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US5684386A
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US
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Charging method of a secondary battery
Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-10-18
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2015-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A secondary battery is charged in alternating charging and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during the charging periods and the secondary battery is charged in a series of charging pulses during the pulse-charging periods. The terminal voltage or the temperature of the secondary battery may be sampled during at least one interval between the pulses in a pulse-charging period to detect a full charge level or an excessive temperature, respectively. Such an arrangement can reduce charging time and facilitate accurate monitoring of the terminal voltage or the temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuya Okada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/927; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for charging a secondary battery, the method comprising: charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; sampling a terminal voltage of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period; and modifying the charging step based on the sampled terminal voltage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for charging a secondary battery, the method comprising: charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; sampling a terminal voltage of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period; and modifying the charging step based on the sampled terminal voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1, the method further including: sampling the terminal voltage of the secondary battery during at least two intervals in each of the pulse-charging periods; and calculating an average of the sampled terminal voltages during the at least two intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, the method further including modifying the charging step when the sampled terminal voltage exhibits at least one of a predetermined peak value and a decrease of a predetermined voltage ΔV after the peak value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of charging includes applying a charging current and the step of modifying the charging step comprises one of shutting off the charging current and reducing the charging current to a lower level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1, the method further including: setting the ratio of the duration of each pulse to the duration of each continuous charging period to less than 1/10; and setting the ratio of the duration of each interval between pulses to the duration of each pulse to less than 1/2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: sampling a temperature of the secondary battery; and modifying the charging if the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of charging a secondary battery, the secondary battery having terminals, by supplying a current through the terminals of the second battery, the method comprising: charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; sampling a temperature of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period to provide a sampled temperature; and modifying the charging based on the sampled temperature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of charging a secondary battery, the secondary battery having terminals, by supplying a current through the terminals of the second battery, the method comprising: charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; sampling a temperature of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period to provide a sampled temperature; and modifying the charging based on the sampled temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein in the step of sampling includes sampling the temperature during an interval in each of the pulse charging periods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of sampling a temperature comprises sampling a voltage of a temperature detecting element which is thermally coupled to the secondary battery and has a terminal electrically coupled to the secondary battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the temperature detecting element is a thermistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7, the method further including modifying the charging when the sampled temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of charging includes supplying a charging current to the secondary battery and the step of modifying the charging comprises one of shutting off the charging current and reducing the charging current to a lower level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 7, the method further comprising: setting the ratio of the duration of each pulse to the duration of the continuous charging period to less than 1/10; and setting the ratio of the duration of each interval between pulses to the duration of each pulse is set to less than 1/2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the apparatus comprising: a circuit for charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; a circuit for sampling the terminal voltage of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period; and a circuit for modifying the charging based on the sampled terminal voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the apparatus comprising: a circuit for charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; a circuit for sampling the terminal voltage of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period; and a circuit for modifying the charging based on the sampled terminal voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, comprising: a circuit for charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; a circuit for sampling a temperature of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period to provide a sampled temperature; and a circuit for modifying the charging based on the sampled temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, comprising: a circuit for charging the secondary battery in alternating continuous charging periods and pulse-charging periods in which the secondary battery is continuously charged during each continuous charging period and the secondary battery is charged by a series of charging pulses during each pulse-charging period; a circuit for sampling a temperature of the secondary battery during at least one interval between the pulses during a pulse-charging period to provide a sampled temperature; and a circuit for modifying the charging based on the sampled temperature.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |