Battery charging system and method of reducing variation in battery charging cycle count

• US 7,855,530 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stinger Industries LLC (Enovate Medical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Werthman, Dean A., Inthaluxay, Ary, Coonan, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/072,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A battery charging system includes a housing having a plurality of docking stations coupled therewith. A control device is coupled with a battery charging interface of each of the plurality of docking stations, and is configured to reduce variation in charging cycle count among a plurality of batteries configured to dock with the battery charging interfaces. A method of reducing variation in charging cycle count in a system of batteries includes receiving inputs associated with a charging cycle count for each of a plurality of interchangeable batteries docked with a common battery charger, and outputting a battery selection signal based at least in part on the inputs.

Claims

1. A battery charging system comprising:

a housing having an electrical power system therein, the electrical power system including an input interface, and the battery charging system having an operating state in which the input interface is connected with an AC electrical power supply;

a plurality of docking stations coupled with the housing, for charging a plurality of batteries, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface electrically connected with the electrical power system; and

a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces, the control device being configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, via each of the battery charging interfaces, and to compare charging cycle counts for the plurality of batteries, responsive to the inputs;

the control device being further configured to assign a first subset of the plurality of batteries to an unavailable category responsive to a lower charge status of the first subset, and to assign a second subset of the plurality of batteries to an available category responsive to a higher charge status of the second subset; and

the control device being further configured to select a battery from the second subset for discharging responsive to a charging cycle count thereof, and output a corresponding battery selection signal, during the operating state of the battery charging system in which the input interface is connected with the AC electrical power supply.

2. The battery charging system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor which includes the control device.

3. The battery charging system of claim 2 further comprising an indicating device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicating device having a plurality of different indicating states and being configured to switch among the plurality of different states in response to the battery selection signal.

4. The battery charging system of claim 3 wherein the indicating device comprises a plurality of different lights associated with each of the docking stations, and wherein the indicating device is configured to illuminate a selected one of the plurality of different lights in response to the battery selection signal.

5. The battery charging system of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a width and a height which is less than the width, and wherein the plurality of docking stations are positioned side-by-side along the width.

6. The battery charging system of claim 5 wherein each of the docking stations comprises a blind end and an open end for docking a battery therewith, and an electrical connector located at the corresponding blind end.

7. The battery charging system of claim 6 wherein each of the docking stations defines a guide for guiding a battery assembly when docking therewith which includes a narrowing taper from the open end toward the blind end.

8. A battery system for a group of mobile battery powered devices comprising:

a set of interchangeable batteries;

a battery charger which includes a housing having an electrical power system, the electrical power system including an input interface, and the battery charging system having an operating state in which the input interface is connected with an AC electrical power supply;

the battery charger further including a plurality of docking stations for simultaneously recharging a plurality of batteries of the set, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface electrically connected with the electrical power system; and

a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces, and configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, via each of the battery charging interfaces, and to compare charging cycle counts for the plurality of batteries, responsive to the inputs;

the control device being further configured to assign a first subset of the plurality of batteries to an unavailable category responsive to a lower charge status of the first subset, and to assign a second subset of the plurality of batteries to an available category responsive to a higher charge status of the second subset; and

the control device being further configured to select a battery from the second subset for discharging responsive to a charging cycle count thereof, and output a corresponding battery selection signal, during the operating state of the battery charging system in which the input interface is connected with the AC electrical power supply.

9. The battery system of claim 8 further comprising at least one charging cycle counter.

10. The battery system of claim 9 wherein the at least one charging cycle counter comprises a plurality of charging cycle counters each resident on one of the interchangeable batteries and configured to communicate with the control device when the corresponding battery is docked with one of the docking stations.

11. The battery system of claim 10 further comprising a microprocessor resident on the battery charger and including the control device.

12. The battery system of claim 11 wherein the battery charger includes an indicating device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicating device having a plurality of different indicating states and being configured to switch among the plurality of different indicating states in response to the battery selection signal.