초록 ▼

A charger (20) for simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries (22). The charger has a number of current sources (54) each of which selectively applies charging current to a separate battery. The generation of currents by the current sources is controlled by a controller (56). The controller ma

A charger (20) for simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries (22). The charger has a number of current sources (54) each of which selectively applies charging current to a separate battery. The generation of currents by the current sources is controlled by a controller (56). The controller maintains data indicating the total amount of power that the charger has available for charging batteries. When a battery is connected to a current source, the controller determines if the charger has enough power available to charge that battery. If this evaluation is positive, the controller causes the current source to supply the charging current and adjusts the power available data for the charger downwards to reflect the dedication of power to the battery. Upon the completion of the battery charging, the controller adjusts the power available data upwardly to reflect the availability of the power previously dedicated to that battery. If, however, the power availability determination is negative, the controller places the current source in a wait state in which it does not apply current to the battery. This invention prevents the current sources from collectively drawing more power than the power supply internal to the charger can provide. The charger also has a resistor 74 to which a battery is selectively connected to facilitate its discharging. The controller regulates which batteries are connected to the resistor and monitors the number of batteries connected to the resistor. The controller will not allow more than a maximum number of batteries to be simultaneously connected to the resistor.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries, said method including:providing a charger capable of simultaneously providing charging current to the plurality of batteries, the charger having power available data that indicates the amount of power the charg

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries, said method including:providing a charger capable of simultaneously providing charging current to the plurality of batteries, the charger having power available data that indicates the amount of power the charger has available to charge the batteries; andsuccessively coupling the plurality of batteries to the charger so that the plurality of batteries are simultaneously coupled to the charger, and for each of the batteries coupled to the charger, with the charger:reading from a memory power required data, the power required data indicating the power required to charge the battery;comparing the power required for the battery to the charger power available;if said comparison indicates that the power available to charge the batteries is at least equal to the power required to charge the battery: subtracting from the power available the power required to charge the battery as specified by the power required data; applying a current from the charger to the battery to charge the battery; and, after said charging of the battery, adding back to the power available the power required to charge the battery as specified by the power required data; andif said comparison indicates that the power available to charge the batteries is less than the power required to charge the battery, delaying the charging of said battery and reexecuting said step of comparing the power required for the battery to the charger power available.