Portable battery recharge station
First Claim
1. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
- (a) means for receiving a secondary battery;
(b) means for determining a voltage requirement of the secondary battery;
(c) a voltage converter connected to the determining means and the receiving means; and
(d) a power source connected to the voltage converter, wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the receiving means, the determining means obtains the voltage requirement, wherein the determining means instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for recharging secondary batteries. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a supervisory circuit, a voltage converter, a portable power source, and one or more of a holder and a socket. The holder is adapted to receive a specific type of secondary battery of a portable device. The socket is adapted to mate with a plug of a device-specific charging cord connected to the portable device. Each of the holder and the plug can be associated with a programming resistor that provides a voltage requirement of the secondary battery. When the secondary battery is either placed in the holder or is connected to the socket, the supervisory circuit communicates with the voltage converter to supply the appropriate voltage required to recharge the secondary battery. The voltage converter receives power from the portable power source. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the portable power source up (i.e., increasing the voltage) or down (i.e., decreasing the voltage) as appropriate to recharge the secondary battery as instructed by the supervisory circuit. The portable power source of the portable battery recharge station can be one of several types of power sources. For example, the portable power source can be replaceable, rechargeable, or renewable.
129 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a secondary battery;
(b) means for determining a voltage requirement of the secondary battery;
(c) a voltage converter connected to the determining means and the receiving means; and
(d) a power source connected to the voltage converter, wherein when the secondary battery is in contact with the receiving means, the determining means obtains the voltage requirement, wherein the determining means instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A portable battery recharge station comprising:
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(a) a holder adapted to receive secondary batteries;
(b) a programming resistor connected to the holder;
(c) a supervisory circuit connected to the programming resistor;
(d) a voltage converter connected to the supervisory circuit and the holder; and
(e) a power source connected to the voltage converter, wherein when a secondary battery is placed in the holder, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement based on a value of the programming resistor, wherein the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply power to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A battery charging system comprising:
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(a) a portable battery recharge station having a power source, a voltage converter, a supervisory circuit, and a socket; and
(b) a charging cord having a plug adapted to mate with the socket, a programming resistor, and a connector adapted to mate with a device having a secondary battery, wherein when the connector is mated with the device and the plug is mated with the socket, the supervisory circuit determines a voltage requirement of the secondary battery based on a value of the resistance of the programming resistor, wherein the supervisory circuit instructs the voltage converter to supply a voltage to the secondary battery in accordance with the voltage requirement, and wherein the voltage converter receives power from the power source, converts the power in accordance with the voltage requirement, and supplies the converted power to the secondary battery. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for recharging a secondary battery comprising the steps of:
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identifying a voltage requirement associated with the secondary battery;
reporting the voltage requirement to a voltage converter;
receiving energy from a portable power source at the voltage converter, wherein the voltage converter converts the power to meet the voltage requirement; and
supplying the converted power from the voltage converter to the secondary battery. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification