Method and system for charging rechargeable batteries
AssigneeComarco Wireless Technologies, Inc.
InventorThomas W. Lanni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for charging rechargeable batteries is disclosed. A charging circuit monitors aspects of a rechargeable battery during charging and applies power to the terminals of the battery received from a power supply. The charging circuitry signals to a power supply to control the current or voltage applied to the charging circuitry based upon the monitored aspects of the battery and the type of charge storing compound within the cells of the battery. The charging circuitry and battery may be part of a rechargeable battery cartridge disposed within a compartment of a portable electronic device having a dynamic operational load. By controlling the power supply, the charging circuitry can simultaneously apply power to the operational load to operate the device while charging the battery.
Claims18
In a portable appliance having an operational load, a rechargeable battery, the rechargeable battery having at least one battery cell, a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a connection adapted to mate with an external power supply, the improvement comprising:
- a circuit for generating a signal representative of a voltage between the positive and negative terminals;
- and
- a circuit for providing a signal to the connection in response to the signal representative of the voltage for programming the external power supply to provide a desired level of current to the connection.
A portable appliance, the portable appliance comprising:
- a dynamic operational load;
- a rechargeable battery;
- a connection adapted for mating with an external power supply for providing a current;
- and
- a circuit for providing a signal to the connection for programming the external power supply to provide a current to the connection for recharging the rechargeable battery and powering the dynamic operational load.
A rechargeable battery cartridge adapted to be removably installed in or coupled to a portable appliance, the battery cartridge comprising:
- a casing including a first set of terminals adapted for mating with conductors of the portable appliance and a second set of terminals adapted to be coupled to an external power supply;
- a rechargeable battery disposed within the casing, the rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and at least one battery cell for storing a charge between the positive terminal and the negative terminal;
- and
- a circuit disposed within the casing for generating a signal to program the external power supply to provide one of a desired current and a desired voltage to be applied to the second set of terminals based upon a voltage between the positive and negative terminals.
A method of powering a portable appliance, the method comprising:
- coupling a rechargeable battery cartridge to the portable appliance, the rechargeable battery cartridge including a rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and at least one battery cell for storing a charge between the positive terminal and the negative terminal;
- coupling an external power supply to a connector of the rechargeable battery cartridge;
- and
- providing a signal to the connector of the rechargeable battery to program the external power supply to provide one of a desired level of current to be applied to the connector of the rechargeable battery cartridge based upon a voltage between the positive and negative terminals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.