Battery charger and charging method

Abstract

A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery for a short period of time while suppressing the battery temperature from rising, by incorporating in the battery charger memory a look-up table for mapping an allowable value of current with which the battery can be charged based on a battery temperature and a battery temperature rise only. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a temperature rise is calculated from the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current map is then retrieved from the detected temperature and the obtained temperature rise, an allowable current with which the battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising is obtained (in step S16) and the battery is charged with the allowable current (in step S20). Since the allowable current which the battery can be charged with, while suppressing battery temperature from rising is retrieved using the map which the allowable current is mapped, based on battery temperature and battery temperature rise, and charging current is controlled, it is possible to charge the battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.