초록 ▼

In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging. The system may automatically identify batte

In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging. The system may automatically identify battery type and progressively increase charging current while monitoring for an increase in battery terminal voltage to ascertain the level of load current. The battery temperature may be brought into a relationship to surrounding temperature such that by applying a suitable overcharge current value and observing any resultant temperature increase, the level of remaining battery charge can be determined. For example, if the battery is found to be relatively fully discharged, a relatively high fast-charge rate may be safely applied while monitoring battery temperature. If the battery is initially relatively fully charged or reaches such a state during fast charge, the system may automatically dynamically select a maintenance charge rate according to battery type and temperature. A preferred system may automatically recharge the batteries of a portable device according to an optimum schedule of essentially maximum safe charging rates as a function of battery temperature, and thereafter safely maintain the batteries at essentially fully charged condition in readiness for maximum duration portable operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim as our invention:] [1.] In a battery conditioning system,(a) rechargeable battery means for supplying operating current during a number of hours of portable operation so as to become progressively discharged as a result,(b) battery conditioning system means for coupling with said recharge

[ We claim as our invention:] [1.] In a battery conditioning system,(a) rechargeable battery means for supplying operating current during a number of hours of portable operation so as to become progressively discharged as a result,(b) battery conditioning system means for coupling with said rechargeable battery means for supplying current to said rechargeable battery means during a battery conditioning cycle, after a period of portable operation,(c) said battery conditioning system means comprising computer means having input means for receiving measures of battery temperature at successive times during such battery conditioning cycle,(d) current control means for coupling with said rechargeable battery means for controlling the rate of current flow to the rechargeable battery means during a battery conditioning cycle, and(e) said computer means having output means coupled with said current control means for dynamically varying the rate of current flow to said rechargeable battery means during a battery conditioning cycle as a function of battery temperature as monitored by said computer means without relying on measured battery voltage.