Battery charging method
First Claim
1. A battery charging method for charging a battery, the battery charging method comprising a temperature maintaining charging step of detecting a battery temperature of the battery, controlling an average charging current to make the battery temperature become equal to a holding temperature, and charging the battery while maintaining the battery temperature at the holding temperature,wherein the holding temperature is 53°
- C. to 70°
C. and is set near a maximum temperature that is below a temperature that results in performance degradation and negative effects on the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The battery charging detects battery temperature and includes a temperature maintaining charging operation wherein average charging current is controlled to drive battery temperature to a holding temperature, and charging is performed while maintaining battery temperature at that holding temperature. In addition, a temperature increasing charging operation occurs prior to the temperature maintaining charging operation. The battery is charged with a current which raises battery temperature until the holding temperature is reached. When battery temperature rises to the holding temperature in the temperature increasing charging operation, charging can transition to the temperature maintaining charging operation.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A battery charging method for charging a battery, the battery charging method comprising a temperature maintaining charging step of detecting a battery temperature of the battery, controlling an average charging current to make the battery temperature become equal to a holding temperature, and charging the battery while maintaining the battery temperature at the holding temperature,
wherein the holding temperature is 53° - C. to 70°
C. and is set near a maximum temperature that is below a temperature that results in performance degradation and negative effects on the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14)
- C. to 70°
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9. A battery charging method for charging a battery, the battery charging method comprising:
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detecting a battery temperature of the battery at a start of charging; when the battery temperature is within a specified range, performing; a temperature increasing charging step of charging the battery with a current that causes the battery temperature of the battery to rise unit reaching a holding temperature; and a temperature maintaining charging step of, when the battery temperature reaches the holding temperature in the temperature increasing charging step, detecting the battery temperature, controlling an average charging current to make the battery temperature become equal to the holding temperature, and charging the battery while maintaining the battery temperature at the holding temperature; and when the battery temperature is not within the specified temperature range, performing charging of the battery while monitoring a battery voltage of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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15. A battery charging method for charging a battery, the battery charging method comprising:
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a temperature increasing charging step of charging the battery with a current that causes a battery temperature of the battery to rise until reaching a holding temperature; a temperature maintaining charging step of, when the battery temperature reaches the holding temperature in the temperature increasing charging step, detecting the battery temperature, controlling an average charging current to make the battery temperature become equal to the holding temperature, and charging the battery while maintaining the battery temperature at the holding temperature, wherein, if the battery temperature reaches a rising specified temperature, the charging in the temperature increasing charging step comprises decreasing an average charging current to reduce a rate of battery temperature rise.
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16. A battery charging method for charging a battery, the battery charging method comprising:
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determining a remaining capacity of the battery from a battery voltage of the battery; if the remaining capacity of the battery is below a prescribed battery voltage, performing; a temperature increasing charging step of charging the battery with a current that causes a battery temperature of the battery to rise until reaching a holding temperature; a temperature maintaining charging step of, when the battery temperature reaches the holding temperature in the temperature increasing charging step, detecting the battery temperature, controlling average charging current to make the battery temperature become equal to the holding temperature, and charging the battery while maintaining battery temperature at the holding temperature; and if the remaining capacity of the battery is above the prescribed battery voltage with a likelihood of overcharging, performing charging of the battery while monitoring the battery voltage.
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Specification