Patent · US Expired

Battery charging apparatus

US5861730A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
22References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1997
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02J7/00711
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mode-convertible battery charging apparatus is provided. According to the invention, regardless of whether the battery being charged is a completely discharged battery, a fully charged battery or a battery which has a certain amount of electric charge, charging is automatically completed only after the battery is fully charged. Users can detect the charged state of the battery pack, and therefore life shortening of or a damage to the battery due to overcharging of the battery pack can be avoided so as to increase the reliability of the battery. When the detected voltage goes beyond the limit of automatic charging control, the charging operation is not conducted so as to prevent battery damage due to overcurrent.

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