Circuits, apparatuses, electrochemical device charging methods, and lithium-mixed metal electrode cell charging methods

An apparatus comprising:

• means for applying electrical energy to an electrochemical device to charge the electrochemical device;
• means for passively shunting the electrical energy around the electrochemical device responsive to the electrochemical device being substantially charged;
• and
• means for indicating a state of charge of the electrochemical device responsive to the electrical energy being passively shunted around the electrochemical device.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical device having an end-of-charge charge voltage;
• applying electrical energy having a voltage greater than the end-of-charge charge voltage to the electrochemical device to charge the electrochemical device and to provide the electrochemical device in an over-voltage condition;
• shunting the electrical energy around the electrochemical device provided in the over-voltage condition;
• and
• detecting the shunting of the electrical energy to provide state of charge information of the electrochemical device.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing a plurality of electrically coupled electrochemical devices;
• applying electrical energy to the electrochemical devices to charge the electrochemical devices;
• shunting the electrical energy around at least one of the electrochemical devices responsive to the at least one electrochemical device reaching a predefined state of charge;
• and
• indicating the shunting to indicate a state of charge of the at least one electrochemical device.

An electrochemical device charging method comprising:

• providing a plurality of electrically coupled electrochemical devices;
• applying electrical energy to the electrochemical devices to charge the electrochemical devices, and wherein the electrochemical devices individually assume an open-circuit condition responsive to being substantially charged;
• and
• indicating individual ones of the electrochemical devices obtaining a substantially charged state responsive to respective individual ones of the electrochemical devices assuming the open-circuit condition.

A lithium-mixed metal electrode cell charging method comprising:

• providing a plurality of series-coupled lithium cells individually having a lithium-mixed metal electrode, wherein the cells are individually configured to assume an open-circuit condition responsive to being substantially charged;
• applying electrical energy to the lithium cells to charge the lithium cells;
• passively shunting the electrical energy around individual ones of the lithium cells which have assumed the open-circuit condition, wherein the passively shunting comprises shunting using a breakdown device;
• indicating the shunting;
• ceasing the applying responsive to the indicating and responsive to all of the lithium cells being substantially charged;
• and
• electrically isolating positive terminals of the lithium cells after the ceasing.