초록 ▼

A battery charger for use with different types of batteries, such as batteries requiring constant current charging, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, as well as batteries which not only require constant current charging, but also require constant voltage chargi

A battery charger for use with different types of batteries, such as batteries requiring constant current charging, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, as well as batteries which not only require constant current charging, but also require constant voltage charging, such as lithium ion batteries. The battery charger includes a pulse width modulator circuit for controlling a power transistor to provide a constant current or a constant voltage output as a function of the battery characteristics. The battery charger may include dual pockets for charging two modular batteries on a time division multiplex basis. In the dual pocket application, power is divided between the two pockets as a function of the charging characteristics of the battery and the power dissipation of the power transistors used for supplying charging current to the pockets.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:] [1.] A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:a power transistor connected between the power supply

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:] [1.] A battery charger connected to a predetermined power supply for providing constant current and constant voltage charging, the battery charger comprising:a power transistor connected between the power supply and a battery to be charged;means for controlling said power transistor, said controlling means including a microprocessor coupled to said power transistor, said microprocessor including,a plurality of input ports coupled to said power transistor, for enabling the current and voltage of said power transistor to be sensed to enable said microprocessor to calculate the power dissipation of said power transistor; andone or more output ports, one of said output ports coupled to said power transistor for controlling said power transistor to provide constant current and constant voltage to said battery to be charged as a function of the power dissipation of said power transistor.