Battery identification apparatus and associated method

A device for communicating a type of a battery detachably coupled thereto, the device comprising:

• a sensing circuit for sensing a temperature of the battery;
• a comparator circuit coupled to the sensing circuit for comparing the temperature to a predetermined range of temperatures;
• and
• a signalling circuit coupled to the comparator circuit for communicating a predetermined number of first predetermined signals when the temperature falls outside of the predetermined range, the predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery.

A battery identification system comprising:

• a battery having one of a plurality of types;
• an electronic device detachably coupled to the battery, the electronic device detecting a type of the battery and generating a predetermined number of first predetermined signals responsive thereto;
• and
• an apparatus detachably coupled to the electronic device, the apparatus including circuitry for supplying a charging current to the battery and detecting the predetermined number of first predetermined signals, the apparatus supplying the charging current until reception of a first one of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals, the apparatus thereafter identifying the type of the battery in response to reception of additional ones of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals.

A battery identification and charging system:

• a battery having an identity;
• a radiotelephone detachably receiving the battery, the radiotelephone including
• radio frequency circuitry to be powered by the battery,
• a device connector,
• a device controller coupled to the battery and the device connector, the device controller sensing a temperature of the battery, device controller comparing the temperature to a predetermined range of temperatures, the device controller coupling a predetermined number of signals to the device connector when the temperature falls outside of the predetermined range of temperatures, the device controller initially communicating a first one of the predetermined number of signals to change charging rate, the device controller thereafter communicating additional ones of the predetermined number of signals to indicate the identity of the battery;
• and
• a charger including
• a charger connector detachably coupled to the device connector, the charger connector including an input and an output,
• a current source for supplying a first charging current or a second charging current at the output of the charger connector for charging the battery, and
• a charger controller coupled to the input of the charger connector and the current source, the charger controller initially supplying the first charging current until reception of the first one of the predetermined number of signals, the charger controller identifying the battery according to reception of additional ones of the predetermined number of signals within a predetermined time period, the charger controller thereafter supplying the second charging current.

A method of identifying a type of a battery detachably coupled to an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying a charging current to the battery;
• interrupting the charging current after reception of a first predetermined signal;
• and
• counting additional receptions of the first predetermined signal to identify the type of the battery.

A method of charging a battery having a type detachably coupled to an electronic device, the method comprising steps of:

• supplying a first charging current to the battery;
• interrupting the first charging current after reception of a first predetermined signal;
• counting additional receptions of the first predetermined signal to identify the type of the battery;
• and
• supplying, responsive to identifying the type of the battery, a second charging current to the battery.

A method of communicating a type of a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

• sensing an identification voltage provided by the battery;
• comparing the identification voltage to a plurality of predetermined identification voltages and determining the type of the battery;
• and
• generating, responsive to determining the type of the battery, a predetermined number of first predetermined signals indicative of the type of the battery, a first one of the predetermined number of first predetermined signals to change charging rate.