Battery charger capable of evaluating battery charge state
US6160376A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2019 |
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 that evaluates the post-charge state of the batteries. A load resistor (70) and a temperature sensor (286) are associated with each battery. After the charging of the battery, a processor (124) receives signals indicating the voltage-at-load of the battery when it is connected to the load resistor and the battery temperature. A memory (282) internal to the battery stores historical voltage-at-load data for the battery. The processor based, the voltage-at-load, the battery temperature and the historical voltage-at-load data for the battery determines an average voltage-at-load for the battery. Based on the average voltage-at-load and data specific to that battery, the processor determines the charge state of the battery. Data representative of the charge state is presented on a display (30) integral with the charger. Data useful for determining both the average voltage-at-load and the charge state for the battery are found in a memory (70) in a module that is removably attached to the charger or in the battery memory (282).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.