Method for distinguishing batteries having different chemistries

• US 7,973,511 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cunanan, Regina Gracia C., Choksi, Snehal, Brotto, Daniele C., White, Daniel J., Howard, Geoffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/157,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A method is provided for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions. The method includes: supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery; and identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the voltage characteristic of the battery.

Claims

1. A method for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions, comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;

monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery;

identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the voltage characteristic of the battery,

wherein identifying the chemistry composition further comprises identifying a first inflection point exhibited in the voltage characteristic of the battery and identifying the chemistry composition as a lithium based chemistry when a second inflection point is not detected within a defined period of time following the first inflection point.

2. A method for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions, comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;

monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery;

identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the voltage characteristic of the battery and determining a slope of the variation in the voltage characteristic and identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the slope,

wherein identifying the chemistry composition further comprises identifying a first inflection point exhibited in the voltage characteristic of the battery and identifying the chemistry composition as a lithium based chemistry when a second inflection point is not detected within a defined period of time following the first inflection point and the slope exceeds a threshold.

3. A method for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions, comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;

monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery;

determining a slope of the variation in the voltage characteristic; and

identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the slope of the voltage characteristic of the battery,

wherein identifying the chemistry composition further comprises identifying a first inflection point exhibited in the voltage characteristic of the battery and identifying the chemistry composition as a lithium based chemistry when a second inflection point is not detected within a defined period of time following the first inflection point.

4. A method for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions, comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;

monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery;

determining a slope of the variation in the voltage characteristic; and

identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the slope of the voltage characteristic of the battery,

wherein identifying the chemistry composition further comprises identifying a first inflection point exhibited in the voltage characteristic of the battery and identifying the chemistry composition as a lithium based chemistry when a second inflection point is not detected within a defined period of time following the first inflection point and the slope exceeds a threshold.