Charging apparatus having gas generation detector and charging method for the same
First Claim
1. A charging apparatus for charging a cell group, in which a plurality of secondary cells are connected in series, by supplying a charging current to the cell group, comprising:
- a gas generation detection circuit that detects gas generation from any one of the secondary cells while the cell group is being charged; and
a charging controller that performs a process of continuous charging while reducing the charging current when gas generation is detected in any one of the secondary cells until the gas generation of the secondary cell is stopped, fixing the charging current at a current value reached when the gas generation is stopped, and repeats the process until the charging current reaches a predetermined lower limit charging current value.
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Abstract
A charging apparatus for charging a cell group, in which a plurality of secondary cells are connected in series, by supplying a charging current Ic to the secondary cells is provided with an overcharge protection circuit including discharge route circuits 34 provided to each of the secondary cells and adapted to cause the secondary cells to discharge during charging by connecting the secondary cells to the discharge route circuits based on cell voltages Vb of the secondary cells or to stop discharging by cutting off the secondary cells from the discharge route circuits; and a charger controller for continuing charging while reducing the charging current Ic until the discharge of the secondary cell having started discharging to the discharge route circuit is stopped when the discharge of any one of the secondary cells to the discharge route circuit is started by the overcharge protection circuit.
14 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A charging apparatus for charging a cell group, in which a plurality of secondary cells are connected in series, by supplying a charging current to the cell group, comprising:
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a gas generation detection circuit that detects gas generation from any one of the secondary cells while the cell group is being charged; and a charging controller that performs a process of continuous charging while reducing the charging current when gas generation is detected in any one of the secondary cells until the gas generation of the secondary cell is stopped, fixing the charging current at a current value reached when the gas generation is stopped, and repeats the process until the charging current reaches a predetermined lower limit charging current value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A charging method for charging a cell group, in which a plurality of secondary cells are connected in series, by supplying a charging current to the cell group, comprising the steps of:
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detecting gas generation from any one of the secondary cells while the cell group is being charged; performing a process of continuous charging while reducing the charging current when gas generation is detected in any one of the secondary cells until the gas generation of the secondary cell is stopped; fixing the charging current at a current value reached when the gas generation is stopped; and repeating the process until the charging current reaches a predetermined lower limit charging current value. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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Specification