CONTROL CIRCUIT OPERABLE TO CHARGE A BATTERY AT MULTIPLE CHARGE RATES
First Claim
1. A method of charging a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
- determining a type of power source connected to a charging circuit;
determining a voltage of a battery to be charged by the power source;
determining a desired charging voltage in response to the power source type and the battery voltage;
determining a difference between the desired charging voltage and the battery voltage; and
selectively commanding a digital potentiometer to adjust the desired charging voltage to vary the difference and alter a charging rate of the battery, such that the difference is increased to increase the charging rate or is decreased to decrease the charging rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of charging a battery at multiple charges rates includes determining a type of power source connected to a charging circuit and determining a voltage of a battery to be charged by the power source. A desired charging voltage is determined in response to the power source type and the battery voltage. A difference between the desired charging voltage and the battery voltage is determined. A digital potentiometer is selectively commanded to adjust the desired charging voltage to vary the difference and alter a charging rate of the battery, such that the difference is increased to increase the charging rate or is decreased to decrease the charging rate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of charging a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
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determining a type of power source connected to a charging circuit; determining a voltage of a battery to be charged by the power source; determining a desired charging voltage in response to the power source type and the battery voltage; determining a difference between the desired charging voltage and the battery voltage; and selectively commanding a digital potentiometer to adjust the desired charging voltage to vary the difference and alter a charging rate of the battery, such that the difference is increased to increase the charging rate or is decreased to decrease the charging rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control circuit operable to charge a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
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a power source having a power source voltage; a voltage regulator producing a charging voltage in response to the power source voltage exceeding a voltage threshold; a digital potentiometer providing a feedback voltage to the voltage regulator such that the digital potentiometer is operable to dynamically adjust the charging voltage and a corresponding charging rate of the charging voltage; a charge enable circuit operable to enable or disable a charging current of the charging voltage from charging a battery; a microcontroller operable to control the charge enable circuit and the digital potentiometer, wherein the microcontroller determines a type of power source, determines the charging voltage and corresponding charging rate in response to the type of power source and a voltage of the battery, and commands the digital potentiometer to adjust the charging voltage such that a difference between the charging voltage and a voltage of the battery may be varied to alter a charging rate of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of charging a battery at multiple charge rates, comprising:
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determining a difference between a desired charging voltage from a power source and a voltage of a battery to be charged; and selectively adjusting the desired charging voltage to vary the difference and alter a charging rate of the battery, such that the difference is increased to increase the charging rate or is decreased to decrease the charging rate; and verifying that the charging rate does not cause the power source to exceed its maximum power output. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification