Charging/discharging apparatus and method, power supplying apparatus and method, power supplying system and method, program storing medium, and program

• US 7,525,288 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murata, Kiyotaka, Sato, Hideyuki, Tashiro, Kei, Takeshita, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US11/149,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 320150-153, 320/106, 320/124, 320/128, 320/134, 320/162, 320/164, 307/64, 307/66, 713/300
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging/discharging apparatus, method and system that receives power from a power supplying apparatus. The method includes a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus. A first transmitting step transmits the internal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus to the power supplying apparatus. Charged state information of a battery pack attached to the charging/discharging apparatus is collected and supplied to the power supplying apparatus. A battery pack temperature measuring step measures an internal temperature of the battery pack and a second transmitting step transmits the internal temperature data of the battery pack to the power supplying apparatus.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium adapted to store a computer program for controlling a charging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a power supplying apparatus, the program comprising:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step also collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.

2. A program stored on an electronic storage medium adapted to control a charging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a power supplying apparatus wherein said program executes:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.

3. A computer-readable storage medium adapted to store a computer program for controlling a power supplying apparatus which supplies power to a charging/discharging apparatus, the program comprising:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step also collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.

4. A program stored on an electronic storage medium adapted to control a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus wherein said program executes:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step also collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection, step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.

5. A computer-readable storage medium adapted to store a computer program for controlling a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, the program for controlling said charging/discharging apparatus comprises:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step also collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.

6. A program stored on an electronic storage medium adapted to control a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, said program makes said computer which controls said charging/discharging apparatus execute steps of:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus;

a first transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus,

wherein said first transmitting step also collects charged state information of a battery pack attached to said charging/discharging apparatus and supplies said charged state information to said power supplying apparatus;

a battery pack temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said battery pack;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said battery pack to said power supplying apparatus; and

a selection step for selecting a charging-mode based on the charged state information, said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus, and said internal temperature data of said battery pack,

wherein the selection step selects the charging-mode from at least a first charging-mode and a second charging-mode, the second charging mode charging the battery pack with a current smaller than the first mode,

wherein when the internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus is higher than a predetermined value, the selection step terminates charging, and

wherein when the internal temperature of the battery pack is out of a predetermined range, the selection step selects the second charging mode.