Ni-Cad battery charge rate controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising:
- means for monitoring battery temperature;
means for monitoring battery voltage;
means for monitoring battery charge current;
constant trickle current limit means connected in the charge path of the battery;
a transistor having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal, said input and output terminals connected to said constant trickle current limit means so as to be in parallel; and
mans connected to said transistor control terminal, said battery temperature monitoring means, said battery voltage monitoring means and said battery charge current monitoring means for providing a signal to said transistor control terminal to turn on said transistor if the battery has been discharged, the battery temperature is within allowable limits, the battery is charging and the battery voltage is above a predetermined level and to turn off said transistor if said transistor has been turned on and the battery temperature exceeds a predetermined level.
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Abstract
A current limiter placed in the charge path of a battery limits the charge rate that a battery charger can provide to the battery. The battery temperature, voltage, and current are monitored to determine whether the battery can handle a faster rate of charge than the current limiter allows. If the battery can handle a higher rate of charge, a transistor configured in parallel with the current limiter is enabled which by-passes the current limiter and allows the battery charger to charge the battery at a higher rate.
57 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising:
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means for monitoring battery temperature; means for monitoring battery voltage; means for monitoring battery charge current; constant trickle current limit means connected in the charge path of the battery; a transistor having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal, said input and output terminals connected to said constant trickle current limit means so as to be in parallel; and mans connected to said transistor control terminal, said battery temperature monitoring means, said battery voltage monitoring means and said battery charge current monitoring means for providing a signal to said transistor control terminal to turn on said transistor if the battery has been discharged, the battery temperature is within allowable limits, the battery is charging and the battery voltage is above a predetermined level and to turn off said transistor if said transistor has been turned on and the battery temperature exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for charging a battery, comprising:
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means for providing power to charge a battery; and a single physical unit removably connected to said power providing means, comprising; a battery, and a charge rate controller connected to the battery, comprising; means for monitoring the battery temperature, means for monitoring the battery voltage, means for monitoring the battery charge current, current limit means connected in the charge path of the battery, a transistor having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal, said input and output terminals connected to said current limit means so as to be in parallel, and means connected to said transistor control;
terminal, said battery temperature monitoring means, said battery voltage monitoring means and said battery charge current monitoring means for providing a signal to said transistor control terminal to turn on said transistor if the battery has been discharged, the battery temperature is within allowable limits, the battery is charging said the battery voltage is above a predetermined level and to turn off said transistor if said transistor has been turned on and the battery temperature exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification