CN101647175B

CN101647175B - Portable energy storage and charging device

Info

Publication number: CN101647175B
Application number: CN200880009971.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: L·J·皮内尔; D·C·巴特森
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Duracell US Operations Inc
Priority date: 2007-03-26
Filing date: 2008-03-20
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-20
Also published as: EP2130280A2; CN101647175A; BRPI0809338A2

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable charger device that includes a chamber to hold at least one rechargeable charging battery, and at least one controller. The controller is configured to determine a first charging current level to apply to the at least one rechargeable charging battery such that the at least one rechargeable charging battery achieves a first pre-determined charge that is reached within a first period of time of 15 minutes or less, apply to the at least one rechargeable charging battery a first charging current substantially equal to the determined first charging current level, determine a second charging current to apply to the one or more external rechargeable batteries, and apply to the one or more external rechargeable batteries a second charging current substantially equal to the determined second charging current level, the second charging current being drawn from the at least one rechargeable charging battery.

Description

Portable charged apparatus and to the method for battery charge

Background technology

The operating time of mancarried device (for example, mobile phone, PDA etc.) is subjected to the restriction to the size of the battery pack of these device power supplies.In general, battery pack recharges by battery and/or device are connected on the charger, and described charger is from external AC or DC power supply received power.

When the user is in travelling, there is not condition to use typical external power source to recharge the battery pack of powering to user's various mancarried devices.In this case, the user generally need carry extra battery to prolong the service time of those devices for each mancarried device.

Summary of the invention

The invention discloses charger apparatus, described charger apparatus is electric current stored energy and to portable use device delivery of energy greatly.Specifically, the current delivery energy need not to use external AC or DC power supply with the battery of charging mancarried device greatly.This device can make the user of portable set and device (for example, PDA, mobile phone, portable illumination device, video recorder, camera, computer etc.) carry additional stored energy with the service time of extension fixture or be used for emergency.This storage device can be charged by AC power supplies or DC power supply (such as the 14VDC power supply that can obtain in automobile usually).

In one aspect, the invention discloses for the portable charged apparatus to one or more outside rechargeable battery chargings.This device comprises be used to the chamber that holds at least one chargeable rechargeable battery and at least one controller.Controller is configured to definite first charging current level that will be applied on described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, make described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery obtain first pre-determined charge that in 15 minutes or shorter very first time section, reaches, apply first charging current that is substantially equal to the determined first charging current level to described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, determine to be applied to second charging current on described one or more outside rechargeable battery, and apply second charging current that is substantially equal to the determined second charging current level on described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, second charging current is from described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

Embodiment can comprise one or more in following.

Described at least one controller also can be configured to periodically regulate first charging current after reaching first predetermined voltage level of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, remains on first predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

Described at least one controller also can be configured to periodically regulate second charging current after reaching second predetermined voltage level of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, remains on second predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries.

Described at least one controller can be configured to determine to be applied to second charging current on described one or more outside rechargeable battery, makes described one or more outside rechargeable battery obtain the second predetermined charge level that reaches in 15 minutes or shorter second time period.

This device also can comprise power conversion module, and described module is configured to the outer power voltage level conversion for being applied to the charging voltage level on described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.For example, power conversion module can comprise AC-DC power conversion module and/or DC input DC-DC power conversion module.This device also can comprise first shell that holds power conversion module and hold attachable second shell of described at least one controller and described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery that described attachable second shell is configured to be mechanically connected on first shell.

Described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery can comprise at least two chargeable rechargeable batteries, and described at least two chargeable rechargeable batteries can configured in series connect.

Described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery can comprise lithium ion battery.Described at least one rechargeable battery can comprise ferric phosphate lithium cell.

The first predetermined charge level of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery can be described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery charging capacity at least 90%, and very first time section can be approximately between 5 to 15 minutes.

The second predetermined charge level of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries can be described one or more outside rechargeable batteries charging capacity at least 90%, and second time period can be approximately between 5 to 15 minutes.

This device also can comprise the charging compartments that is configured to admit described one or more outside rechargeable batteries.This device also can comprise described one or more outside rechargeable battery.

Described at least one controller can comprise the microcontroller based on processor.

This device also can comprise described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

On the other hand, the invention discloses for the portable charged apparatus to one or more outside rechargeable battery chargings.This device comprises: first shell, second shell and the 3rd shell, described first shell has be used to the chamber that holds at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, described second shell holds a DC-DC modular converter, described module described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery from the chamber receives charge volume and charge volume is delivered to one or more outside rechargeable batteries, described the 3rd shell has for the mechanism that the 3rd shell and first shell are connected and separate and holds the 2nd DC-DC modular converter, and described module provides power to receive charge volume with charge described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery and its from power conversion module.

Embodiment can comprise one or more in following.

First shell can comprise the mechanism that is connected and separates for first shell and second shell.

Second shell can comprise the mechanism that is connected and separates for second shell and first shell.

This device also can comprise shell all round, described all round shell have for shell and the 3rd shell mechanism that be connected and separate all round, described all round shell hold power conversion module.

This device also can comprise described one or more outside rechargeable battery.

The one DC-DC modular converter can comprise at least one controller, described controller is configured to definite charging current level that will be applied on described one or more outside rechargeable battery, and apply the charging current that is substantially equal to the determined second charging current level to described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, second charging current is from described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.Described at least one controller can be configured to determine to be applied to the charging current on described one or more outside rechargeable battery, makes described one or more outside rechargeable battery obtain at least 90% charge level for the charging capacity of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries in 15 minutes or shorter time period.Described at least one controller also can be configured to definite second charging current level that will be applied on described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, make described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery in 15 minutes or shorter second time period, obtain at least 90% second charge level for the charging capacity of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, and apply second charging current that is substantially equal to the determined second charging current level to described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

First shell and second shell can be same shell.

Second shell can comprise that also interface is to be coupled to described one or more external cell.Interface can be the wire harness interface.

Aspect another, the invention discloses a kind of method.This method comprises: determine to be applied to the first charging current level at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, make described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery obtain first pre-determined charge that reaches in 15 minutes or shorter very first time section; Apply first charging current that is substantially equal to the determined first charging current level to described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery; Determine to be applied to second charging current on one or more outside rechargeable batteries; And applying second charging current that is substantially equal to the determined second charging current level to described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, second charging current is from described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

As the each side of this device, the embodiment of this method also can comprise corresponding to as above about installing arbitrary parts of described arbitrary parts.

Compare with the common storable energy of typical mancarried device, this charger apparatus can be stored relatively large energy, therefore can make the user that charge volume is transferred to user's mancarried device or the battery of mancarried device from charger apparatus.Therefore, user's portability electric energy stored and needn't carry extra battery for each mancarried device that the user has.This charger apparatus can be used as the portable general charging device.In addition, this device also can have the ability that recharges with two-forty, so that this portable energy storing device can be in electric energy supplement in about 5 to 15 minutes or shorter time.In addition, this device can also be sent high-caliber charge power by sufficiently high voltage, with the battery of the mancarried device that allows the less user of in about 5 to 15 minutes or shorter time quick charge.

