Method of controlling the charging of a battery

• US 6,969,970 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Robert D., Dias, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/348,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/121, 320/125, 320/132, 320/161, 320/DIG.19, 320/DIG.21, 320/124, 320/138, 320/147, 320/150, 320/155, 429/61
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/13 Circuits for cold-junction compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charger with charging parameter values derived from communication with a battery pack to be charged. Communication is over a one-wire bus with battery pack transmissions in response to charger inquiries. The battery charger may be in the form an integrated circuit driving a power transistor or other controllable DC supply. A battery pack may contain a program with multiple charging currents and charging interval termination methods such as time, temperature rise, and incremental voltage polarity. A lack of communication may be invoke a default charging program or denial of access to the charger. The charger also communicates over a high-speed three-wire bus with an external computer for analysis of identification information acquired from the battery and for control of the charger.

Claims

1. A method of charging a battery pack comprising:

reading from a digital memory identification data stored in said digital memory wherein said digital memory is a part of said battery pack;

determining if said read battery pack identification data represents a valid identification;

reading charging parameter values from said digital memory;

altering the charging algorithm at least in part based upon said read charging parameters.

2. A method of charging a battery pack device comprising:

reading digital data from a memory device, said memory device being substantially part of said battery pack device;

determining a battery ID from said digital data;

determining a battery charging parameter from said digital data; and

charging said battery pack device according to said charging parameter.

3. The method of charging said battery pack device of claim 2, wherein said battery charging parameter comprising a plurality of parameters.

4. The method of charging said battery pack device of claim 2, wherein said battery charging parameter comprises at least one of a maximum voltage parameter, a maximum current parameter, a charge time parameter, and an end of charging detection method.

5. A method of recharging a the power pack of an electronic device comprising:

coupling said power pack to a recharging circuit;

reading, from said power pack, a digital identification;

reading, from said power pack, charging parameter values; and

altering a charging algorithm, at least in part, based upon said read power pack charging parameters.

6. A rechargeable battery pack device comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery device;

a module comprising digital memory, said digital memory comprising a battery pack ID, and charging parameter values; and

connections for said rechargeable battery device and said module to connect to another device.