Battery charger system with common charge and data exchange port

• US 5,371,453 A
• Filed: 01/28/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Jose M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peckman, Kristine L.
• Application Number:
  US08/010,049
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 320/5, 320/6, 320/15, 320/22, 320/23, 320/24, 320/2, 320/35, 320/36, 320/, 429/7
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A battery unit charger system is provided which includes a charger (110) for supplying charge current and a battery (120) having a memory (122) for storing battery-related information. The charger (110) includes a controller which exchanges the battery-related information with the memory (122) and in response thereto, controls overall operation of the charger (120). The battery (120) includes a common battery port (126) for selectively receiving charge current and for exchanging data with the charger (120). The controller cuts off the supply of charge current when data is being exchanged with the memory through the common port (126).

Claims

1. A battery unit having at least one battery port, comprising:

at least one rechargeable power storage cell having a battery terminal for receiving charge current;

a memory having a memory terminal for exchanging memory signals, said memory terminal comprises a data terminal for exchanging data signals to and from the memory and a clock terminal for receiving a clock signal;

the battery port being coupled to both the memory terminal and the battery terminal for selectively receiving said charge current and said memory signals; and

a thermistor for generating a battery temperature signal, and a second port coupled to both the clock terminal and the thermistor for selectively receiving said clock signal and said temperature signal.

2. A battery charger system, comprising:

a battery unit having at least one battery port comprising;

at least one rechargeable power storage cell having a battery terminal for receiving charge current;

a memory having a memory terminal for exchanging memory signals;

said battery port being coupled to both the memory terminal and the battery terminal for selectively receiving said charge current and said memory signals;

a current supply means for supplying the charge current through said battery port;

controller means for exchanging said memory signals through said battery port;

wherein said memory terminal comprises a data terminal for exchanging data signals between the memory and the controller means, and said memory includes a clock terminal for receiving a clock signal from said controller means;

a thermistor for providing a battery temperature signal to said controller means, and a second port-coupled to both the clock terminal and the thermistor for selectively receiving said clock signal and said temperature signal.

3. The battery charger system of claim 2, wherein said current supply means is responsive to said controller means for cutting off the charge current to allow the exchange of said memory signals.

4. A battery charger system, comprising:

a battery unit having at least one battery port comprising;

at least one rechargeable power storage cell having a battery terminal for receiving charge current;

a memory having a memory terminal for exchanging memory signals;

said battery port being coupled to both the memory terminal and the battery terminal for selectively receiving said charge current and said memory signals;

a current supply means for supplying the charge current through said battery port;

controller means for exchanging said memory signals through said battery port;

wherein said memory terminal comprises a data terminal for exchanging data signals between the memory and the controller means, and said memory includes a clock terminal for receiving a clock signal from said controller means;

a thermistor for providing a battery temperature signal to said controller means, and a second port coupled to both the clock terminal and the thermistor for selectively receiving said clock signal and said temperature signal;

a switch responsive to said controller means for cutting off said battery temperature signal to said controller means when the clock signal is generated during exchange of said memory signals.