Method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries
DCFirst Claim
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1. A battery charger comprising:
- at least one terminal to electrically connect to a lithium-based chemistry battery pack, the battery pack having a nominal voltage and including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and
a controller operable to provide pulses of constant charging current to the battery pack though the at least one terminal, wherein the length of the pulses and the time between the pulses are based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell of the battery pack.
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Abstract
A method and system for battery charging. In some aspects, a battery charger including at least one terminal to electrically connect to a lithium-based chemistry battery pack and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The controller is operable to select a threshold for a charging function according to a nominal voltage of the battery pack.
112 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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at least one terminal to electrically connect to a lithium-based chemistry battery pack, the battery pack having a nominal voltage and including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and a controller operable to provide pulses of constant charging current to the battery pack though the at least one terminal, wherein the length of the pulses and the time between the pulses are based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell of the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24)
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14. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing; at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, the battery pack including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell, wherein the controller is further operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack by supplying the charging current in a plurality of pulses of charging current, the plurality of pulses each having a first period of time, in which the charging current is being supplied to the battery pack at a predefined amplitude, and a second period of time, in which the supply of charging current is suspended. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing; at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, the battery pack including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell, wherein the controller includes a first charging module and a second charging module, the first charging module being operable to provide a first charging current to the battery pack, the second charging module being operable to provide a second charging current to the battery pack, and wherein the controller implements one of the first charging module and the second charging module based at least in part on the individual state of charge of the at least one battery cell. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing; at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, the battery pack including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell, wherein the controller includes a charging algorithm, and wherein the controller is operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack based on the charging algorithm, and wherein the controller implements the charging algorithm in a first charging module and in a second charging module. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An electrical combination comprising:
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a battery having a battery temperature and including a battery housing, a plurality of lithium-based battery cells supported by the battery housing, each battery cell having an individual state of charge, at least one battery terminal supported by the battery housing and electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, and a battery controller operable to measure the individual state of charge of each battery cell and to measure the temperature of the battery; and
a battery charger includinga charger housing, at least one charger terminal to electrically connect to the at least one battery terminal, and a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell, wherein the battery controller is further operable to communicate the temperature of the battery and the individual state of charge of each battery cell to the controller of the battery charger, wherein the battery further includes a second battery terminal electrically connected to the battery controller, and wherein the battery charger further includes a second charger terminal electrically connected to the controller, the battery controller and the controller of the battery charger being operable to communicate over the second battery terminal and the second charger terminal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification