Charge control device for executing a plurality of charge stages
First Claim
1. A charge control device including a charger for charging a battery, and executing a plurality of charge stages starting with an initial charge stage and ending with a final charge stage, one after another, in such a manner that a charge current value at each charge stage is set to be equal to or less than a charge current value of an immediately preceding charge stage, comprising:
- a battery voltage detector arranged to detect a voltage of the battery;
a battery temperature detector arranged to detect a temperature of the battery;
a controller configured to set an upper time limit of each charge stage based at least in part on the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature detector;
a voltage determining circuit for determining whether the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detector reaches a change voltage;
a controller for determining whether the upper time limit of each of the respective charge stages has elapsed by counting an elapsing time from a start moment of each charge stage to the upper time limit of each charge stage; and
a stage change control module configured to change the charge stage that precedes the final charge stage at least one turn to the final charge stage when the battery voltage has reached the change voltage or the upper time limit has elapsed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery is charged in a number of states, with a change from a third charge stage to a fourth charge stage (e.g., final stage) is executed when a battery voltage reaches a change voltage or when a charge time reaches an upper time limit, in order to inhibit the overcharging or undercharging of the battery. The upper time limit is set in response to a battery temperature detected at the end of a second charge stage. In addition, if the charge stage is changed to the fourth stage in response to a determination of whether the upper time limit has elapsed or not, a complete charge mode cycle is increased. At the fourth stage, a charge time calculated using a charge electricity quantity, a battery temperature and a charge mode of the first stage is set.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A charge control device including a charger for charging a battery, and executing a plurality of charge stages starting with an initial charge stage and ending with a final charge stage, one after another, in such a manner that a charge current value at each charge stage is set to be equal to or less than a charge current value of an immediately preceding charge stage, comprising:
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a battery voltage detector arranged to detect a voltage of the battery; a battery temperature detector arranged to detect a temperature of the battery; a controller configured to set an upper time limit of each charge stage based at least in part on the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature detector; a voltage determining circuit for determining whether the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detector reaches a change voltage; a controller for determining whether the upper time limit of each of the respective charge stages has elapsed by counting an elapsing time from a start moment of each charge stage to the upper time limit of each charge stage; and a stage change control module configured to change the charge stage that precedes the final charge stage at least one turn to the final charge stage when the battery voltage has reached the change voltage or the upper time limit has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A charge control device including a charger for charging a battery, and executing a plurality of charge stages starting with an initial charge stage and ending with a final charge stage, one after another, in such a manner that a charge current value at each charge stage is set to be equal to or less than a charge current value of an immediately preceding charge stage, comprising:
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a voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage of the battery; a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the battery; an upper time limit setting means for setting an upper time limit of each charge state based at least in part on the detected battery temperature; a voltage determining means for determining whether the detected battery voltage reaches a change voltage; a time-up determining means for determining whether the upper time limit of each of the charge states has elapsed by counting an elapsing time from a charge start time of each charge stage; and a stage change control means for changing the charge state that precedes the final charge stage at least one turn to the final charge stage when receiving either a voltage determining output indicating that the voltage determining means determines that the battery voltage has reached the change voltage and a time determining output indicating that the time-up determining means determines that the upper limit time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for charging a battery, and executing a plurality of charge states starting with an initial charge stage and ending with a final charge stage, one after another, in such a manner that a charge current value at each charge stage is set to be equal to or less than a charge current value of an immediately preceding charge stage, comprising:
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detecting a voltage of the battery; detecting a temperature of the battery; setting an upper time limit of each charge stage based at least in part on the detected battery temperature; determining whether the detected battery voltage reaches a change voltage; determining whether the upper time limit of each of the respective charge stages has elapsed; and changing the charge stage that precedes the final stage by at least one turn to the final charge stage when the detected battery voltage has reached the change voltage or the upper time limit has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification