Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for automatically conditioning rechargeable batteries

US5826958A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
21References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1995
Grant dateOct 27, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S320/19
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for conditioning a battery having a casing and battery charging terminals for charging the battery from an external power source. The conditioning circuit is preferably contained within the battery casing and comprises a discharging circuit for discharging the electrical charge of the battery and a switching circuit coupled to the battery charging terminals and to the discharging circuit for automatically selecting between a first state, disabling the battery charging terminals from providing charging access to the battery and coupling the discharging circuit to the battery for discharging the battery as long as the battery voltage is above a predetermined voltage level, and a second state, disconnecting the discharging circuit from the battery whenever the battery voltage is at or below the predetermined voltage level and enabling the battery charging terminals for providing charging access to the battery.

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