# US 2021/0242707 A1 · Method for charging battery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242707 A1 - Document ID: US20210242707A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/095,528 - Filed: 2020-11-11 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chiyoung KIM; Kidong KIM; Seojae LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242707A1 ## CPC - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H02J 7/94: in response to battery current - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H02J 7/92: with prioritisation of loads or sources - H02J 7/963: {in response to battery voltage gradient} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method for battery charging includes performing a first-constant-current charging the battery with a constant current having a first intensity, determining a voltage of the battery rises above a first voltage level, performing a second-constant-current charging of the battery with a constant current having a second intensity that is less than the first intensity, determining a voltage of the battery rises above a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level, performing a third-constant-current charging the battery with a constant current having a third intensity that is less than the second intensity, determining a voltage of the battery rises above a third voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level, performing a constant voltage charging the battery with a constant voltage having the third voltage level, determining a charging current of the battery falls to a fourth intensity that is less than the third intensity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for charging a battery, the method comprising: performing a first-constant-current charging the battery with a constant current having a first intensity; determining a voltage of the battery rises above a first voltage level; ending the first-constant-current charging; performing a second-constant-current charging of the battery with a constant current having a second intensity that is less than the first intensity; determining a voltage of the battery rises above a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level; ending the second-constant-current charging; performing a third-constant-current charging the battery with a constant current having a third intensity that is less than the second intensity; determining a voltage of the battery rises above a third voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level; ending the third-constant-current charging; performing a constant voltage charging the battery with a constant voltage having the third voltage level; determining a charging current of the battery falls to a fourth intensity that is less than the third intensity; and ending the constant voltage charging. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second voltage level is equal to a buffer voltage level of the battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein a magnitude of the fourth intensity may correspond to a magnitude of a difference between the third voltage level and the buffer voltage level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first intensity corresponds to a charge rate that is greater than or equal to about 1.25 C-rate and less than or equal to about 2.0 C-rate, wherein the second intensity corresponds to a charge rate that is greater than or equal to about 1.0 C-rate and less than or equal to about 1.25 C-rate, and wherein the third intensity corresponds to a charge rate that is greater than or equal to about 0.5 C-rate and less than or equal to about 1.0 C-rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first intensity corresponds to about 1.5 C-rate, the second intensity corresponds to about 1.2 C-rate, and the third intensity corresponds to about 1.0 C-rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first intensity corresponds to about 1.5 C-rate, the second intensity corresponds to about 1.0 C-rate, and the third intensity corresponds to about 0.5 C-rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first voltage level is a value between about 0.95 times to about 0.98 times of the buffer voltage level, and wherein the third voltage level is a value between about 1.005 times to about 1.02 times of the buffer voltage level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first voltage level is a value obtained by subtracting a voltage level between about 0.1 V and about 0.2 V from the buffer voltage level, and wherein the third voltage level is a value obtained by adding a voltage level between about 0.02 V and about 0.1 V to the buffer voltage level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining the fourth intensity corresponds to about 0.15 C-rate; and obtaining the third voltage level by adding about 0.03 V to the buffer voltage level; or determining the fourth intensity corresponds to about 0.2 C-rate; and obtaining the third voltage level by adding about 0.05V to the buffer voltage level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising fourth-constant-current charging the battery with a constant current having a fourth intensity that is less than the first intensity and that greater than the second intensity; determining a voltage of the battery rises above a fourth voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level and lower than the second voltage level; and ending the fourth-constant-current charging. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising fifth-constant-current charging of the battery with a constant current having a fifth intensity that is less than the second intensity and that is greater than the third intensity; determining a voltage of the battery rises above a fifth voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level and lower than the third voltage level; and ending charging of the constant current having the fifth intensity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: stopping charging of the battery for a first time between the first-constant-current charging and the second-constant-current charging; stopping charging of the battery for a second time between the second-constant-current charging and the third-constant-current charging; and stopping charging of the battery for a third time between the third-constant-current charging and the constant voltage charging. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) battery cell, and wherein the second voltage level is about 4.4 V. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first voltage level is about 4.2 V, about 4.25 V, or about 4.3 V, wherein the third voltage level is about 4.43 V or about 4.45 V, wherein the first intensity corresponds to about 1.5 C-rate, wherein the second intensity corresponds to about 1.2 C-rate, wherein the third intensity corresponds to about 1.0 C-rate, and wherein the third voltage level is about 4.43 V and the fourth intensity corresponds to about 0.15 C-rate, or wherein the third voltage level is about 4.45 V and the fourth intensity corresponds to about 0.2 C-rate.