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 switch to a lower sustainable overcharge rate selected according to battery type and temperature. A preferred system any automatically recharge the battery of a portable device according to an optimum schedule of essentially maximum safe charging rates as a function of battery temperature. The system may also convert a regulated charging current to a pulsed and modulated waveform to provide efficient net charging to the battery. The source of charging current can optionally be placed outside the terminal housing to eliminate any heat dissipation effects of the current source.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim as my invention:] [1.] In a battery conditioning system,(a) a rechargeable battery to supply operating current during a number of hours of portable operation so as to become progressively discharged as a result,(b) a battery conditioning circuit coupling with said rechargeable battery to s

[ I claim as my invention:] [1.] In a battery conditioning system,(a) a rechargeable battery to supply operating current during a number of hours of portable operation so as to become progressively discharged as a result,(b) a battery conditioning circuit coupling with said rechargeable battery to supply current to said rechargeable battery during a battery conditioning cycle,(c) said battery conditioning circuit comprising a computer having an input section to receive measures of battery temperature at successive times during such battery conditioning cycle, and(d) a current control coupling with said rechargeable battery to control the rate of current flow to the rechargeable battery during a battery conditioning cycle,(e) said computer having an output section coupled with said current control to vary the rate of current flow to said rechargeable battery during a battery conditioning cycle as a function of battery temperature as monitored by said computer,(f) a current monitor coupled to the battery to monitor any portion of current to the battery during the battery conditioning cycle attributable to a load on the battery;(g) a load control operatively connected between the current monitor and the current control to insure that current flow to said battery during the battery conditioning cycle exceeds current attributable to a load on the battery.