Charging system for charging battery pack

• US 8,093,859 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aradachi, Takao, Funabashi, Kazuhiko, Takahashi, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US12/360,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/112, 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging system has a battery pack and a charging device. The battery pack has a battery cell and a plurality of identifiers that identify a configuration of the battery cell. The charging device has a charging unit, a signal transmission unit, a reading unit, and a control unit. The charging unit charges the battery pack. The signal transmission unit transmits a first signal and a second signal to the battery pack separately to read the plurality of identifiers when the battery pack is attached to the charging unit. The reading unit reads the plurality of identifiers according to the first and second signals to determine the configuration of the battery cell. The control unit controls the charging unit according to the configuration of the battery cell.

Claims

1. A charging system comprising a battery pack and a charging device, wherein

the battery pack comprises:

a battery cell; and

a plurality of identifiers that identify a configuration of the battery cell, and

the charging device comprises;

a charging unit that charges the battery pack;

a signal transmission unit that transmits a first signal and a second signal to the battery pack separately to read the plurality of identifiers when the battery pack is attached to the charging unit;

a reading unit that reads the plurality of identifiers according to the first and second signals to determine the configuration of the battery cell; and

a control unit that controls the charging unit according to the configuration of the battery cell;

wherein the plurality of identifiers include a first battery identifying resistor and a second battery identifying resistor connected to the first battery identifying resistor in series, the first and second battery identifying resistors having a first resistance and a second resistance, respectively;

wherein the battery pack further comprises a switching portion connected to the second battery identifying resistor in parallel to short-circuit the second battery identifying resistor by the signal transmission unit;

wherein the switching portion short-circuits the second battery identifying resistor on receiving the first signal, and the reading unit reads only the first resistance to determine a number of battery cell connected in series; and

wherein the switching portion operationally connects the second battery identifying resistor to the first battery identifying resistor in series on receiving the second signal, the reading unit reads combined resistances of the first and second battery identifying resistances to determine a connection manner of the battery cells in the battery pack.

2. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the battery pack is either one of a first type or a second type, the first type of battery pack including a single battery cell and a first plurality of battery cells connected in series, the second type of battery pack including a single battery unit and a second plurality of battery units connected in series, each of the second plurality of battery units including at least two battery cells connected in parallel;

the control unit controls the charging unit according to the number of battery cell connected in series and the connection manner of the battery cells.

3. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the charging unit feeds a charging current flowing through the battery pack, and

the control unit determines the charging current, according to the configuration of the battery cell.

4. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein control unit performs a constant voltage and constant current control for charging the battery pack, the control unit adjusts a threshold current value to stop charging the battery pack according to the configuration of the battery cell.