Electrical power source apparatuses, circuits, electrochemical device charging methods, and methods of charging a plurality of electrochemical devices

A circuit comprising:

• a charging node adapted to supply electrical energy to an electrochemical device to charge the electrochemical device, wherein the electrochemical device has an end-of-charge voltage;
• circuitry adapted to supply electrical energy having a voltage greater than the end-of-charge voltage to the electrochemical device via the charging node after charging the electrochemical device to the end-of-charge voltage;
• and
• circuitry configured to shunt electrical energy from the charging node after the supplying the electrical energy having the voltage greater than the end-of-charge voltage and after charging the electrochemical device to the end-of-charge voltage.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical device having an end-of-charge voltage;
• charging the electrochemical device to the end-of-charge voltage;
• applying electrical energy having a voltage greater than the end-of-charge voltage to the electrochemical device after the charging the electrochemical device to the end-of-charge voltage;
• and
• shunting the electrical energy around the electrochemical device after the applying.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical device coupled with a charging node;
• providing electrical energy to the electrochemical device using the charging node to charge the electrochemical device, and the electrochemical device assuming an open-circuit condition responsive to the electrochemical device obtaining a substantially charged state;
• and
• shunting the electrical energy from the charging node after the electrochemical device assumes the open-circuit condition.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical device coupled with a charging node;
• providing electrical energy to the electrochemical device at a first moment in time using the charging node to charge the electrochemical device;
• and
• passively shunting the electrical energy from the charging node at a second moment in time after the first moment in time.

A method of charging a plurality of electrochemical devices comprising:

• providing a plurality of a lithium cells arranged in series, the lithium cells individually having a lithium-mixed metal electrode and an end-of-charge voltage;
• providing a plurality of charging nodes coupled with respective ones of the lithium cells;
• providing a plurality of zener diodes, wherein at least one of the zener diodes is coupled with a charging node of a respective lithium cell and a charging node of a subsequent lithium cell;
• providing electrical energy having a voltage greater than the end-of-charge voltage to a first one of the lithium cells;
• charging the first lithium cell to the end-of-charge voltage using the electrical energy;
• applying the electrical energy having the voltage greater than the end-of-charge voltage to the first lithium cell after the charging the first lithium cell to the end-of-charge voltage;
• and
• shunting the electrical energy using the at least one zener diode from the charging node of the first lithium cell to the charging node of the subsequent lithium cell after the charging and the applying.