Battery charger especially useful with sterilizable, rechargeable battery packs
US6018227A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A battery charger (20) for charging batteries to which different charging currents are applied in different instruction sequences. The charger includes a microprocessor (124) that controls the generation of current by a current source (110). A removable module (26) is attached to the charger for holding a particular type of battery. A memory (70) internal to the module contains data indicating the sequences in which charging currents are to be applied to the battery and when tests should be executed to determine if the battery should exit a particular charging step. The module memory also contains data indicating the currents that should be applied to the battery with which it is associated and the parameters of the exit condition tests. The charger is ideally used with a battery that has both and internal temperature sensor (286) and its own memory (282). The temperature sensor provides data useful for accurately determining the stored charge within the battery. The battery memory contains data indicating how often the battery has been charged. These data are useful for evaluating the charge the battery should be able to store.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.