Expanded battery capacity identification scheme and apparatus

A battery charging system comprising:

• at least one cell having a predetermined charging algorithm, the cell having positive and negative cell terminals;
• a first electrical element having at least two terminals, and a fixed characteristic related to the predetermined charging algorithm of the cell;
• a second electrical element having two terminals, a stabilizing time, and a fixed characteristic related to the predetermined charging algorithm of the cell;
• circuit means for identifying the second element, the circuit means connected to one of the terminals of the second electrical element, one of the terminals of the cell, and the first electrical element, the circuit means having a time constant and means for providing an electrical current in the first electrical element after the time constant;
• the circuit means producing a stable voltage after the stabilizing time, and the stabilizing time having a value related to the characteristics of the first and second electrical elements;
• and
• charging means connected to the other terminal of the second electrical element, for connection to the cell through the terminals, the charging means including control means for measuring the stabilizing time before the stable voltage is measured, for controlling a charging parameter supplied to the cell in accordance with the predetermined charging algorithm related to at least the stabilizing time measured;
• and
• the control means further comprising:
• means for periodically measuring the voltage developed across the first electrical element until the voltage has stabilized, after the stabilizing time;
• means for measuring the stabilizing time by recording an elapsed time, starting when the measured voltage starts to change and stopping when the measured voltage stops changing;
• and
• means for converting the measured stabilizing time to a predetermined identifiable battery usage.

A battery charging apparatus wherein each battery includes at least one cell, the cell having a positive cell terminal, a negative cell terminal, and a predetermined charging algorithm, the battery having a first identification electrical element, the first identification element having two device terminals and a fixed characteristic related to the predetermined charging algorithm of the cell, one of the device terminals being coupled to one of the positive or negative cell terminals, and battery terminals being connected to the cell wherein one of the battery terminals is connected to the first identification electrical element, the battery charging apparatus comprising:

• connector means including a second identification electrical element, the second identification electrical element having two terminals, a stabilizing time, and a fixed characteristic related to the predetermined charging algorithm of the cell, for making electrical connections to the terminals of the battery;
• circuit means connected to the connector means for connection to one of the terminals of the second electrical element and connection through one of the terminals of the battery to the first electrical element, the circuit means having means for providing an electrical current of known value in the first identification electrical element after the stabilizing time;
• the circuit means producing a stable voltage having a value related to the characteristic of the first electrical element, after the stabilizing time, and the stabilizing time having a value related to the characteristics of the first and second electrical elements;
• and
• charging means connected to the connector means for connection to the cell through the terminals, the charging means including control means for measuring the stabilizing time before the stable voltage is measured, for controlling a charging parameter supplied to the cell in accordance with the predetermined charging algorithm related to at least the stabilizing time measured;
• and
• the control means further comprising:
• means for periodically measuring the voltage developed across the first identification electrical element until the voltage has stabilized to the stable voltage developed across the identification resistor by the electrical current of known value, after the stabilizing time;
• means for measuring the stabilizing time by recording an elapsed time, starting when the measured voltage starts to change and stopping when the measured voltage stops changing;
• and
• means for converting the measured voltage and the measured stabilizing time to a predetermined battery identification and a predetermined battery usage, respectively.

A battery charging system, comprising:

• a battery;
• charging control means for charging the battery;
• adapter means coupled to the charging control means for adapting the battery for charging;
• an identification capacitor having an identifiable time variable associated with a charging parameter;
• resistance means for coupling with the identification capacitor to provide a stabilizing time comprising an RC time constant associated with the stabilizing time of the capacitor and the resistance means;
• and
• association means for associating the stabilizing time with the charging parameter;
• the association means further comprising:
• means for providing an electrical current in the resistance means after the time constant;
• means for periodically measuring the voltage developed across the identification capacitor until the voltage has stabilized after the stabilizing time;
• means for measuring the stabilizing time;
• and
• means for converting the measured stabilizing time to a predetermined identifiable battery usage.