Apparatus and method for detecting missing or defective battery conditions
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a regulator including a charge-transfer part that is operable to supply a charging signal to a battery;
a feedback module that is operable to provide to the regulator feedback for regulating the charging signal, wherein the feedback corresponds to a charging-signal effect on a charged stored in the battery;
a controller for interrupting the feedback module so as to cause the regulator to suspend supplying the charging signal to allow the charge-transfer part to discharge for a predetermined period of time; and
a detector module for detecting whether during the predetermined period a charge stored on the charge-transfer part satisfies a predetermined threshold, wherein when the charge stored on the charge transfer part satisfies the predetermined threshold, the detector module detects at least one condition that indicates that the battery cannot be charged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting battery removal, battery absence, and/or defective battery condition for use with battery charging and testing systems is provided. The apparatus includes a regulator, feedback module, controller, and detector module. The regulator and feedback module supply a regulated charging signal to a battery. The controller interrupts the feedback module so as to cause the regulator to suspend supplying the charging signal to the battery, which in turn, allows the charging signal to discharge for a predetermined period of time. During the predetermined period, the detector module detects whether the charging signal discharges below a predetermined threshold. When the charging signal discharges below the predetermined threshold, the detector module detects one or more conditions that indicate that the battery cannot be charged. These conditions include conditions that indicate that the battery is absent, missing, and/or defective.
52 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a regulator including a charge-transfer part that is operable to supply a charging signal to a battery;
a feedback module that is operable to provide to the regulator feedback for regulating the charging signal, wherein the feedback corresponds to a charging-signal effect on a charged stored in the battery;
a controller for interrupting the feedback module so as to cause the regulator to suspend supplying the charging signal to allow the charge-transfer part to discharge for a predetermined period of time; and
a detector module for detecting whether during the predetermined period a charge stored on the charge-transfer part satisfies a predetermined threshold, wherein when the charge stored on the charge transfer part satisfies the predetermined threshold, the detector module detects at least one condition that indicates that the battery cannot be charged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification