US 6,271,643 B1 · Battery pack having memory

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a method of charging a battery includes supplying a charging current to the battery and measuring one or more battery parameters. The battery parameters may be, for example, temperature, voltage and/or charging current. The battery parameter measured is used to determine a charging current set point. The set point may be selected from a number of different set points stored in memory, where each set point corresponds to a respective battery parameter range. If the charging current being supplied to the battery is different from the charging current set point determined the charging current is adjusted to match the set point. This process is repeated for each of a plurality of time periods (e.g., sampling periods) during charging of the battery.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of charging a battery comprising:

(a) supplying a charging current to a battery;
(b) measuring at least one battery parameter;
(c) determining a charging current set point based on the at least one battery parameter measured;
(d) if the charging current being applied to the battery is different from the charging current set point, adjusting the charging current being supplied to the battery to match the charging current set point;
and
(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for each of a plurality of time periods during charging.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/513,290Filed 24 Feb 2000 · continuation

Priority

18 Dec 1986

Granted

7 Aug 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification32 codes

H01M 6/505
Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means: cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of…
G06F 1/263
Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof: arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC
H01M 10/425
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells: structural combination with electronic…
H01M 10/4257
Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing: smart batteries, e.g.…

Family

Application06/944,503Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Dec 1986

Application07/266,537Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jan 1988

Application07/168,352Parent of this division · filed 15 Mar 1988

Application07/168,352Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Mar 1988

US 4,737,702 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Apr 1988

Application07/422,226Parent of this division · filed 6 Oct 1989

US 4,885,523 AParent of this division · filed 5 Dec 1989

US 4,885,523 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Dec 1989

Application07/446,231Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Dec 1989

Application07/544,230Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jun 1990

US 4,961,043 AParent of this division · filed 2 Oct 1990

Application07/769,337Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Oct 1991

Application07/837,650Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Feb 1992

Application07/859,591Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Mar 1992

Application08/134,881Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Oct 1993

US 5,363,031 AParent of this continuation · filed 8 Jan 1994

US 5,278,487 AParent of this continuation · filed 11 Jan 1994

Application08/315,825Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Sep 1994

Application08/399,742Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Mar 1995

Application08/415,075Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Mar 1995

US 5,463,305 AParent of this continuation · filed 3 Oct 1995

US 5,508,599 AParent of this continuation · filed 16 Apr 1996

Application08/841,974Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 1997

US 5,619,117 AParent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 1997

Application08/985,853Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Dec 1997

US 5,696,435 AParent of this continuation · filed 9 Dec 1997

Application09/223,983Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jan 1999

US 5,856,737 AParent of this continuation · filed 5 Jan 1999

Application09/270,302Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Mar 1999

US 5,883,493 AParent of this continuation · filed 16 Mar 1999

US 6,043,630 AParent of this continuation · filed 28 Mar 2000

US 6,075,340 AParent of this continuation · filed 13 Jun 2000

US 6,075,342 AParent of this continuation · filed 13 Jun 2000

Application07/544,230Parent of this division

Application07/859,591Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application07/837,650Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,271,643 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Battery pack having memory

Life of this patent

Battery pack having memory

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22