It is a kind of be used to the light weight of carrying attached portable formula energy storing device, low cost solution that charger apparatus as herein described can provide, thereby when the user when can be used for the reliable continuous power source of time expand section, can prolong the service time of various mancarried devices.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention is set forth in accompanying drawing and the following explanation.By reading specification, accompanying drawing and claims, other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the block diagram of an exemplary of portable charged apparatus.

Fig. 2 A is the perspective view of an exemplary that holds the shell of circuit for power conversion.

Fig. 2 B is the perspective view of an exemplary that holds the shell of power storage and charging circuit.

Fig. 2 C is the perspective view of an exemplary of interior views of the shell of Fig. 2 B.

Fig. 2 D is the perspective view that is mechanically connected to the shell of Fig. 2 B on the shell of Fig. 2 A.

Fig. 2 E admits prismatic internal cell and holds power storage and the perspective view of an exemplary of the shell of charging circuit for being used for.

Fig. 2 F is the perspective view of an exemplary of interior views of the shell of Fig. 2 E.

Fig. 3 is another block diagram of an exemplary of portable charged apparatus.

Fig. 4 is the circuit diagram of the used a kind of exemplary charging circuit of the charger apparatus of Fig. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an exemplary of AC-DC switch.

Fig. 6 A is the flow chart for an exemplary of the charging rules of the chargeable rechargeable battery of charging.

Fig. 6 B is the flow chart for an exemplary of the charging rules of the outside rechargeable battery of charging.

Fig. 7 is the block diagram of another exemplary of portable charged apparatus.

Fig. 8 is the circuit diagram of an exemplary of boost pressure controller circuit.

Embodiment

Referring to Fig. 1, it has shown the portable charged apparatus 10 that is configured to recharge external cell.The electric current that portable charger 10 uses from rechargeable battery 20 (being also referred to as internal cell), described rechargeable battery is included in the portable charged apparatus.Portable charged apparatus 10 comprises the AC-DC power conversion module 12 that is connected on the DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14, and described DC input DC-DC power conversion module is connected on power storage and the charging module 16 then.Battery 18 is coupled to power storage and charging module 16.Battery 18 is generally the battery for portable electron device.AC-DC power conversion module 12 comprises circuit, and the current/voltage-converted that described circuit is used for being sent by the external AC power supply is the DC current/voltage that is suitable for the reduced levels of battery charge.DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 comprises circuit, and the current/voltage-converted that described circuit is used for being sent by outside DC power supply (for example, automobile batteries) is the dc voltage that is suitable for the reduced levels of battery charge.Power storage and charging module 16 are configured to use the external cell that charges of the electric current from internal cell 20, and comprise control circuit and internal cell 20.Although internal cell shown in Figure 1 20 comprises five (5) individual batteries of arranged in series, also can be used in less or more battery that different configurations (for example, in parallel and/or connection in series-parallel) are arranged.

External cell 18 and the internal cell 20 that is included in the power storage module 16 can be secondary battery cell (battery) or primary cell unit.The primary electrochemical cells unit means that only discharge (for example to exhausting) once, goes out of use then.The primary cell unit does not plan to recharge.The primary cell unit for example is described among the Handbook of Batteries of David Linden (McGraw-Hill, the 2nd edition, 1995).Secondary electrochemical cells can repeatedly be recharged, for example surpass 50 times, surpass 100 times or more times.In some cases, secondary battery cell can comprise firm relatively spacer body, for example has those and/or thicker relatively those of many layers.Secondary battery cell also can be designed to adapt to the variation that may take place in battery unit, as swelling.Secondary battery cell is described in for example Falk ﹠amp; " Alkaline StorageBatteries " (John Wiley ﹠amp of Salkind; Sons, Inc.1969); United States Patent (USP) 345,124; In French Patent (FRP) 164,681, these patents are all incorporated this paper into way of reference accordingly.

In embodiment as herein described, external cell 18 and internal cell 20 are secondary or rechargeable battery, and can comprise lithium ionic cell unit, described battery has graphite anode material or lithium titanate anode material and LiFePO4 cathode material, and described material is suitable for making the rechargeable battery based on this type of material to recharge fast.Portable charged apparatus 10 can be configured to the dissimilar battery that charges, and comprises for example cylindrical battery, prismatic battery, button cell element cell etc.Though what Fig. 1 showed is the single external cell 18 that is coupled to charger 10, charger 10 can be configured to coupling and charging additional external battery such as battery 18.Also can use other battery types.

Referring now to Fig. 2 A,, AC-DC power conversion module 12 and DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 is arranged in the power transfer shell 30, described power transfer shell can with independently can with power storage is connected with charging module 16/power storage of separating is connected and separates with the shell 40 (seeing Fig. 2 B) that charges.In AC-DC power conversion module 12 and the DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 each all can be arranged in the discrete attachable shell, each all has the mechanism that is connected and separates with another shell of being used for separately, so that in one the situation in only needing these power conversion modules (for example, when available external power source is automobile batteries, only need DC input DC-DC power conversion module), needn't carry another power transfer shell.

Referring to Fig. 2 B, storage enclosure 40 comprises loam cake 41 and base wall 42, and their limit inner rechargeable battery is received in wherein interior battery chamber.

Referring to Fig. 2 C, wherein removed the loam cake 41 of shell 40, internal cell 20a-c is electrically connected to each other by electric terminal 48a-c (showing with dotted line) and 49a-c.Be not shown in the conductor that is among Fig. 2 C, described conductor is coupled to terminal 48a-c and 49a-c with the configuration of pre-restriction the output of battery pack.For example, the terminal of shell 40 comprises that terminal 48a-c and 49a-c are what be electrically connected, in order to form configured in series in some embodiments.Other configuration also is possible.

Be arranged on and also have control circuit 47 in the shell 40, such as hereinafter detailed description.The charging process of described circuit control external cell 18 and/or the charging process of internal cell 20.In some embodiments, the control circuit for the charging process of controlling external cell 18 and/or internal cell 20a-c can be arranged on the shell that is independent of shell 40.This independently shell can comprise for this shell and shell 40 mechanism of being connected and separating independently.In these cases, shell 40 also will comprise the mechanism that mechanically is connected and separates for shell 40 and the independently shell that holds control circuit.Therefore, shell arranges the control circuit that for example is used for the charging external cell by having independently, and internal cell 20 can be electrically coupled to polytype control circuit.Described circuit is configured to control the charging process of polytype outside rechargeable battery.

Shown in Fig. 2 B to C, what stretch out from the edge of base wall 42 of power storage and charging shell 40 (hereinafter referred to as " storage enclosure 40 ") is locking inserted sheet 44a-e (similar one group of locking inserted sheet also stretches out from the opposite edges of base wall 42).These locking inserted sheets 44a-e is configured to be received among the corresponding slit 34a-e, and described slit is limited on vertical wall of wall of the depression 32 that forms power transfer shell 30 (being shown among Fig. 2 A).When locking inserted sheet 44a-e fits in the slit 34a-e and when similar locking inserted sheet fitted among the slit 34f-j, storage enclosure 40 was mechanically connected on the power transfer shell 30.Fig. 2 D shows that storage enclosure 40 is mechanically connected on the power transfer shell 30.Storage enclosure 40 can use the bindiny mechanism of other type to be connected on the power transfer shell 30.

Locking inserted sheet 44a-e is made by electric conducting material, make when storage enclosure 40 is mechanically connected on the power transfer shell, power storage module 16 and power conversion module are (namely, be arranged on module 12 and/or module 14 in the shell 30) electrical communication, when being connected on the external power source with convenient power conversion module, it can provide and make charge inside battery 20 recharge required charging current, more describes in detail as institute hereinafter.

Storage enclosure 40 comprises the interface that can be used for mechanical couplings and be electrically coupled to one or more outside rechargeable batteries such as external cell 18.For example, shown in Fig. 2 B, in some embodiments, storage enclosure 40 comprises the wire harness interface 46 with 3 pin connectors.Three plug wire harness interfaces can make the cable of the standard charging connector of portable charger by disposing device be connected on different available battery-operated user's device such as mobile phones, the GPS transponder etc.In this way, a kind of portable charger a variety of user's devices that can be configured to as follows charge, and need not to remove the battery of user's device: connect multiple cable group component, described sub-assembly has the proper device connector and has coupling three pin connectors that cooperate with Wiring harness connector 46 in the opposite end at one end.

When outside rechargeable battery 18 being placed in the charging compartments and therefore make the charging circuit electrical communication of its terminal and power storage module 16, external cell 18 is recharged by applying charging current, and described electric current is generally from the charge inside battery 20 of power storage and charging module 16.Externally in the charging process of rechargeable battery 18, power conversion module 12 and/or 14 needn't move (though they can move), therefore need not to exist.Therefore, when charging external cell 18, power transfer shell 30 can separate with power storage shell 40.In some embodiments, charging current can be provided by the external power source that is connected on power conversion module 12 and/or 14.

By charger apparatus 10 being configured to have independent discrete attachable structure, these various attachable structures can be carried easilier, and are therefore less for user's entity bulkiness.In addition, user in the travelling only need carry the storage enclosure 40 that wherein is provided with power storage and charging module 16 (comprising the charge inside battery), and can use the energy that is stored in the internal cell to recharge external cell, described external cell is used for charging to the various electric devices that the user has.

Referring to Fig. 2 E, shown an embodiment of storage enclosure 150, described shell uses one or more chargeable prismatic batteries as its inside rechargeable battery.Storage enclosure 150 comprises loam cake 151 and base wall 152, and their limit the chargeable prismatic battery in described one or more inside is received in wherein interior battery chamber.

Referring to Fig. 2 F, wherein removed the loam cake 151 of shell 150, inner chargeable prismatic battery 160 is arranged in the interior battery chamber.Be arranged on the control circuit 157 in addition in the shell 150.As the control circuit 47 shown in Fig. 2 C, described circuit can be controlled the charging process of external cell 18 and/or the charging process of internal cell 160.

Also shown in Fig. 2 E-F, what stretch out from an edge of the base wall 152 of power storage and charging shell 150 is locking inserted sheet 154a-e (similar one group of locking inserted sheet also stretches out from the opposite edges of base wall 152).These locking inserted sheets 154a-e is configured to be received within the power transfer shell for example in the slit of the correspondence in the power transfer shell 30 (being shown among Fig. 2 A).When locking inserted sheet 154a-e fitted in the slit of correspondence of power transfer shell, storage enclosure 150 was mechanically connected on the power transfer shell.Storage enclosure 150 can use the bindiny mechanism of other type to be connected on the power transfer shell.

Referring to Fig. 3, power storage and charging module 16 are configured to comprise at least one high-power lithium ion rechargeable battery, and in some embodiments, comprise two or more high-power lithium ion rechargeable batteries.

When only using an internal cell to charge the external cell of having exhausted, be difficult to charge fully external cell, because the voltage of charge inside battery will finally be decreased to the magnitude of voltage of the external cell that is substantially equal to just be recharged.Therefore, in these cases, external cell can not obtain its maximum voltage (corresponding to complete or approaching charging capacity completely).In addition, the circuit for operate power storage and charging module 16 needs internal cell to have for example minimum voltage of 2.5V-3.0V usually.Therefore, power storage and charging module 16 comprise under the situation of single inner rechargeable battery therein, use booster circuit to promote the operation of the circuit of the charging of external circuit and power storage and charging module 16.Yet, if use booster circuit, bigger electric current is arranged from the charge inside battery, therefore can limit the maximum charging current that this device can be sent.In view of internal cell voltage changes the 2V that is low to moderate when discharging fully from the about 4V when charging fully, the booster circuit controller is configured to export required charging voltage, therefore allows the full-discharge capacity of storage inside battery is used for charging external device (ED) or battery.Booster circuit is configured to export the required suitable charging voltage of external device (ED).For user's device of monocell, this output charging voltage is generally 3.8V-3.9V for phosphoric acid swage lithium ion battery, and for cobalt oxide type lithium ion battery, the charging output voltage is 4.1V-4.2V.Fig. 8 is the circuit diagram of an exemplary of boost pressure controller circuit 170.Booster circuit is configured to provide when externally battery terminal voltage is lower than the charging voltage limit charging current of substantial constant.When the external cell terminal voltage equaled the charging voltage limit, the boost charge control circuit entered the constant voltage control model, and therefore the output voltage of substantial constant is provided.During the constant voltage of charging process is mutually, charge power output can based on process charging interval or stop based on lower current threshold.

Owing to when battery is connected in series, can obtain higher voltage, the lithium ion chargeable battery of two or more series connection allows to use fully basically the charge volume in the inside rechargeable battery that is stored in power storage and charging module 16, and need not to use booster circuit.In addition, use the storage battery (uniting use with the reduction regulation circuit) of two or more series connection that the charging current capacity can be provided, described capacity is with the factor of the number that the is substantially equal to series-connected cell current delivery capacity greater than single battery.For example, two of series connection can 3.V average voltage 1A is provided the battery of output current with each all with 1A and 6V to the reduction regulation circuit supply.The electric current output of step down voltage redulator when 4V can be up to 1.5A, and the electric current when 3V export is exported and be can be 2.0A (any ineffectivity of ignoring transducer).Use the inside rechargeable battery of two series connection to charge in the embodiment of outside rechargeable battery therein, the voltage as a result of output place of power storage and charging module 16 is generally between 4V-8V.This output voltage is regulated (comprising that carrying out voltage reduces) by all step-down controllers 80 as shown in Figure 3 of for example step down voltage redulator, so that the current/voltage level that is applicable to the outside rechargeable battery of charging to be provided.When charging process will be finished, the voltage of charge inside battery will still be higher than the required 4.0V of the outside rechargeable battery of charging.The voltage of rechargeable battery also will be higher than the required voltage levvl of the circuit of operate power storage and charging module 16 (for example, 3.3V).

Typical lithium ion battery can be charged to about 3.8V-4.0V (for LiFePO4 negative electrode base battery) and 4.1V-4.2V (for cobalt oxide negative electrode base battery).For the battery based on the LiFePO4 electrochemical substance, discharge cut-off voltage is generally about 2.0V, and for the battery based on the cobalt oxide electrochemical substance, described voltage is about 2.5V.Discharge cut-off voltage is the minimum voltage that battery can be reduced to when bearing load, at this moment can not produce potential adverse effect to capacity or the cycle life of battery cell.Therefore, when the voltage of battery reached discharge cut-off voltage, the discharge of battery just should stop.

AC-DC power conversion module 12 and/or 20 chargings of 14 pairs of batteries of DC input DC-DC power conversion module.Power storage and charging module 16 are configured to that constant charge current is applied to and are received within on the inside rechargeable battery 20 in the internal cell chamber of memory module 16.Therein constant current is delivered to (charger it is said with constant current or CC mode operation during this period) during the battery 20, the voltage of battery 20 can increase.When the voltage of internal cell 20 for example reached the predetermined upper voltage limit of 3.8V (this upper voltage limit is sometimes referred to as alternating voltage), memory module 16 was configured to provide the voltage that is applied to the substantial constant that is in this upper limit level on the battery 20 in the remainder of charging period.During the constant voltage that will be substantially equal to predetermined alternation value was applied on the battery 20, memory module 16 it is said with constant voltage or CV mode operation.

During charging charge inside battery 20, AC-DC power conversion module 12 can be coupled to AC power supplies in the external electric of charger 10 such as the power supply that power is provided with specified 85V-265V and 50Hz-60Hz, with the AC power transfer to be the low dc voltage that is applicable to the inner rechargeable battery of charging.

The configuring condition that inner rechargeable battery is placed in the accumulator plant of memory module can influence the required voltage of those batteries of charging.For example, if single rechargeable battery is arranged in the accumulator plant of memory module 16, then need the voltage (required voltage can change according to the particular battery as the charge inside battery) of about 4.0V.On the other hand, if two charge inside batteries are disposed in series in the accumulator plant, then need for example voltage of about 8V is applied on the inner rechargeable battery.On the contrary, if with the placement in parallel of two batteries, then required charging current will be the twice of monocell.

Referring now to Fig. 5,, the AC-DC power conversion module can be embodied as the AC-DC switch 90 of separation, described switch comprises transformer portion, and is configured to the input power of the first alternating voltage form of accepting and it is transformed to lower constant dc voltage.This AC-DC transducer comprises the electricity isolation between AC input line and the DC output, to prevent that importing the AC electric current arrives the DC output area of AC-DC power conversion module 12 and protect the user in order to avoid accident touches the AC electric current.

As described herein, the AC-DC power conversion module can be electrically coupled to DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14.DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 is configured to the DC power supply of outside DC power supply such as automobile is converted to the DC power level that is applicable to the charging rechargeable battery.DC can be imported the DC-DC power conversion module and be embodied as step-down controller, described transducer is configured to reduce as follows to be applied to the effective dc voltage on the battery 20: make switching device (for example, transistor) switches in a controlled manner, therefore electric current is sent during the connection of switching device and cancelled electric current at the blocking interval of switching device.Detailed description to a kind of ruuning situation of exemplary step-down controller circuit hereinafter is provided.Therefore, for example, in some embodiments, the DC power supply of automobile can provide the DC power of about 11.5V to 14.3V, so DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 can be with the circuit required suitable power level of this power level transition at least one inner rechargeable battery of charging and/or operate power memory module 16.

Referring to Fig. 3, power storage and charging module 16 comprise that also controller 50 is to determine to be applied to the charging current on the battery 20 again.In some embodiments, controller 50 be configured to through appointment or the predetermined time section after stop charging current.In case also can being configured to reach predetermined cell voltage or charge level, controller 50 namely stops charging current.For example, controller 50 is regulated the DC-DC transducer such as step-down controller 60, in order to apply the constant charge rate of 12C for example (namely, the charge rate of 1C is corresponding to the required electric current that in hour battery charge finished, therefore 12C is at one hour the about 1/12 required charge rate that the particular battery charging finished in namely five minutes), up to reaching predetermined upper voltage limit.In case reached upper voltage limit, controller 50 namely changes control model and constant voltage is applied on the battery 20, up to having passed through for example 5 minutes predetermined charging interval.

In some embodiments, to be applied to charging current on the battery 20 determine can be at least in part based on the specified input of user, described input provides by the user interface that is arranged on the power storage shell 40 for example.This user interface can comprise for example switch, button and/or knob, and the user can for example remain the capacity of the battery that recharges by they indications.In addition, in some embodiments, this interface also can be configured to allow the user specify and closely-related other parameter of charging process, for example charge the period (in the situation of charging period that for example needs 15 minutes to 1 hour therein).For the concrete charging current of determining to use, can consult the look-up table that to indicate corresponding to the suitable charging current of the specified parameter of user.

In some embodiments, determining and following mode to carry out charging current: use the identification mechanism that the data that represent battery capacity and/or battery types for example can be provided to identify the capacity of the battery in the accumulator plant that is placed on power storage module 16.A kind ofly comprise exercise question that the detailed Description Of The Invention based on the exemplary charger device of the identification mechanism that uses ID resistor (resistance with the battery capacity of represent) is provided in to submit to simultaneously in the patent application of " Ultra Fast Battery Charger with BatterySensing ", the content of this patent application full text is accordingly incorporated this paper into way of reference.

Also can utilize the battery identification mechanism of other type.For example, suitable battery identification mechanism can comprise radio-frequency (RF) identification (RFID) mechanism, and wherein RFID device response activation signal (for example, radio signal) is passed on the signal of telecommunication of the capacity that represents battery, type etc. to charger 10.Other suitable identification mechanism comprises implements the mechanism that serial communication technology is identified battery, and intelligent battery SMBus standard for example is so that represent the capacity of battery and/or the recognition data of type is communicated to charger 10 by the serial data communication interface.Alternatively, can use proprietary interface allowing and to convey to controller with the closely-related information of charging process, to promote being applied to determining of charging current on the battery.

In some embodiments, determining and can following mode carry out charging current: but at least a in the electrical characteristics of battery of the capacity of pilot cell and/or type (for example, the DC charging resistor of battery) measured.A kind ofly can determine exercise question that the detailed Description Of The Invention of the exemplary charger device of charging current is provided in to submit to simultaneously adaptively in the patent application of " Adaptive ChargerDevice and Method " based on the characteristic of the measurement of battery, the content of this patent application is incorporated this paper into way of reference accordingly in full.

Controller 50 comprises processor device 52, and described device is configured to control the charging operations that battery 20 is carried out.Processor device 52 can be calculating and/or the processing unit of any kind, such as the PIC18F1320 microcontroller that is derived from Microchip Technology Inc..The processor device 52 that is used for the concrete enforcement of controller 50 comprises the volatile and/or non-volatile memory element that is configured to storing software, described software comprise to realize the processor based devices general operation computer instruction and the inside rechargeable battery 20 in the accumulator plant that is arranged on power storage and charging module 16 carried out the concrete implementation procedure of charging operations, described charging operations is included in less than the charging operations that obtains 90% charging capacity of internal cell 20 in ten five (15) minutes time at least.Processor device 52 comprises mould-number (A/D) transducer 54, and described transducer has a plurality of modulus input and output lines.Controller 50 also comprises number-Mo (D/A) converter apparatus 56 and/or pulse-width modulator (PWM) 58, described device and/or modulator can receive the digital signal that is generated by processor device 52 and correspondingly generate the signal of telecommunication, and the described signal of telecommunication can be regulated the duty cycle of switching circuit such as the step-down controller 60 of power storage module.

Referring now to Fig. 4,, step-down controller 60 comprises two for example bipolar junction transistors (BJT) 62 and 64 and inductor 66, described inductor is in power conversion module 12 and/or 14 and stored energy during step-down controller 60 electrical communication, and power conversion module 12 and/or 14 and 60 electricity confinement periods of step-down controller discharge this energy with current forms.Step-down controller 60 shown in Figure 4 also comprises capacitor 68, and described capacitor is also as energy storage elements.Inductor 66 and capacitor 68 be also as output filter, with switching current and the mains ripple of output place that reduces step-down controller 60.

Can be regulated by the voltage levvl that control is applied on the base stage of

transistor

62 and 64 by the power that AC-DC power conversion module 12 and/or DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14 is transported on the internal cell 20.For the power that is derived from power conversion module is applied on the battery 20, the startup signal of telecommunication that is derived from the terminal 50d (being labeled as SW1) of controller 50 can be applied on the base stage of transistor 62, thereby cause electric current to flow to transistor 62 and flow to battery 20 from power conversion module 12 and/or 14.

During enabling signal on removing the base stage that is applied to transistor 62, the electric current that is derived from power conversion module 12 and/or 14 will stop, and inductor 66 and/or capacitor 68 provide electric current by the energy that is stored in them.Blocking interval at transistor 62, second enabling signal is applied on the base stage of transistor 64 by the terminal 50e (being labeled as SW2) of controller 50, so that electric current can flow through (using the energy that is stored in inductor 66 and/or the capacitor 68 during the connection of transistor 62) battery 20.In some embodiments, use rectifier diode to come place of transistor 64, this diode can provide and transistor 64 similar functionality.

Transistorized turn-on time or duty cycle are initially raise from 0% duty cycle, and controller or feedback loop are measured output current and voltage simultaneously.In case reached the determined charging current that will be applied on the battery 20, feedback control loop just uses the loop circuit linear feedback scheme to manage transistor duty cycle, for example usage ratio integral differential or PID mechanism.In case charger voltage output or battery terminal voltage have reached alternating voltage, similarly controlling organization can be used to control transistorized duty cycle.

Therefore, the electric current that during the connection of transistor 62, is provided by power conversion module and should cause being substantially equal to the effective current of required charging current at the electric current that the blocking interval of transistor 62 is provided by inductor 66 and/or capacitor 68.

In some embodiments, controller 50 periodically (for example receives, every 0.1 second) flow through the measured value of the electric current of battery 12, described electric current is for example measured by current sensor 61, and described transducer is passed on measured value by the terminal 50c (being labeled as ISENSE) of controller 50.Based on the electric current of this measurement that receives, controller 50 is regulated duty cycle to cause the adjusting to the electric current that flows through battery 20, so that this electric current converges to the value that is substantially equal to the charging current level.Therefore step-down controller 60 is configured to move with adjustable duty cycle, and described circulation causes being provided for adjustable levels of current of battery 20.

Controller 50 also is configured to the voltage at the terminal place of battery 12 is maintained at about the pre-determined upper voltage limit (prescribing a time limit in case reach on this) of substantial constant.During battery 20 usefulness were substantially equal to the current charges of charging current, the voltage at battery terminal place can increase.Voltage in order to ensure the battery terminal place is no more than pre-determined upper voltage limit (so that battery can be not overheated, or the operation of battery or expected service life can not affect adversely), use voltage sensor 63 (for example periodically to measure, every 0.1 second) voltage at the terminal place of battery 20, reach pre-determined upper voltage limit to determine when.The voltage of measuring conveys to controller 50 by terminal 50b (being labeled as " voltage sensor ").When the voltage at the terminal place of battery 20 had reached pre-determined upper voltage limit, control current/voltage regulating circuit was with the voltage of the substantial constant at the terminal place that causes battery 20.

In some embodiments, controller 50 is configured to as follows, and monitoring voltage increases speed: the voltage of periodically measuring the terminal place of battery 20, and regulate the charging current that is applied on the battery 20, make pre-determined upper voltage limit in the voltage rise time of certain appointment section, to reach.Increase speed based on the voltage of measuring, the charging current level is conditioned to increase or reduce charging current, makes pre-determined upper voltage limit to reach in the rise time at the voltage of appointment.Adjusting to the charging current level can for example be carried out according to the predicted correction technology of using Kalman filter.Also can use for determining that adjusting to electric current is to obtain other method of pre-determined upper voltage limit.

Except voltage sensor and/or current sensor, charger 10 also can comprise other transducer of other attribute that is configured to measure battery 20 and/or charger 10.For example, charger 10 can comprise temperature sensor (for example, thermistor base temperature sensor), described sensors coupled one or more in battery 20, the circuit board that is furnished with controller 50 on it, power conversion module 12 and/or 14 etc.This type of temperature sensor is configured to allow charger 10 to take to correct or prevention action under the situation of the module of charger and/or one or more overheated (for example, the temperature of plate is above 60 ℃) in the element.The rectification and/or the prevention action that are used for the dangerous operating condition of eliminating comprise the termination charging operations or reduce charging current so that the temperature of battery 20 and/or charger 10 reduces.At battery 20 for having under the situation that can not cause the remarkable ferric phosphate lithium cell of the low charging resistor of heating during the charging operations, or can be under the situation that short time period for example is finished in 5 to 15 minutes at charging operations, charger 10 be can implement and thermal control and/or hot mechanism for monitoring need not.Therefore, in this type of embodiment, do not carry out the temperature of determining battery and/or charger and to its operation that responds.

Use analog logic treatment element (not shown) to handle such as the charge controller device of special use the signal of the measurement that receives, described device can comprise that for example the threshold value comparator is to determine voltage levvl and the levels of current by voltage and/or current sensor measurement.Charger 10 also can comprise for to simulation and/or digital input signals signal adjustment component such as the filter 51 and 53 that carries out signal filtering and processing, to prevent to be measured (for example, the mistake of voltage, temperature etc. being measured) by the mistake that extraneous factor such as circuit level noise causes.

Referring to Fig. 3, power storage and charging module 16 also comprise second charging circuit again, and described circuit is to be applicable to that the voltage of charging external cell 18 and the voltage that will change offer external cell 18 for the voltage transitions of the battery 20 that will arrange.In some embodiments, the second charging converter circuit can have the configuration of the configuration that is similar to following circuit and can carry out the operation of the operation that is similar to following circuit: described circuit is used for regulating from power conversion module 12 and/or 14 and is applied to current/voltage on the battery 20.

