Method for charging secondary battery

• US RE40,223 E1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Murochi, Harumi, Jimbo, Hiroyuki, Ishiwata, Masahito, Koike, Kiichi, Saito, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward H
• Application Number:
  US10/640,518
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 320/125, 320/124, 320/134, 320/160, 320/162, 320/152
• US Class Current: 320/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0073 with a programmable charge schedule H02J7/0093 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for charging a secondary battery by measuring the static/open circuit voltage and comparing it to a predetermined value includes: a first step of precharging the secondary battery; thereafter pausing a predetermined interval; a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the pausing; and a step of charging the secondary battery based on the measurement of the secondary battery voltage Vba1.

Claims

1. A method for charging a secondary battery, comprising:

a step of precharging the secondary battery;

a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the precharging; and

a step of charging the secondary battery based on the measurement of the secondary battery voltage Vba1.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the precharging step comprises a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba0 prior to the charging of the secondary battery, and

wherein the charging step comprises:

a step of comparing the secondary battery voltage Vba1 against a first prescribed voltage V1, a second prescribed voltage V2, and a third prescribed voltage V3, where V3<

V2<

V1;

a step of performing a charging in a first charge mode if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 satisfies the relationship V2<

=Vba1<

=V1;

a step of performing a charging in a second charge mode if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 satisfies the relationship V3<

=Vba1<

=V2; and

an step of performing an active charging if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 is lower than the third prescribed voltage V3.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the active charging step comprises:

a step of repeating a cycle comprising the active charging and an ensuing measurement of a secondary battery voltage Vba2, within a predetermined cycle limit, until the secondary battery voltage Vba2 becomes higher than the third prescribed voltage V3, and performing a charging in the second charge mode if the secondary battery voltage Vba2 becomes higher than the third prescribed voltage V3 within the predetermined cycle limit; and

a step of terminating the charging for the secondary battery if the secondary battery voltage Vba2 has not become higher than the third prescribed voltage V3 within the predetermined cycle limit.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first charging in a first charge mode step comprises:

a step of subjecting the secondary battery to a constant-voltage charge using a first charge voltage Vch1; and

a step of subjecting the secondary battery to a constant-voltage charge using a second charge voltage Vch2 after a charge current has decreased to a predetermined value Ia, where Vch2<

Vch1, and

wherein the second charging in a second charge mode step comprises;

a step of subjecting the secondary battery to a constant-voltage charge using a third charge voltage Vch3;

an step of subjecting the secondary battery to a constant-current charge using a predetermined charge current Ic after the charge current has decreased to a predetermined value Ib, and

a step of subjecting the secondary battery to a constant-voltage charge using a charge voltage Vch4 after the constant-current charge step, where Vch4<

Vch3.

5. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the precharging step comprises a step of measuring an ambient temperature Ta prior to the charging of the secondary battery;

and

wherein the first charge voltage Vch1, the second charge voltage Vch2, the third charge voltage Vch3, and the fourth charge voltage Vch4 have negative characteristics with respect to the ambient temperature Ta.

6. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

a step of terminating the charging for the secondary battery if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 measured after performing the precharging is higher than the first prescribed voltage v1 or if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 is lower than a fourth prescribed voltage V4, where V4<

V3.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the precharging step comprises:

a step performed in a case where the secondary battery voltage Vba0 is equal to or greater than a fifth prescribed voltage V5, comprising;

measuring the secondary battery voltage Vba1 after the precharging if a charge current Ip during the precharging is equal to or smaller than Imax and equal to or greater than Imin (where Imin>

0 and Imin<

Imax);

displaying a warning message to indicate abnormal operating of a charging device and terminating the charging if the charge current Ip is greater than Imax;

or

displaying a warning message to indicate abnormality of the secondary battery and terminating the charging if the charge current Ip during the precharging is smaller than Imin; and

a step performed in a case where the secondary battery voltage Vba0 is lower than the fifth prescribed voltage V5, comprising;

displaying a warning message to indicate abnormal operation of the charging device and terminating the charging if the charge current Ip is greater than Imax; and

measuring the secondary battery voltage Vba1 after the precharging if the charge current Ip during the precharging is equal to or smaller than Imax.

8. A method for charging a secondary battery, comprising:

a step of precharging the secondary battery;

a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the precharging;

a step of terminating a charging for the secondary battery if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 is lower than a minimum prescribed voltage; and

a step of charging the secondary battery if the secondary battery voltage Vba1 is at least equal to the minimum prescribed voltage,

wherein charging the secondary battery comprises one of a first charging in a first charge mode, a second charging in a second charge mode, and an active charging.