Overcharge protection circuit capable of preventing damage to a charge control switch on flowing an excessive current

• US 6,642,694 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Yuji, Miki, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/056,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 320/124, 320/125, 320/127, 320/131, 320/132, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

An overcharge protection circuit includes an overcharge detection section for detecting whether or not a secondary battery is put into an overcharge condition, and for producing an overcharge detected signal on detection of the overcharge condition. An overcharge blind time setting circuit produces, in response to the overcharge detected signal, an OFF control signal for turning a charge control switch off after a lapse of a predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval defined by a capacitance value of a capacitor. An excessive current detection resistor detects whether or not the charging current is an excessive current. When the excessive current is detected by the excessive current detection resistor, a forcibly discharged arrangement forcibly and immediately discharges electrical charges accumulated in the capacitor, thereby immediately turning the charge control switch off upon detection of the excessive current without waiting for the lapse of the predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval.

Claims

1. A secondary battery protection circuit for protecting a secondary battery by controlling, by turning a charge control switch on and off, a charging current flowing through said secondary battery from a charger, said secondary battery protection circuit comprising:

detecting means for detecting whether or not said charging current has a value of at least ten amperes; and

switch off means for immediately turning said charge control switch off when the value of said charging current is detected to be at least ten amperes;

wherein said charger is connected between external connection terminals, said secondary battery is connected between a power source terminal and a ground terminal, and

wherein said charge control switch comprises an n-channel field effect transistor having a drain connected to said ground terminal and a source connected to a negative electrode terminal which is one of said external connection terminals.

2. An overcharge protection circuit for protecting a secondary battery by controlling, by turning a charge control switch on and off, a charging current flowing through said secondary battery from a charger connected between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, said secondary battery being connected between a power source terminal and a ground terminal, said overcharge protection circuit comprising:

an overcharge detection section for detecting whether or not said secondary battery is put into an overcharge condition, said overcharge detection section producing an overcharge detected signal on detection of the overcharge condition;

an overcharge blind time setting circuit, connected to said overcharge detection section, having an overcharge detection blind time setting terminal and including a capacitor connected between the overcharge detection blind time setting terminal and the ground terminal, said overcharge blind time setting circuit producing, in response to said overcharge detected signal, an OFF control signal for turning said charge control switch off after a lapse of a predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval defined by a capacitance value of said capacitor;

excessive current detecting means for detecting whether or not said charging current is an excessive current; and

forcibly discharging means, connected to said excessive current detecting means, for forcibly and immediately discharging electrical charges accumulated in said capacitor when the excessive current is detected by said excessive current detecting means, thereby immediately turning said charge control switch off upon detection of said excessive current without waiting for the lapse of said predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval.

3. An overcharge protection circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said excessive current detecting means comprises an excessive current detection resistor inserted in a charging path through which said charging current flows, and wherein said forcibly discharging means comprises an NPN-type bipolar transistor having a base connected to an end of said excessive current detection resistor through a base current restriction resistor, an emitter connected to another end of said excessive current detection resistor, and a collector connected to said overcharge detection blind time setting terminal.

4. An overcharge protection circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said excessive current has a current value of at least ten amperes.

5. An overcharge protection circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said charge control switch comprises an n-channel field effect transistor having a drain connected to said ground terminal and a source connected to the negative electrode terminal.