Therefore, second charging circuit comprises second controller 70, and described controller is configured to definite charging current that will be applied on the outside rechargeable battery 18, and applies the electric current that is substantially equal to determined charging current to external cell 18.Second controller 70 also can be configured to through appointment or the predetermined time section after stop charging current.In case also can being configured to reach predetermined cell voltage or charge level, controller 70 namely stops charging current.

Controller 70 is configured to control another DC-DC converter circuit, and for example step-down controller 80.Owing to will be applied to electric current on the external cell 18 from limited stored energy, so controller 70 can be configured to external charge current is limited in the level that is no more than 3A.For example, external charge current is under the situation of about 2.5A therein, and the outside rechargeable battery with 500mAh capacity will charge in (0.5Ah/2.5A=0.2 hour=12 minutes) at about ten two (12) minutes and finish, and this is corresponding to the charge rate of 5C.

As controller 50, controller 70 can be configured to apply determined charging current, up to the second predetermined upper voltage limit that reaches external cell 18, or has passed through certain time period (for example, 10 minutes).In case having reached this maximum charging voltage or passed through should the time period, controller 70 namely changes control model and constant voltage is applied on the external cell 18, up to having passed through another predetermined amount of time for example 5 minutes that is carrying out the transition to for after the constant-voltage mode of charging external cell.

As the situation to the charging operations of inner rechargeable battery 20, in some embodiments, can be at least in part based on the specified input of user to the definite of charging current that will be applied on the external cell 18, described input provides by the user interface that is arranged on the memory module shell 40.This user interface can comprise for example switch, button and/or knob, and the user can for example remain the capacity of the battery that recharges by they indications.In addition, in some embodiments, this interface can be configured to allow the user specify and closely-related other parameter of charging process, for example charge the period (for example need the long charging period therein 15 minutes to 1 hour situation in).For the concrete charging current of determining to use, can consult the look-up table that to indicate corresponding to the suitable charging current of the specified parameter of user.In addition, in some embodiments, to being applied to determining and can following mode carrying out of charging current on the external cell 18: using for example to provide the identification mechanism of the data that represents battery capacity and/or battery types to identify the capacity of the battery 18 that is placed in the charging compartments, or for example measures the DC charging resistor of battery and therefore identify external cell to be charged 18 is arranged.

Controller 70 comprises processor device 72, and described device is configured to control the charging operations that battery 18 is carried out, and can be the PIC18F1320 microcontroller that for example is derived from Microchip Technology Inc..In some embodiments, the processor 52 that is used for controlling the charging operations of charge inside battery 20 also can be used to control the charging operations that will carry out external cell 18.Control under the situation of charging operations of external cell 18 using another independent processor, the processor device 72 that is used for the concrete enforcement of controller 70 comprises the volatile and/or non-volatile memory element that is configured to storing software, described software comprise to realize the processor based devices general operation computer instruction and external cell 18 carried out the concrete implementation procedure of charging operations, described charging operations is included in less than the charging operations that obtains 90% charging capacity in ten five (15) minutes time at least.Processor device 72 comprises mould-number (A/D) transducer 74, and described transducer has a plurality of modulus input and output lines.Controller 70 also comprises number-Mo (D/A) converter apparatus 76 and/or pulse-width modulator (PWM) 78, described device and/or modulator can receive the digital signal that is generated by processor device 72 and correspondingly generate the signal of telecommunication, and the described signal of telecommunication can be regulated the duty cycle of switching circuit such as the step-down controller 80 of second charging circuit.

Controller 70 starts step-down controller 80 to regulate the current/voltage of being sent by charge inside battery 20.As described about the step-down controller 60 that is used for regulating the current/voltage that is provided by power conversion module 12 and/or 14, step-down controller 80 can comprise the switching device of transistor (not shown) or other type, and they are started to allow to be applied on the external cell 18 by the current/voltage that internal cell 20 provides by electricity.Step-down controller 80 also can comprise energy storage elements (for example, capacitor and/or inductor).During the connection of the switching device of transducer, when electric current is delivered to step-down controller, but described element stored energy.Therefore, when switching device make the electric current sent from battery 20 and external cell 18 by the time, the energy in the energy storage elements is released in the external cell 18.Be substantially equal to the required charging current that will be applied on the external cell 18 at the electric current that is caused by the electric current that applies during the connection of switching device with at the electric current that the blocking interval of switching device discharges from energy storage elements.

In order to regulate the current/voltage from battery 20, the recharging circuit also comprises the feedback regulation mechanism that for example uses controller 80 to implement.Feedback regulation mechanism is used for regulate to be used for starting the DC-DC transducer, and (duty cycle of) switching device for example, step-down controller 80 will be substantially equal to the charging current determined by controller 80 so that gained is applied to electric current on the external cell 18.For example, in some embodiments, controller 70 periodically (for example receives, every 0.1 second) flow through the measured value of the electric current of battery 18, described electric current is for example measured by the current sensor (not shown), described transducer conveys to controller 80 (for example, using lead 82 shown in Figure 3 to pass on) with measured value.Based on the electric current of this measurement that receives, controller 70 is regulated duty cycle to cause the adjusting to the electric current that flows through external cell 18, so that this electric current converges to the value that is substantially equal to the charging current level.Therefore step-down controller 80 is configured to move with adjustable duty cycle, and described circulation causes being provided for adjustable levels of current of external cell 18.

Other transducer that second charging circuit also can utilize the voltage sensor (not shown) and be configured to measure other attribute of external cell 18 and/or power storage and charging module 16.For example, (for example need thermal control power storage and charging module 16 therein, when the charging period that is used for charging external cell 18 surpasses 15 minutes) embodiment, power storage and charging module 16 can comprise be coupled to external cell 18 and/or circuit board temperature sensor (for example, thermistor), be provided with power storage and charging module 16 at described circuit board.

Can protect the output of this device to avoid short circuit and over-current condition as follows: use to have the active circuit of MOSFET or the solid-state power switch of transistor-type, solid-state switch will disconnect when detecting over-current condition.Use alternatively or with compound mode, also can utilize the PTC protective device to limit the maximum current that consumes.

Fig. 6 A describes a kind of exemplary charging rules 100 for the inside rechargeable battery 20 that recharges the shell 40 that is included in portable charged apparatus 10.Battery 20 initially is placed in the interior battery chamber of shell 40.For with battery 20 chargings, the shell 40 that wherein is provided with battery 20a-e and charging circuit is mechanically connected on the shell 30 that holds AC-DC power conversion module 12 and/or DC input DC-DC power conversion module 14.When shell 40 and 30 mechanically connected, power storage and charging module 16 just were electrically coupled to power conversion module 12 and/or 14.

When external power source being connected on power conversion module 12 and/or 14, can begin the charging operations of internal cell 20a-e.In some embodiments, the user can begin charging cycle by pressing " startup " button that is arranged on shell 30 or the shell 40.

Randomly, before the rules that begin to charge, charger 10 determines whether to exist some fault state.For example, charger 10 is measured the 102 corresponding voltage V corresponding to battery 20 _a... V _e(that is the voltage of the various single batteries in the interior chamber of measurement shell 40).Charger 10 determines that 104 voltages of measuring are whether in preset range (for example, between between the 2V to 3.8V).At the voltage V that determines any one measurement in the battery 20 _a... V _eTherefore do not make in predetermined permissible range that charger can not proceeded charging operations, so charging process can stop under the unsafe situation of charging operations under the precondition.In these cases, the indication to problem can be offered the user by the user interface on shell 30 and/or the shell 40.

Charger 10 is based on comprising that with the closely-related information of charging process cell types, charging period, battery capacity wait to determine that 106 will be used for the charging current of battery 20 chargings and/or charge the period.For example, charger 10 can be configured to determine in less than 15 minutes time battery 20 to be charged to the charging current of at least 90% charging capacity.In some embodiments, can determine to be applicable to the charging current of long charging period (for example, 1 hour to 4 hours), different battery capacity and different charge level.

The information that is used for determining charging current can provide by the user interface that is arranged on power transfer shell 30 for example and/or the storage enclosure 40.In addition and/or alternatively, this type of information also can provide by identification mechanism.For example, battery can be passed on the information (for example, capacity, type) of the characteristic that represents them by described mechanism to charger.In some embodiments, to the charging current that will apply determine can be based on the information that obtains as follows: measure the electrical characteristics (for example, the DC charging resistor) of battery, and determine type and/or the capacity of battery 20 based on this type of measured value.If charger 10 is configured to admit the battery of the particular type with particular type capacity, then charger 10 uses the predetermined charging current that is applicable to this particular battery and capacity.Determining and to be undertaken by consulting the look-up table that charging current and different battery capacity, battery types, charging period etc. are associated charging current.Therefore, randomly, charger 10 can determine that 105 are inserted into capacity and/or the type of the battery 20 in the accumulator plant of shell 40.

After the charging current of having determined to be applied on the battery 20, can start 108 timers, described timer is configured to measure the charging operations time period of preassignment.Timer can be for example special-purpose timer module of processor 52, or it can be the register that increases progressively with the regular time interval of being measured by inside or the external clock of processor 52.

Control for example step-down controller 60 shown in Figure 4 of 110 current/voltage regulating circuits, be applied on the inner rechargeable battery 20 so that be substantially equal to the constant current of determined electric current.As described, determined charging current is used for generating the duty cycle signal on the transistor 62 that is applied to step-down controller 60 for example, is applied on the battery 20 so that be substantially equal to the electric current of charging current.At the blocking interval of particular duty cycle, power conversion module 12 and/or 14 and battery 20 end, the energy that therefore is stored in inductor 66 and/or the capacitor 68 discharges to battery with current forms.The electric current that is applied by power conversion module 12 and/or 14 and the currents combination that discharges from inductor 66 and/or capacitor 68 get up to cause being substantially equal to the effective current of determined charging current.

In some embodiments, charger 10 is implemented the CC/CV charging process.Therefore, in this type of embodiment, periodically measure the voltage at the terminal place of 112 (for example, every 0.1 second) battery 20, reach pre-determined upper voltage limit (that is alternating voltage) to determine when.The voltage (combination voltage of the battery 20 of layout when battery, or the single voltage of battery 20) when having reached pre-determined upper voltage limit, control (for example, electricity by

transistor

62 and 64 starts) the current/voltage regulating circuit, to keep being substantially equal to the constant voltage level of alternating voltage level at the terminal place of battery 20.

Determine 114 through the time period of the period that being substantially equal to charge after, or after having reached certain charge level or voltage levvl (as can be by the periodic measurement of battery 20 is determined), termination is applied to the charging current (for example, starting so that the power of sending from power conversion module 12 and/or 14 stops by the electricity of ending transistor 62) on the battery 20.

When the charging operations of internal cell 20 finishes, portable charged apparatus and external power source can be broken away from, and can be by using from the charging current of internal cell 20 portable charged apparatus outside rechargeable battery such as the external cell 18 that is used for charging.The user can determine not carry power transfer shell 30, especially therein under the situation of user's article of not thinking that exceedingly overburden or when user's expection can not be used external power source, therefore can be by shell 40 being drawn back with power transfer shell 30 or release and storage enclosure 40 is separated with power transfer shell 30.For example, if use locking inserted sheet such as locking inserted sheet 44a-e that these two shells are mechanically connected each other, prize locking inserted sheet 44a-e in then can the slit by the correspondence from the depression 32 that is limited to shell 30 and shell 40 is pulled out.

Fig. 6 B is flow chart, and it shows an exemplary for the charging rules 120 that recharge external cell 18.The charging process of external cell 18 is similar to the charging process of inner rechargeable battery 20.Therefore, randomly, before the charging process of beginning external cell 18, can determine whether to exist some fault state.For example, measure the initial voltage V of 122 batteries 18 ₀ Charger 10 determine 124 voltages of measuring whether in preset range (for example, between 2V-3.8V), if not in this scope, then stop the charging rules of battery 18, and can with to the termination of the charging rules of external cell 18 and/or the correct indicated number of possible problem that causes this termination on the user interface that is arranged on the shell 40.

Charger 10, or more particularly, power storage and charging module 16 are based on comprising that with the closely-related information of charging process cell types, charging period, battery capacity wait to determine that 126 will be used for the charging current of battery 18 chargings and/or charge the period.For example, charger 10 can be configured to determine in less than 15 minutes time battery 18 to be charged to the charging current of at least 90% charging capacity.From the undercurrent of internal cell 20 in less than 15 minutes time period, external cell 18 is charged under the situation of 90% capacity at least, power storage and charging module 16 are determined optimal charge time and target charge level in view of the constraint that the characteristic by internal cell 20 causes.Therefore, in some embodiments, power storage and charging module 16 can calculate the charging feature, described feature (for example will cause lower target charge level, 80%) or the longer charging period (for example, 20 minutes, with the use of maximization to the stored energy of internal cell).

The information that is used for determining charging current can provide by the user interface that is arranged on the storage enclosure 40 for example.In addition and/or alternatively, this type of information also can provide by identification mechanism.Battery 18 can be passed on the information that represents its characteristic (for example, capacity, type) by described mechanism to charger.In some embodiments, to the charging current that will apply determine can be based on the information that obtains as follows: measure the electrical characteristics (for example, the DC charging resistor) of battery, and determine type and/or the capacity of external cell 18 based on this type of measured value.If power storage and charging module are configured to be electrically coupled to the outside rechargeable battery of the particular type with particular type capacity, then charger 10 uses the predetermined charging current that is applicable to this particular battery and capacity.Determining and to be undertaken by consulting the look-up table that charging current and different battery capacity, battery types, charging period etc. are associated charging current.Therefore, randomly, charger 10 can determine that 125 are inserted into capacity and/or the type of the external cell 18 in the charging compartments.

After the charging current of having determined to be applied on the battery 18, can start 128 timers, described timer is configured to measure the charging operations time period.Timer can be for example special-purpose timer module of processor 72 (or processor 52), or it can be the register that increases progressively with the regular time interval of being measured by inside or the external clock of processor 72 (or processor 52).

