System and method for charging rechargeable batteries in a digital camera
First Claim
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1. A digital camera configured to be powered by rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, the digital camera comprising:
- one or more rechargeable NiMH batteries;
first internal circuitry configured to receive power from a universal serial bus (USB) port associated with an external power source and to charge the rechargeable NiMH batteries without removing the rechargeable NiMH batteries from the digital camera; and
second internal circuitry configured to;
detect the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries within the digital camera as opposed to non-rechargeable batteries;
allow the rechargeable NiMH batteries to be charged when the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries is detected;
upon detecting the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries within the digital camera, set a first charge timeout value based on the internal circuitry supplying a first charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries for a first duration of time when the received power has a first current level and to set a second charge timeout value based on the first internal circuitry supplying a second charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries for a second duration of time when the received power has a second current level, and wherein the first duration of time is less than the second duration of time, and the first current level is greater than the second current level.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a digital camera configured to be powered by rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. The digital camera includes one or more rechargeable NiMH batteries, and first internal circuitry configured to receive power from a universal serial bus (USB) port associated with an external power source and to charge the rechargeable NiMH batteries without removing the rechargeable NiMH batteries from the digital camera.
34 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A digital camera configured to be powered by rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, the digital camera comprising:
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one or more rechargeable NiMH batteries; first internal circuitry configured to receive power from a universal serial bus (USB) port associated with an external power source and to charge the rechargeable NiMH batteries without removing the rechargeable NiMH batteries from the digital camera; and second internal circuitry configured to; detect the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries within the digital camera as opposed to non-rechargeable batteries; allow the rechargeable NiMH batteries to be charged when the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries is detected; upon detecting the presence of the rechargeable NiMH batteries within the digital camera, set a first charge timeout value based on the internal circuitry supplying a first charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries for a first duration of time when the received power has a first current level and to set a second charge timeout value based on the first internal circuitry supplying a second charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries for a second duration of time when the received power has a second current level, and wherein the first duration of time is less than the second duration of time, and the first current level is greater than the second current level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A digital camera configured to be powered by rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries or non-rechargeable batteries, the digital camera comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU) configured to assert one or more control signals; a universal serial bus (USB) device port configured to receive power from a USB port associated with an external power source; a battery compartment configured to house the rechargeable NiMH batteries or the non-rechargeable batteries; and a charging unit configured to supply a charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries using power received by the USB device port when the rechargeable NiMH batteries are housed within the battery compartment, wherein the charging unit includes a timeout value circuit configured to determine a charge timeout value defining a duration of time that the charge current is supplied to the rechargeable NiMH batteries before transitioning to a next charging state, the timeout value circuit includes a detector switch configured to detect the presence of rechargeable NiMH batteries, as opposed to non-rechargeable batteries, within the battery compartment, and the timeout value circuit is configured to set the charge timeout value to a first charge timeout value when (i) the CPU asserts a first signal that enables charging of the rechargeable NiMH batteries, (ii) the CPU asserts a second signal that enables fast charging of the rechargeable NiMH batteries, and (iii) the detector switch detects the rechargeable NiMH batteries within the battery compartment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for charging rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries in a digital camera configured to house both the rechargeable NiMH batteries and non-rechargeable batteries, the method comprising:
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determining that batteries within the digital camera comprise rechargeable NiMH batteries; determining that the digital camera is coupled to a universal serial bus (USB) port associated with an external power source; and configuring a battery charger within the digital camera to supply a charge current to the rechargeable NiMH batteries using the power supplied by the USB port by setting a charge timeout value to a first charge timeout value when the external power source comprises an alternating current power source, or setting the charge timeout value to a second charge timeout value when the external power source comprises a personal computer, wherein the first charge timeout value is less than the second charge timeout value, the battery charger setting a charge rate for the rechargeable NiMH batteries to a first charge rate when the external power source comprises the alternating current power source, or setting the charge rate to a second charge rate when the external power source comprises the personal computer, wherein the first charge rate is greater than the second charge rate. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification