Method and circuitry to adjust, correct and/or compensate an SOC of a battery based on relaxation time thereof

A method to adaptively charge a battery, wherein the battery includes at least two terminals, the method comprising:

• applying a charge current to the terminals of the battery;
• terminating the charge current;
• measuring a first voltage at the terminals of the battery after terminating the charge current;
• determining data which is representative of a relaxation time of the battery using the first voltage and a form, shape or rate of decay of the voltage of the battery after terminating the charge current, wherein the relaxation time is an amount of time corresponding to when, in response to terminating the charge current, the voltage at the terminals of the battery decays to an equilibrium voltage of the battery;
• adjusting, correcting or compensating a state of charge of the battery using the data which is representative of the relaxation time;
• and
• applying a charge to the terminals of the battery using a charge process that is dependent on the adjusted, corrected, or compensated state of charge of the battery.

An apparatus to determine a state of charge of a battery and adaptively charge the battery, wherein the battery includes at least two terminals, the apparatus comprising:

• charging circuitry, coupled to the battery, to (i) generate and apply the charge current to the battery, (ii) terminate application of the charge current to the battery, and (iii) charge the battery using a charge process that is dependent on a state of charge of the battery;
• measurement circuitry, coupled to the battery, to measure a first voltage at the terminals of the battery after terminating application of the charge current to the battery;
• control circuitry, coupled to the measurement circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
• determine data which is representative of a relaxation time of the battery using at least the first voltage, wherein the relaxation time is an amount of time corresponding to when, after terminating the charge current, the voltage at the terminals of the battery decays to at least the first voltage;
• and
• adjust, correct, or compensate the state of charge of the battery using the data which is representative of the relaxation time.

A method of adaptively charging a battery, wherein the battery includes at least two terminals, the method comprising:

• measuring a first voltage at the terminals of the battery after terminating a current applied to the terminals of the battery;
• determining data which is representative of a relaxation time of the battery using the first voltage and a form, shape or rate of decay of the voltage of the battery after terminating application of the current, wherein the relaxation time is an amount of time corresponding to when the voltage at the terminals of the battery decays to a voltage which correlates to an equilibrium voltage of the battery;
• determining data corresponding to the battery's state of health using the data which is representative of the relaxation time;
• and
• charging the battery using a charge process having a characteristic based on the data corresponding to the battery's state of health.