# US 2018/0323622 A1 · Electrical Circuit And Method For Charging A Secondary Battery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323622 A1 - Document ID: US20180323622A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/969,214 - Filed: 2018-05-02 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-08 - Assignees: Braun GmbH - Applicants: Braun GmbH - Inventors: Torsten Klemm; Lorraine Rispal; Ferdinand Hermann; Thomas Hohmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323622A1 ## CPC - H02J 7/977: {of the battery} - G06F 1/10: Distribution of clock signals {, e.g. skew} - H02H 9/026: {Current limitation using PTC resistors, i.e. resistors with a large positive temperature coefficient} - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage - H02J 7/975: {in response to temperature} - G05F 1/10: Regulating voltage or current (G05F1/02 takes precedence) - H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter} - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract An electrical circuit for charging a secondary battery that comprises a dc-converter and an output connector that can be connected to the positive terminal of the secondary battery for applying a charging current to the secondary battery. The dc-converter has a voltage feedback connector for sensing a feedback voltage, wherein the dc-converter is adapted to regulate the output voltage by adjusting the output current at the output connector depending on the sensed feedback voltage and a feedback-sub-circuit connected to the output connector and to the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical circuit for charging a secondary battery having a dc-converter, the dc-converter comprising an input connector, connectable to an input dc voltage, an output connector, connectable to the positive terminal of the secondary battery for applying a charging current to the secondary battery and a voltage feedback connector for sensing a feedback voltage, wherein the dc-converter is adapted to regulate the output voltage by adjusting the output current at the output connector depending on the sensed feedback voltage; and a feedback-sub-circuit connected to the output connector and to the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter, wherein the feedback-sub-circuit comprises a positive temperature coefficient resistor connectable in series to the secondary battery, wherein the positive temperature coefficient resistor is disposed in the electrical circuit between the negative terminal of the secondary battery and a ground connector of the dc-converter such that an increasing resistance of the positive temperature coefficient resistor results in an increasing voltage at the voltage feedback connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the feedback-sub-circuit comprises a voltage divider, wherein the voltage divider is disposed in parallel to the secondary battery and in series to the positive temperature coefficient resistor and wherein the voltage divider comprises a first resistor and a second resistor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical circuit according to claim 2, wherein the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter is connected to the voltage divider between the first resistor and the second resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the feedback-sub-circuit comprises a feedback-switch enabling and disabling the feedback-sub-circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical circuit according claim 4, wherein the feedback-switch is switchable by the input voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electrical circuit according to claim 2, wherein the voltage divider comprises a third resistor and a switchable bypass, said switchable bypass being connected between the first and second connectors of said third resistor for short-circuiting said third resistor in the voltage divider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrical circuit according to claim 6, wherein the at least one switchable bypass is actuated by a control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical circuit according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to set the end charging voltage by means of a pulse width modulation applied to the at least one switchable bypass. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrical circuit according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to limit the charging current by means of a pulse width modulation applied to the at least one switchable bypass. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electrical circuit according to claim 8, wherein the voltage divider is configured such that a maximal end charging voltage is not exceeded in the case of a failure of the control unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the resistor with a positive temperature coefficient is a PPTC. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance is arranged between the feedback voltage connector and ground and between input connector and ground. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance is arranged between the feedback voltage connector and ground and between the output connector and ground. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the dc-converter is any one of the following: simple dc-converter providing an output current depended on a sensed feedback voltage dc-converter providing an output current depended on a sensed feedback voltage having a processor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Method for charging a secondary battery with an electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the charging current of the secondary battery flows through the resistor with a positive temperature coefficient; the resistance of the resistor with a positive temperature coefficient increases due to the current through the resistor; the increased resistance limits the charging current of the secondary battery and results in the feedback sub-circuit providing a higher voltage to the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter.