Patent EP0665627A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0665627A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for automatically switching and charging multiple batteries
Assignee: Physio Control Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A battery selecting and charging system forms part of a portable electronic device, preferably a portable medical device. When the device is powered up, a selecting circuit selects one of two rechargeable batteries to power the device until it is depleted, and then automatically switches to the other battery. When the second battery is depleted, both batteries are selected to power the device. When the device is powered down, a battery charging circuit, having both a high and low charge section, provides a high charge to the battery having the greatest terminal voltage. Thereafter, the high charge is applied to the other battery, the low charge is applied to the first battery, and then the low charge is applied to the second battery. The battery charging circuit monitors the terminal voltage to prevent any damage to the batteries or the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham H. Kou
- 👤 Robert A. Wiley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A battery charging and selecting system coupled to a terminal of a voltage supply for charging at least first and second batteries and for selecting at least one of at least first and second batteries to deliver power to an electrical component, the first and second batteries having respective first and second voltages, the system comprising: a battery charger coupled to the terminal of the voltage supply and selectively coupled to the first and second batteries, the battery charger selectively providing a first amount of current to the first and second batteries; a battery selector for selectively coupling the first and second batteries to the electrical component, the battery selector having a first state that couples at least one of the first and second batteries to the electrical component to supply power thereto and a second state that uncouples both of the first and second batteries from the electrical component; a battery voltage monitoring circuit coupled to the first and second batteries and outputting first and second voltage signals representing the first and second voltages, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the battery charger, the battery selector and the battery voltage monitoring circuit, the control circuit determining in which state the battery selector is, and if the battery selector is in the first state, then the control circuit (i) directs the battery selector to couple the first battery to the electrical component, (ii) compares the first voltage signal to a threshold voltage value and (iii) directs the battery selector to couple the second battery to the electrical component when the first voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value, and if the battery selector is in the second state, the control circuit then (i) compares the first and second voltage signals, (ii) determines that the first voltage signal corresponding to the first voltage on the first battery is greater than the second voltage signal corresponding to the second voltage on the second battery, (iii) causes the battery charger to provide the first amount of current to the first battery, and (iv) thereafter causes the battery charger to provide the first amount of current to the second battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
The battery charging and selecting system of claim 1 wherein if the battery selector is in the first state, the control circuit (iv) compares the second voltage signal to the threshold voltage value, and (v) directs the selecting circuit to couple both of the first and second batteries to the electrical component when the second voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
The battery charging and selecting system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit selectively outputs first and second selecting signals, wherein the battery selector includes a first battery selecting circuit coupled to the first battery, the electrical component and the control circuit, and a second battery selecting circuit coupled to the second battery, the electrical component, and the control circuit, and wherein the first and second battery selecting circuits couple the first and second batteries to the electrical component in response to the first and second selecting signals, all respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
The battery charging and selecting system of claim 1 wherein the battery charger includes first and second charging circuits coupled to the terminal of the voltage supply and selectively coupled to the first and second batteries, the first and second charging circuits selectively providing the first and a second amounts of current, respectively, to the first and second batteries, the second amount of current being less than the first amount of current, and wherein if the battery selector is in the second state, the control circuit (v) causes the second charging circuit to provide the second amount of current to the first battery, and (vi) thereafter causes the second charging circuit to provide the second amount of current to the second battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The battery charging and selecting system of claim 4 wherein the control circuit selectively outputs first and second battery switching signals, the system further comprising a battery switching circuit coupled to the control circuit, the first and second charging circuits and to the first and second batteries, the battery switching circuit causing one of the first and second amounts of currents to be provided to the first battery in response to the first battery switching signal, and causing one of the first and second amounts of currents to be provided to the second battery in response to the second battery switching signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
183 words
A battery charging system coupled to a terminal of a voltage supply for charging at least first and second batteries having respective first and second voltages, the system comprising: a battery charger coupled to the terminal of the voltage supply and selectively coupled to the first and second batteries, the battery charger selectively providing a first amount of current to the first and second batteries; a battery voltage monitoring circuit coupled to the first and second batteries and outputting first and second voltage signals representing the first and second voltages, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the battery charger, the control circuit (i) comparing the first and second voltage signals, (ii) determining that the first voltage signal corresponding to the first voltage on the first battery is greater than the second voltage signal corresponding to the second voltage on the second battery, (iii) causing the battery charger to provide the first amount of current to the first battery, and (iv) thereafter causing the battery charger to provide the first amount of current to the second battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
The battery charging system of claim 6 wherein the battery charger includes first and second charging circuits coupled to the terminal of the voltage supply and selectively coupled to the first and second batteries, the first and second charging circuits selectively providing the first and a second amounts of current, respectively, to the first and second batteries, the second amount of current being less than the first amount of current, and wherein the control circuit (v) causes the second charging circuit to provide the second amount of current to the first battery, and (vi) thereafter causes the second charging circuit to provide the second amount of current to the second battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The battery charging system of claim 7 wherein the control circuit selectively outputs first and second battery switching signals the system further comprising a battery switching circuit coupled to the control circuit, the first and second charging circuits and to the first and second batteries, the battery switching circuit causing one of the first and second amounts of currents to be provided to the first battery in response to the first battery switching signal, and causing one of the first and second amounts of currents to be provided to the second battery in response to the second battery switching signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The battery charging system of claim 7 wherein the control circuit selectively outputs first and second battery enabling signals, and wherein the battery charger includes a first enable circuit coupled between the first charging circuit and the control circuit, and a second enable circuit coupled between the second charging circuit and the control circuit, the first and second enable circuits enabling the first and second charging circuits to provide the first and second currents in response to the first and second enabling signals, all respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The battery charging system of claim 6, further comprising a visual indicator coupled to the control circuit, the control circuit providing a first indicator signal thereto indicating that the first amount of current is being applied to one of the first and second batteries, a second indicator signal thereto indicating that one of the first and second batteries is waiting to have the first amount of current applied thereto, and a third indicator signal thereto indicating that the first amount of current is not being applied to one of the first and second batteries.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The battery charging system of claim 10 wherein the visual indicator is a light-emitting element and wherein one of the first, second and third indicator signals cause the light-emitting element to flash at a first rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The battery charging system of claim 6 wherein the control circuit is a microprocessor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of charging at least first and second batteries comprising the steps of: comparing first and second voltages on the respective first and second batteries; determining that the first voltage corresponding to the first battery is greater than the second voltage corresponding to the second battery; charging the first battery with a first amount of current; and thereafter charging the second battery with the first amount of current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method charging of claim 13, further comprising the steps of charging the first battery with a second amount of current, and thereafter charging the second battery with the second amount of current, second amount of current being less than the first amount of current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of charging of claim 13, further comprising the steps of monitoring the first and second voltages as the first and second batteries are being charged, and discontinuing the charging one of the first and second batteries if one of the first and second voltages exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of charging of claim 15 wherein the threshold value is approximately equivalent to a voltage monitored on a defective battery, the method further comprising the step of providing a first indication if one of the first and second batteries exceeds the threshold value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of charging of claim 13 wherein the step of thereafter charging the second battery includes the step of determining whether the second battery is present, and thereafter charging the second battery only if the second battery is present.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A battery selecting system for selecting at least one of at least first and second batteries to deliver power to an electrical component, the circuit comprising: a battery selector for selectively coupling the first and second batteries to the electrical component; a battery voltage monitoring circuit coupled to the first battery and outputting a first voltage signal corresponding to a first voltage on the first battery; and a control circuit coupled to the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the selecting circuit, the control circuit (i) directing the selecting circuit to couple the first battery to the electrical component, (ii) comparing the first voltage signal to a threshold voltage value, and (iii) directing the selecting circuit to couple the second battery to the electrical component when the first voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The battery selecting system of claim 18 wherein the battery voltage monitoring circuit is coupled to the second battery and outputs a second voltage signal corresponding to a second voltage on the second battery, and wherein the control circuit (iv) compares the second voltage signal to the threshold voltage value, and (v) directs the selecting circuit to couple both of the first and second batteries to the electrical component when the second voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
The battery selecting system of claim 18 wherein the control circuit selectively outputs first and second selecting signals, wherein the battery selector includes a first battery selecting circuit coupled to the first battery, the electrical component and the control circuit and a second battery selecting circuit coupled to the second battery, the electrical component, and the control circuit, and wherein the first and second battery selecting circuits couple the first and second batteries to the electrical component in response to the first and second selecting signals, all respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The battery selecting system of claim 20 wherein the battery selector includes a system power control circuit having a user actuatable switch and coupled to the first and second selecting circuits, the system power control circuit coupling the first and second batteries to the electrical component to provide power thereto upon actuation of the switch.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of selecting at least one of at least first and second batteries to deliver power to an electrical component comprising the steps of: selecting the first battery to deliver power to the electrical component; comparing a first voltage signal output from the first battery to a threshold voltage value; and selecting the second battery to power the electrical component when the first voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of selecting of claim 22, further comprising the steps comparing a second voltage signal output from the second battery to the threshold voltage value, and selecting both of the first and second batteries to supply power to the electrical component when the second voltage signal is less than the threshold voltage value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: monitoring the first and second voltages on the first and second batteries; determining whether both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; determining whether both of the first and second voltages are below a second threshold value if both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; providing a second indication if both the first and second voltages are below the second threshold; determining whether one of the first and second voltages is below the second threshold value if both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; and providing a first indication if one of the first and second voltages is below the second threshold value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of determining whether one of the first and second voltages is below a third threshold voltage, determining whether the third threshold voltage is greater than a fourth threshold voltage if one of the first and second voltages is below the third threshold voltage, and decreasing the third threshold voltage to a fifth threshold voltage if the third threshold voltage is greater than the fourth threshold voltage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of determining whether the third threshold voltage is equal to the fourth threshold voltage if one of the first and second voltages is above the third threshold voltage, and setting the third threshold voltage to a fifth threshold voltage if the third threshold voltage is equal to the fourth threshold voltage.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of indicating battery status in a battery powered device having at least first and second batteries, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring first and second voltages on the first and second batteries; determining whether both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; determining whether both of the first and second voltages are below a second threshold value if both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; providing a second indication if both the first and second voltages are below the second threshold; determining whether one of the first and second voltages is below the second threshold value if both of the first and second voltages are below a first threshold value; and providing a first indication if one of the first and second voltages is below the second threshold value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of determining whether one of the first and second voltages is below a third threshold voltage, determining whether the third threshold voltage is greater than a fourth threshold voltage if one of the first and second voltages is below the third threshold voltage, and decreasing the third threshold voltage to a fifth threshold voltage if the third threshold voltage is greater than the fourth threshold voltage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of determining whether the third threshold voltage is equal to the fourth threshold voltage if one of the first and second voltages is above the third threshold voltage, and setting the third threshold voltage to a fifth threshold voltage if the third threshold voltage is equal to the fourth threshold voltage.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the fourth threshold voltage is approximately equivalent to a voltage monitored when one of the first and second batteries is removed from the device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of providing the first indication includes providing a first visual indication and providing a first audible indication.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of providing the second indication includes providing a second visual indication, providing a second audible indication, and temporarily halting the method until an input from an operator is received.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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