Charging A Secondary Battery
AssigneeSigmatel, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Felder, Russell A. Schultz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of charging a battery includes applying a charging current from a semiconductor device to the battery during a first battery charging time period. The method also includes measuring a charging voltage level at the battery during the first battery charging time period. During a non-charging voltage measurement time interval, the method includes temporarily stopping application of the charging current from the semiconductor device to the battery and measuring a non-charging voltage level at the battery while the charging current is not being applied to the battery.
Claims20
A method of charging a battery, the method comprising:
- applying a charging current from a semiconductor device to a battery during a first battery charging time period;
- measuring a charging voltage level at the battery during the first battery charging time period;
- and
- during a non-charging voltage measurement time interval, temporarily stopping application of the charging current from the semiconductor device to the battery and concurrently measuring a non-charging voltage level at the battery while the charging current is not being applied to the battery.
A method for charging a battery, the method comprising:
- receiving a first charging current having a substantially constant value at a terminal of a battery during a first charging period when the battery has a charging voltage below a limit voltage;
- during a second charging period after the first charging period, alternately receiving one of:
- a second charging current at the terminal of the battery;
- and
- no charging current at the terminal of the battery.
A method, comprising:
- sending a charging current from an interface coupled to an adjustable current source to an external battery;
- monitoring a voltage level at the external battery;
- comparing the voltage level to a limit voltage;
- and
- controlling the charging current applied by the adjustable current source to the external battery using a control module, wherein the control module operates in a first phase of a charging cycle in which a constant current is applied to the external battery from the start of charging to when an upper threshold voltage level of the external battery is reached without turning off the constant current, and wherein the control module operates in a second phase of a charging cycle wherein the control module selectively provides a signal to turn off the current supplied by the adjustable current source, wherein a first voltage at the external battery is measured during a time period when the current is turned on and a second voltage at the external battery is measured during a time period when the current is turned off, and wherein the control module provides the signal to turn off the current when a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is less than a threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.