Battery charger and method of charging rechargeable batteries
US6043631A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current; sampling a charging voltage of the battery during charging to recognize potential adverse conditions within the battery; interrupting the charging current periodically to create current-free periods and sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery at a plurality of points during each current-free period to identify potential overcharge conditions in the battery; lowering the charging current if any of the above-identified adverse conditions are identified and continuing charging with the charging current if the potential adverse charging condition is not identified; and terminating charging when a negative slope on a chemical polarization versus time curve is identified below a pre-determined minimum level. The battery charger and method of the present invention may also be utilized to determine the type, design, and chemistry of the battery being charged based on pre-determined chemical polarization values.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.