Portable battery recharge station
First Claim
1. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
- a charging cord having a first end that is configured to mate with a device having a secondary battery and a second end configured to mate with the portable battery recharge station, wherein the charging cord includes a programming resistor;
a supervisory circuit associated with a voltage requirement of the secondary battery wherein the supervisory circuit determines the voltage requirement of the secondary battery based on a resistance value of the programming resistor; and
a voltage converter in communication with the supervisory circuit, wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the supervisory circuit, the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for recharging secondary batteries. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a supervisory circuit, a voltage converter, a portable power source, and one or more of a holder and a socket. The holder is adapted to receive a specific type of secondary battery of a portable device. The socket is adapted to mate with a plug of a device-specific charging cord connected to the portable device. Each of the holder and the plug can be associated with a programming resistor that provides a voltage requirement of the secondary battery. When the secondary battery is either placed in the holder or is connected to the socket, the supervisory circuit communicates with the voltage converter to supply the appropriate voltage required to recharge the secondary battery. The voltage converter receives power from the portable power source. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the portable power source up (i.e., increasing the voltage) or down (i.e., decreasing the voltage) as appropriate to recharge the secondary battery as instructed by the supervisory circuit. The portable power source of the portable battery recharge station can be one of several types of power sources. For example, the portable power source can be replaceable, rechargeable, or renewable.
131 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
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a charging cord having a first end that is configured to mate with a device having a secondary battery and a second end configured to mate with the portable battery recharge station, wherein the charging cord includes a programming resistor; a supervisory circuit associated with a voltage requirement of the secondary battery wherein the supervisory circuit determines the voltage requirement of the secondary battery based on a resistance value of the programming resistor; and a voltage converter in communication with the supervisory circuit, wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the supervisory circuit, the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery charging system comprising:
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a charging cord having a first end that is configured to mate with a device having a secondary battery and having a second end, the charging cord being a device-specific charging cord whereby a voltage requirement of the secondary battery is determined based on an impedance of an electronic component within the device-specific charging cord; and a portable battery recharge station having a voltage converter and a supervisory circuit, the portable battery recharge station being configured to receive the second end of the charging cord, wherein when the charging cord is connected to the device and the portable battery recharge station, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement of the secondary battery, and the supervisory circuit then instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
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a charging cord having a first end that is configured to mate with a device having a secondary battery and having a second end configured to mate with the portable battery recharge station, the charging cord being a device-specific charging cord whereby a voltage requirement of the secondary battery is determined based on an impedance of an electronic component within the device-specific charging cord; a supervisory circuit associated with the voltage requirement of the secondary battery; and a voltage converter in communication with the supervisory circuit, wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the supervisory circuit, the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for recharging secondary batteries comprising:
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obtaining a voltage requirement of a secondary battery, wherein the obtaining involves a supervisory circuit in communication with the secondary battery and a programming resistor associated with a device-specific charging cord that is connected to a device housing the secondary battery; and instructing a voltage converter to receive power from a power source, to convert the power to meet the voltage requirement, and to supply the converted power to the secondary battery. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A battery charging system comprising:
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a charging cord having a first end that is configured to mate with a device having a secondary battery and a second end, wherein the charging cord includes a programming resistor and wherein further a supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement of the secondary battery based on a resistance value of the programming resistor; and a portable battery recharge station including a voltage converter and the supervisory circuit, the portable battery recharge station being configured to receive the second end of the charging cord, wherein when the charging cord is connected to the device and the portable battery recharge station, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement of the secondary battery, and the supervisory circuit then instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification