Method and apparatus for charging a battery
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorScott M. Garrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charger includes a control circuit (308) for determining the charge rate and charge capacity of a battery (312). Control circuit (308) switches the rate at which battery (312) is being charged from a first charge rate such as a rapid charge rate (206) to a charge rate which is increasing in charge over time (208). Once battery (312) becomes fully charged, control circuit (308) then charges battery (312) at a third charge rate such as a trickle rate (214).
Claims12
A method for charging a battery with a battery charger, comprising the steps of:
- (a) charging the battery using a first charge rate;
- (b) determining if the battery has reached a predetermined charge level;
- (c) charging the battery using an inverse taper charge rate which is increasing at a predetermined slope after the battery has reached the predetermined charge level;
- and
- (d) charging the battery at a fixed charge rate which is lower than the first charge rate after performing step (c).
A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supplying a first charging current to the battery;
- (b) determining if the battery has reached a predetermined charge level;
- (c) lowering the first charging current to a predetermined level if it is determined in step (b) that the battery has reached the predetermined charge level;
- (d) supplying an inverse taper charging current which is increasing at a predetermined slope for a predetermined period of time to the battery, the inverse taper charging current reaching a maximum charge current which is lower than the first charging current;
- and
- (e) supplying a charging current to the battery which is lower than the first charging current once the battery has been charged by the inverse taper charging current of step (d) for a predetermined period of time.
A charger for charging a battery, comprising:
- a controller providing a variable control signal;
- a current control means responsive to the variable control signal for providing a charge current to the battery corresponding to the variable control signal;
- means coupled to the controller for determining the charge level of the battery;
- means for causing the current control means to provide an inverse taper charge current which is increasing at a predetermined slope for a predetermined period of time to the battery once the battery has reached a predetermined charge level;
- and
- means for charging the battery at a fixed charge rate after the battery has been charged with the inverse taper charge current, for the predetermined period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.