Method and circuitry to calculate the state of charge of a battery/cell

#The present inventions relate to methods and circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell. In particular, in one aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery/cell.

#In one embodiment, the adaptive charging techniques and/or circuitry uses and/or employs such data, in connection with certain constraints or requirements (that will be described below) to change, adjust, control and/or vary the charging current signal(s), including the characteristics thereof (including, for example, shape of charge and/or discharge signal (if any), amplitude thereof, duration thereof, duty cycle thereof and/or rest period (if any)), applied to the terminals of the battery/cell.

#In certain embodiments, two considerations in connection with implementing adaptive charging circuitry and techniques include (i) minimizing and/or reducing total charging time and (ii) maximizing and/or increasing cycle life. In this regard, for practical reasons, the battery/cell is charged within a given period of time (for example, a maximum allowed period of time). Typically, a specification value is defined or chosen depending on the application. For example, it is approximately 2 to 4 hours for batteries employed in consumer applications, and for batteries employed in transportation applications, it may be up to 8 hours. This results in a specification for a net effective average charging current over the duration of the charging period.

#In the course of the detailed description to follow, reference will be made to the attached drawings. These drawings show different aspects of the present inventions and, where appropriate, reference numerals illustrating like structures, components, materials and/or elements in different figures are labeled similarly. It is understood that various combinations of the structures, components, and/or elements, other than those specifically shown, are contemplated and are within the scope of the present inventions.

#Moreover, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein. The present inventions are neither limited to any single aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or embodiments.

#Moreover, each of the aspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects of the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, certain permutations and combinations are not discussed and/or illustrated separately herein.

#Again, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein. The present inventions are neither limited to any single aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or embodiments. Each of the aspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects of the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, many of those combinations and permutations are not discussed separately herein.

#In a first aspect, the present inventions are directed to adaptive charging techniques and/or circuitry for a battery/cell wherein the charging techniques and/or circuitry adapt, adjust and/or control one or more characteristics of the charge or current applied to or injected into the battery/cell so that the change in voltage at the terminals of the battery/cell (hereinafter “terminal voltage”) is within a predetermined range and/or below a predetermined value. For example, where the charging techniques and/or circuitry apply charge packets, having one or more charge pulses, to the battery/cell during a charging sequence, cycle or operation, in one embodiment, the charging techniques and/or circuitry may adapt, adjust and/or control the amplitude and/or pulse width of the charge or current pulses applied to or injected into the battery/cell by subsequent packet(s) (for example, the immediately subsequent packets) so that the change in voltage at the terminals of the battery/cell in response to such subsequent charge packet(s) is within a predetermined range and/or below a predetermined value. In this embodiment, the charging techniques and/or circuitry may adapt, adjust and/or control one or more characteristics of the charge or current applied to or injected into the battery/cell via adapting, adjusting and/or controlling the shape, amplitude and/or width of charge pulse(s) of the subsequent packet(s).

#In another embodiment, the charging techniques and/or circuitry apply charge packets, having one or more charge pulses and one or more discharge pulses, to the battery/cell during a charging sequence, cycle or operation. In this embodiment, the charging techniques and/or circuitry may adapt, adjust and/or control one or more characteristics of the charge or current applied to or injected into the battery/cell (via the charge pulses) and/or one or more characteristics of the charge or current removed from the battery/cell (via the discharge pulses) so that the change in terminal voltage in response to such charge or current is within a predetermined range and/or below a predetermined value during subsequent charging (for example, the immediately subsequent packets) of a charging sequence, cycle or operation. For example, the adaptive charging techniques and/or circuitry of the present inventions may adapt, adjust and/or control shape, amplitude and/or width of charge pulse(s) and the shape, amplitude and/or width of discharge pulse(s) in a manner so that (i) a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell due to the charge pulse(s) and (ii) a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell due to the discharge pulse(s) are each within predetermined ranges during the charging sequence, cycle or operation. In addition thereto, or in lieu thereof, the adaptive charging techniques and/or circuitry of the present inventions may adapt, adjust and/or control shape, amplitude and/or width of charge pulse(s) and discharge pulse(s) in a manner that provides a relationship between (i) a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell due to the charge pulse(s) of a packet and (ii) a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell due to the discharge pulse(s) of the packet to be within a predetermined range during the charging sequence, cycle or operation. Thus, in those embodiments where the charge packet includes one or more charge and discharge pulses, the charging techniques and/or circuitry of the present inventions may adapt, adjust and/or control one or more characteristics of the charge and/or discharge to control the change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell in response to pulses so that (i) each such change is within predetermined range(s) and/or below a predetermined value(s), and/or (ii) the relationship between such changes is within a predetermined range and/or below a predetermined value.