage converter connected to the supervisory circuit and the holder; and

(e) a power source connected to the voltage converter,

wherein when a secondary battery is placed in the holder, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement based on a value of the programming resistor,

wherein the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply power to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and

wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery.

15. The station of claim 14, wherein the power source is one of an alkaline battery, a zinc-air battery, a NiCd battery, a NiH₂ battery, a NiMH battery, a Li-ion battery, a Li-polymer battery, a zinc-air battery, a lead acid battery, a methanol fuel cell battery, and a renewable electrolyte type cell battery.

16. A battery charging system comprising:

(a) a portable battery recharge station having a power source, a voltage converter, a supervisory circuit, and a socket; and

(b) a charging cord having a plug adapted to mate with the socket, a programming resistor, and a connector adapted to mate with a device having a secondary battery,

wherein when the connector is mated with the device and the plug is mated with the socket, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement of the secondary battery based on a value of the resistance of the programming resistor,

wherein the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and

wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power source is an electrical outlet.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the power source is a vehicular battery.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the power source is one of a replaceable battery, a rechargeable battery, a renewable battery, and a renewable fuel cell.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the replaceable battery is one of an alkaline battery, a lithium battery and a zinc-air battery.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the rechargeable battery is one of a NiCd battery, a NiH₂ battery, a NiMH battery, a Li-ion battery, a Li-polymer battery, a zinc-air battery, and a lead acid battery.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a recharger connected to the portable power source, wherein the recharger is adapted to receive power from an external power source.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the renewable battery is one of a methanol fuel cell and a renewable electrolyte type cell.

24. A method for recharging a secondary battery comprising the steps of:

identifying a voltage requirement associated with the secondary battery;

reporting the voltage requirement to a voltage converter;

receiving energy from a portable power source at the voltage converter, wherein the voltage converter converts the power to meet the voltage requirement; and

supplying the converted power from the voltage converter to the secondary battery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the identifying step involves a supervisory circuit.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the identifying step involves a programming resistor.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the programming resistor is associated with a secondary battery.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the programming resistor is associated with a device-specific charging cord that is connected to a portable device housing the secondary battery.