Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for controlling a charging current of a battery in a portable chargeable electronic unit

US5668462A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
7References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 1995
Grant dateSep 16, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02J7/00047
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A battery charger charges a battery in a portable chargeable electronic device, such as a cellular phone, with a long-term-constant current, even while the device is used. The charging current is controlled by circuitry in the portable device, avoiding the need for control circuitry in the battery charger or battery. A battery-charger connector that corresponds to the type of battery in the portable device is keyed to fit only a charger that matches the type of battery, thus assuring proper charging of the battery. Alternatively, a simple contact connects the battery charger to the battery. A belt clip covers the battery-charger connector when the battery charger is disconnected to prevent short-circuiting the battery.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.