CHARGING METHODS FOR BATTERY POWERED DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method of determining the nature of an electrochemical battery, comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring the initial voltage of said battery;
(b) according to said initial voltage, determining the initial impedance of said battery by generating a current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said current flow;
(c) according to said initial impedance, performing the steps of;
(i) applying a pre-charge current, and measuring the voltage of said battery at intervals during said application of pre-charge current; and
(ii) according to the voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, making at least one internal impedance determination of said battery by generating at least one increased current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said at least one increased current flow; and
(d) utilizing at least one of said initial measured voltage, said measured voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, said initial impedance, and said internal impedance to determine the nature of said electrochemical battery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charge control system including an algorithm for determining whether the battery chemistry of a battery pack for use in a portable electronic device is primary, in which case charging is prevented, or secondary, in which case charging is enabled. The routine operates by measuring the terminal voltage and temperature of the battery under certain predetermined tests, which generally include a combination of voltage and internal impedance tests performed during charge or discharge. Additionally, a method is described to detect and to correct for lack of cell balance within the rechargeable battery pack of a portable electronic device. A cell or cells of the battery pack which are close to depletion, or are completely depleted, are detected, and a discharge/charge routine is executed to provide for optimum recharging of all of the cells of the battery, thus ensuring proper cell balance, and most efficient power usage.
41 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of determining the nature of an electrochemical battery, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) measuring the initial voltage of said battery; (b) according to said initial voltage, determining the initial impedance of said battery by generating a current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said current flow; (c) according to said initial impedance, performing the steps of; (i) applying a pre-charge current, and measuring the voltage of said battery at intervals during said application of pre-charge current; and (ii) according to the voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, making at least one internal impedance determination of said battery by generating at least one increased current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said at least one increased current flow; and (d) utilizing at least one of said initial measured voltage, said measured voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, said initial impedance, and said internal impedance to determine the nature of said electrochemical battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
11. (canceled)
-
16. (canceled)
-
17. A method of determining the nature of an electrochemical battery, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) measuring the initial voltage of said battery; (b) according to said initial voltage, performing one of the steps of; (i) applying a pre-charge current of a predetermined fraction of the recommended charge current of said battery for a predetermined time, and measuring the voltage of said battery during said predetermined time; and (ii) generating an incrementally increasing current flow in said battery, and measuring the voltage of said battery during said application of said incrementally increasing current flow; and (c) utilizing at least one of said measured voltages to determine the nature of said electrochemical battery. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. (canceled)
-
26. A method of ensuring cell charge balance in a rechargeable battery comprising a plurality of cells;
- comprising the steps of;
determining the state of charge of each cell of said battery; locating at least one deficient cell, the deficiency of said cell being in that its state of charge is significantly less than that of at least one other cell; discharging all of the cells located from said at least one deficient cell towards one end of said battery; and recharging said at least one deficient cell together with all of said cells located from said at least one deficient cell towards said one end of said battery.
- comprising the steps of;
Specification