Control for example step-down controller 80 shown in Figure 3 of 130 current/voltage regulating circuits, be applied on the outside rechargeable battery 18 so that be substantially equal to the constant current of determined electric current.As described, determined charging current is used for starting the switching device (for example, transistor) of step-down controller 80, therefore makes the electric current that is substantially equal to charging current provide and to be applied on the battery 18 by inner rechargeable battery 20.

In some embodiments, power storage and charging module 16 are implemented the CC/CV charging process.Therefore, in this type of embodiment, periodically measure the voltage at the terminal place of 132 (for example, every 0.1 second) battery 18, reach pre-determined upper voltage limit (that is alternating voltage) to determine when.When the voltage of battery 18 has reached pre-determined upper voltage limit for example during 4.2V, control current/voltage regulating circuit keeps being substantially equal to the constant voltage level of alternating voltage level with the terminal place of battery 18 externally.

Determine 134 through the time period of the period that being substantially equal to charge after, or having reached certain charge level or voltage levvl (as can be by the periodic measurement of outside rechargeable battery 18 is determined) afterwards, stop being applied to the charging current on the battery 18.

In some embodiments, the charger apparatus external cell that can when himself is recharged, charge.In this way, the user can be for example by he/she Vehicular charging he/her mancarried device and the internal cell 20 of charging portable memory.Do like this, user's maximizing he can be when going out the size of the stored energy of long-range use.In some embodiments, external cell 18 can use the electric current that is provided by power conversion module 12 and/or 14 by external power source (AC or DC) to recharge.Specifically, in this type of embodiment, charger 10 determines that external power source has been coupled to charger, therefore electric current is applied simultaneously on inner rechargeable battery 20 (if they have exhausted and need recharge) and the external cell 18.Under those situations, internal cell 20 needn't be used for the external cell 18 that charges.

Referring to Fig. 7, in some embodiments, the external cell (not shown) can be coupled to charger apparatus 10 by electrical connector 140, and described electrical connector is connected to the interface (for example, the wire harness interface 46 shown in Fig. 2 B and the 2C) of charger apparatus 10 by electric conductor 142a-c.Electrical connector 140 can comprise that the charging compartments (not shown) is to admit the external cell of wanting operative installations 10 to recharge.

Embodiment and other embodiment

Additional alternative embodiment comprises charger apparatus, and the internal cell of described charger apparatus has chargeable chemical substance.Except the chemical substance that is applicable to the quick charge operation, described chemical substance also comprises Ni-MH, Ni-Cd, plumbic acid and various lithium ion chemical substance.

Above many embodiments of the present invention are described.But should be appreciated that under the condition that does not deviate from spirit and scope of the invention and can carry out various modifications.Therefore, other embodiment is also within the scope of following claim.

Claims

1. portable charged apparatus that is used for one or more outside rechargeable batteries chargings, described device comprises:

For the chamber that holds at least one chargeable rechargeable battery; With

At least one controller, described controller is configured to:

At least in part based on the specified input of user of the capacity of indication chargeable rechargeable battery to be recharged, or based on the capacity that the chargeable rechargeable battery of representative is provided and at least one the identification mechanism of data in the type, or based on the capacity of the measured chargeable rechargeable battery of indication and at least one the electrical characteristics in the type, determine to be applied to the first charging current level on described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, make described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery obtain the first predetermined charge level that in 15 minutes or shorter very first time section, reaches;

Apply first charging current that is substantially equal to the determined first charging current level to described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery;

Determine to be applied to the second charging current level on described one or more outside rechargeable battery; And

Apply second charging current that is substantially equal to the determined second charging current level to described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, described second charging current is from described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

2. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one controller also is configured to periodically regulate described first charging current after reaching first predetermined voltage level of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, remain on described first predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

3. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one controller also is configured to periodically regulate described second charging current after reaching second predetermined voltage level of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, remain on described second predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries.

4. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to determine to be applied to the described second charging current level on described one or more outside rechargeable battery, makes described one or more outside rechargeable battery obtain the second predetermined charge level that reaches in 15 minutes or shorter second time period.

5. device as claimed in claim 1, described device also comprises power conversion module, described power conversion module is configured to the outer power voltage level conversion for being applied to the charging voltage level on described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

6. device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said power conversion module comprise at least one in following: AC-DC power conversion module and DC input DC-DC power conversion module.

7. device as claimed in claim 6, described device also comprises:

First shell that holds described power conversion module; With

Attachable second shell that holds described at least one controller and described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, described attachable second shell is configured to be mechanically connected on described first shell.

8. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one chargeable rechargeable battery comprises at least two chargeable rechargeable batteries, wherein said at least two chargeable rechargeable batteries connect with configured in series.

9. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one chargeable rechargeable battery comprises lithium ion battery.

10. device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one chargeable rechargeable battery comprises ferric phosphate lithium cell.

11. device as claimed in claim 1, at least 90% of the charging capacity that the first predetermined charge level of wherein said at least one chargeable rechargeable battery is described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, and wherein said very first time section is between 5 to 15 minutes.

12. device as claimed in claim 4, at least 90% of the charging capacity that the second predetermined charge level of wherein said one or more outside rechargeable batteries is described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, and wherein said second time period is between 5 to 15 minutes.

13. device as claimed in claim 1, described device also comprises the charging compartments that is configured to admit described one or more outside rechargeable batteries.

14. device as claimed in claim 13, described device also comprise described one or more outside rechargeable battery.

15. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one controller comprises the microcontroller based on processor.

16. device as claimed in claim 1, described device also comprise described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

17. a method that is used for one or more outside rechargeable battery chargings, described method comprises:

At least in part based on the specified input of the user of the capacity of indication chargeable rechargeable battery to be recharged or based on the capacity that the chargeable rechargeable battery of representative is provided and in the type at least one data identification mechanism or based on the capacity of the measured chargeable rechargeable battery of indication and at least one the electrical characteristics in the type, determine to be applied to the first charging current level at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, make described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery obtain the first predetermined charge level that in 15 minutes or shorter very first time section, reaches;

Determine to be applied to the second charging current level on one or more outside rechargeable batteries; And

18. method as claimed in claim 17, described method also comprises:

After reaching first predetermined voltage level of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, periodically regulate described first charging current, remain on described first predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery.

19. method as claimed in claim 17, described method also comprises:

After reaching second predetermined voltage level of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, periodically regulate described second charging current, remain on described second predetermined voltage level with the voltage with the terminal place of described one or more outside rechargeable batteries.

20. method as claimed in claim 17, determine wherein that the described second charging current level comprises and determine the described second charging current level, make described one or more outside rechargeable battery obtain the second predetermined charge level that in 15 minutes or shorter second time period, reaches.

21. method as claimed in claim 20, at least 90% of the charging capacity that the second predetermined charge level of wherein said one or more outside rechargeable batteries is described one or more outside rechargeable batteries, and wherein said second time period is between 5 to 15 minutes.

22. method as claimed in claim 17, at least 90% of the charging capacity that the first predetermined charge level of wherein said at least one chargeable rechargeable battery is described at least one chargeable rechargeable battery, and wherein said very first time section is between 5 to 15 minutes.