High-efficiency battery charger
US6300744A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/0068
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Where an AC adapter is used to supply power to both an electronic device such as a notebook computer and a rechargeable battery, as where the computer is turned on while the battery is being recharged, the voltage at the output terminal of the AC adapter is detected and delivered to abattery charger that is used to supply a constant current to the battery. When the current from the AC adapter exceeds its rated current, the voltage at the output terminal begins to fall. When the output voltage falls below a predetermined trigger voltage, the voltage detector instructs the battery charger to limit the current delivered to the battery, and the current is reduced until the voltage at the output of the AC adapter again reaches the trigger voltage. This arrangement provides for a maximum use of the power available from the AC adapter when the combined power demands of the electronic device and the battery exceed the power delivery capability of the AC adapter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.