Battery charger for different capacity cells
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorsAnil P. Ghode, Martin M. Rayner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A battery charger to charge batteries with different capacity cells. A single battery charger is capable of charging different types and different capacity battery cells by detecting battery chemistry. The charger can detect different batteries inserted into the charger and properly charge the different batteries based on optimal charging current for the particular type of cell.
Claims20
A battery charger to charge batteries with different capacity cells by using different charging currents, the charger comprising:
- a battery charging circuit;
- means for identifying an appropriate charging current of a battery pack to be charged;
- and
- means for adjusting a charging current supplied by the battery charging circuit based on the appropriate charging current identified.
A detection circuit for use in controlling a charging current of a battery charger, the detection circuit comprising:
- an input terminal adapted to be coupled with a terminal on a battery;
- a controller configured to detect a voltage on the input terminal;
- a memory operatively coupled with the controller and adapted to store correlation data indicative of an appropriate charging current corresponding with the voltage detected by the controller;
- wherein the controller includes a program of instructions comprising:
- instructions to detect the voltage on the input terminal;
- and
- instructions to adjust a charging current of the battery charger responsive to the voltage detected on the input terminal.
A battery pack comprising:
- a housing;
- a battery portion disposed within the housing;
- a positive terminal coupled with the battery portion;
- a negative terminal coupled with the battery portion;
- a battery capacity terminal coupled with the negative terminal;
- and
- a NTC resistor coupled between the battery capacity terminal and the negative terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.