Patent US6040684A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6040684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lithium ion fast pulse charger
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-06-30
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Granted: 2000-03-21
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Expires: 2017-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A lithium-ion cell charging system wherein pulse charging (with excursions above the critical voltage) is followed (once average current has fallen low enough) by charging in a linear regulator mode, using a transistor internal to a battery pack as an element of a linear regulator.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/927; H01M10/05; H01M10/052; H01M10/0525; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of charging a battery implemented in a battery technology which has an electrochemically-determined maximum threshold voltage which must not be exceeded, comprising the steps of: (a.) applying intermittent current pulses to said battery, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery which is greater than said threshold voltage; and (b.) thereafter operating a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of charging a battery implemented in a battery technology which has an electrochemically-determined maximum threshold voltage which must not be exceeded, comprising the steps of: (a.) applying intermittent current pulses to said battery, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery which is greater than said threshold voltage; and (b.) thereafter operating a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b.) includes a transition from switched linear regulation to analog linear regulation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a.) is terminated when the relaxed voltage of said battery, between ones of said pulses, reaches a second target voltage which is less than said threshold voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a.) is terminated when the current passed through said battery during ones of said pulses declines to a minimum current threshold value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, prior to said step (a.), applying current from a supply voltage which is greater than said threshold voltage, until the voltage seen across the battery reaches a first target voltage, which is not substantially greater than said threshold voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said battery technology is a lithium-ion technology.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of charging a lithium-containing battery which has a electrochemically-determined maximum threshold voltage which must not be exceeded, comprising the steps of: (1.) applying current from a supply voltage which is greater than said threshold voltage, until the voltage seen across the battery reaches a first target voltage which is not substantially greater than said threshold voltage; (2.) applying intermittent current pulses to said battery from a supply voltage which is greater than said threshold voltage, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery, which is greater than said threshold voltage; (3.) thereafter operating a pass transistor intermittently as a linear regulator element, to intermittently apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage; and (4.) thereafter operating said pass transistor continuously as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of charging a lithium-containing battery which has a electrochemically-determined maximum threshold voltage which must not be exceeded, comprising the steps of: (1.) applying current from a supply voltage which is greater than said threshold voltage, until the voltage seen across the battery reaches a first target voltage which is not substantially greater than said threshold voltage; (2.) applying intermittent current pulses to said battery from a supply voltage which is greater than said threshold voltage, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery, which is greater than said threshold voltage; (3.) thereafter operating a pass transistor intermittently as a linear regulator element, to intermittently apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage; and (4.) thereafter operating said pass transistor continuously as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step (2.) is terminated when the relaxed voltage of said battery, between ones of said pulses, reaches a second target voltage which is less than said threshold voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step (2.) is terminated when the current passed through said battery during ones of said pulses declines to a minimum current threshold value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said battery is a lithium-ion battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A battery charging system, comprising: charging circuitry which operates in a first phase to intermittently apply current pulses to a battery, to intermittently produce a voltage, at external terminals of said battery, which is greater than a threshold voltage; and control circuitry, which operates in a second phase to operate a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A battery charging system, comprising: charging circuitry which operates in a first phase to intermittently apply current pulses to a battery, to intermittently produce a voltage, at external terminals of said battery, which is greater than a threshold voltage; and control circuitry, which operates in a second phase to operate a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said battery is a lithium-ion battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
A portable computer system, comprising: memory, and a microprocessor operatively connected to read said memory, and at least one nonvolatile bulk data storage device, all located within a single chassis; a battery located within said chassis, and electrically connected to supply power to said memory under at least some circumstances; and charging circuitry, which operates in a first phase to intermittently apply current pulses to said battery, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery which is greater than a threshold voltage; and control circuitry which operates in a second phase to operate a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
133 words
A portable computer system, comprising: memory, and a microprocessor operatively connected to read said memory, and at least one nonvolatile bulk data storage device, all located within a single chassis; a battery located within said chassis, and electrically connected to supply power to said memory under at least some circumstances; and charging circuitry, which operates in a first phase to intermittently apply current pulses to said battery, to intermittently produce a voltage at external terminals of said battery which is greater than a threshold voltage; and control circuitry which operates in a second phase to operate a pass transistor as a linear regulator element to apply a clamped voltage to said battery which is approximately equal to said threshold voltage, wherein said pass transistor is integrated in a single package with said battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said battery is a lithium-ion battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said pass transistor is operated without heat sink connections.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said pass transistor is operated without heat sink connections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said pass transistor is operated without heat sink connections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said pass transistor is operated without heat sink connections.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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