BATTERY WITH UNIVERSAL CHARGING INPUT

• US 20110227536A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rotondo, John, Bourilkov, Jordan T.
• Application Number:
  US12/725,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227536A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A battery includes a battery housing containing a rechargeable cell for providing an output voltage and a charging circuit. The charging circuit is coupled to the rechargeable cell and includes a voltage converter to convert an input voltage to the charging circuit to a charging voltage to charge the rechargeable cell.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a battery housing, containing;

a charging terminal input;

a rechargeable cell for providing an output voltage; and

a charging circuit coupled to the rechargeable cell, the charging circuit comprising;

a voltage converter coupled to the charging terminal input to convert an input voltage at the charging terminal input to a charging voltage to charge the rechargeable cell.

2. The battery of claim 1 further comprises:

a first charging terminal supported by the battery housing, the first charging terminal connected to the charging circuit;

a discharging terminal supported by the battery housing; and

a ground terminal supported by the battery housing, the ground terminal connected to both the rechargeable cell and the charging circuit.

3. The battery of claim 2 wherein the discharging terminal of the battery housing is connected to the discharging terminal of the rechargeable cell.

4. The battery of claim 2 wherein the first charging terminal is configured to accept the input voltage from one of a car adapter, a wall adapter, a USB port, a portable charger, an inductive charger, a solar charger and a charging pad.

5. The battery of claim 1 wherein the charging circuit is placed inside the battery housing at such proximity that the IR drop between the charging circuit and the rechargeable cell is less than a threshold value.

6. The battery of claim 2 wherein the rechargeable cell further comprises a second charging terminal to couple the rechargeable cell to the charging circuit.

7. The battery of claim 1 wherein the voltage converter in the charging circuit provides a constant voltage output.

8. The battery of claim 7 wherein the voltage converter in the charging circuit is one of an analog converter and a digital converter.

9. The battery of claim 1 further comprising a digital micro-controller unit to control the charging circuit.

10. The battery of claim 7 wherein the voltage converter in the charging circuit further provides a constant current output.

11. The battery of claim 1 wherein the input voltage is in between 9V and 16V.

12. The battery of claim 1 wherein the input voltage is substantially equal to 12V.

13. A battery comprising:

a battery housing, containing;

a charging terminal input;

a rechargeable cell for providing an output voltage; and

a charging circuit, coupled to the rechargeable cell, the charging circuit, comprising;

a digital controller to control the charging circuit; and

a voltage converter coupled to the digital controller, configured to convert an input voltage to the charging circuit to provide an output voltage to charge the rechargeable cell.

14. The battery of claim 13 wherein the battery is configured to accept an input voltage provided by a charging pad.

15. The battery of claim 14 wherein configuration of the battery corresponds to a charging pad having a plurality of stripes of alternating polarity.

16. The battery of claim 13 wherein the charging circuit further comprises a rectifier to convert an alternating current electrical energy to substantially direct current electrical energy that is fed to the voltage converter.

17. The battery of claim 13 further comprises:

a first charging terminal supported by the battery housing, the first charging terminal connected to the charging circuit; and

a discharging terminal supported by the battery housing and coupled to a second, different discharge terminal on the rechargeable cell; and

a ground terminal supported by the battery housing, the ground terminal connected to a ground terminal on the rechargeable cell and to the charging circuit.

18. A rechargeable device comprising:

a device housing containing a battery having an integrated charging circuit and a charging terminal input, the battery comprising;

a battery housing, containing;

a rechargeable cell for providing an output voltage; and

a charging circuit coupled to the charging terminal input and the rechargeable cell.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the charging circuit further comprises

a digital controller;

and

a voltage converter configured to convert an input voltage to a charging voltage for charging the rechargeable cell.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the device housing, houses the battery in a user-inaccessible portion of the device housing.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein the device housing, houses the battery in a user-accessible portion of the device housing.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the device is a mobile telephone and the mobile telephone includes a removable back cover that houses the battery.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the device is a mobile telephone and the mobile telephone includes a removable back cover that covers a compartment that houses the battery in the mobile phone.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the device includes a removable back cover that houses the battery.

25. The device of claim 21 wherein the device includes a removable back cover that covers a compartment that houses the battery in the device.