Battery pack, battery charger and charging method having multiple charging modes

A battery charger for a battery pack, comprising:

• a communication unit configured to perform communication with the battery pack and receive timeout period data from the battery pack, wherein the timeout period data includes a timeout period;
• a memory configured to store the timeout period data received from the battery pack;
• and
• a charging controller configured to perform an initial charge during charging, perform a quick charging if a voltage of the battery pack reaches a predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started, and stop charging and judge the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started.

A battery charger for a battery pack, the battery charger including a secondary battery, the battery charger comprising:

• a communication unit configured to perform communication with the battery pack and receive information on a full charge capacity value of the secondary battery from the battery pack;
• a charging controller configured to calculate a timeout period based on the full charge capacity value;
• and
• a memory configured to store timeout period data including the timeout period,
• wherein the charging controller is further configured to, during charging,
• perform an initial charging of the battery pack,
• perform a quick charging if a voltage of the battery pack reaches a predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started, and
• stop charging and judge the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started.

A battery charger for a battery pack, comprising:

• a communication unit configured to perform communication with the battery pack and receiving information on a predetermined voltage from the battery pack;
• a memory configured to store timeout period data including a timeout period;
• and
• a charging controller configured to, during charging, perform an initial charging of the battery pack and perform a quick charging if a voltage of the battery pack reaches the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started, and stop charging and judge the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started.

A method for charging a battery pack, the method comprising:

• communicating with the battery pack and receiving timeout period data from the battery pack, wherein the timeout period data includes a timeout period;
• storing the timeout period data;
• and
• performing an initial charging of the battery pack and performing a quick charging if the voltage of the battery pack reaches a predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started, and judging the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started.

A method for charging a battery pack which includes a secondary battery, the method comprising:

• communicating with the battery pack and receiving information on a full charge capacity value of the secondary battery from the battery pack;
• and
• calculating a timeout period based on the full charge capacity value;
• storing timeout period data including the timeout period;
• during charging,
• performing an initial charging of the battery pack,
• performing a quick charging if the voltage of the battery pack reaches a predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started, and
• stopping charging and judging the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within the timeout period after the initial charging is started.

A method for charging a battery pack, the method comprising:

• a communication step of performing communication with the battery pack and receiving information on a predetermined voltage and timeout period data including a timeout period from the battery pack;
• and
• a charge control step of, during charging,
• (a) performing initial charging of the battery pack,
• (b) performing quick charging if the voltage of the battery pack reaches the predetermined voltage within a timeout period after the initial charging is started, and
• (c) stopping charging and judging the battery pack as abnormal if the voltage does not reach the predetermined voltage within a timeout period after the initial charging is started.