Specifications
US
2011/0181242
A1
b.
performing
a
series
of
self
tests
and
initialization
rou
tines
at
power
up
of
the
battery
charger
to
ensure
the
Whole
system
is
functioning
correctly
and
send
out
appropriate
signals
to
inform
the
user
of
its
status;
.
the
circuitry
of
the
battery
charger
constantly
sending
out
electrical
signals
to
all
charging
terminals
to
sense
for
the
presence
of
batteries
across
all
available
battery
bays
in
the
battery
charger;
d.
upon
a
battery
being
detected
as
connected
to
the
charger,
i.
?rstly
measuring
the
initial
voltage
of
the
battery
and
comparing
it
With
a
preset
range
of
values
and
decid
ing
if
the
battery
is
a
neW
or
fully
charged
primary
alkaline
battery;
ii.
if
it
is
then
promptly
indicating
the
battery
is
fully
charged
and
stopping
any
further
processing
of
the
said
battery;
and
iii.
if
the
required
condition
is
not
met,
then
applying
a
relatively
constant
test
current
of
the
order
betWeen
300
to
500
mA
to
the
battery
for
a
preset
period
and
moni
toring
the
rate
of
voltage
change
of
the
said
battery.
Wherein
the
electronic
circuitry
can
identify
different
pri
mary
and
secondary
batteries
inserted
into
the
charger
to
alloW
application
of an
inherently
appropriate
preferred
charge
current
and
voltage
to
safely
and
properly
charge
up
the
batteries.
9.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identifying
and
improved
charging
technique according
to
claim
8
d.
Wherein
under
relatively
constant
testing
current,
the
voltage
responses
of
most
primary
cells
including
a
large
percentage
of
rechargeable
alkaline
batteries
and
some
old
NiCd
batteries
quickly
rises
and
meets
a
certain
preset
voltage
level
Which
alloWs
automatic
distinguish
ing
of
them
as
primary
alkaline
batteries;
and
i.
these
batteries
Would
then
be
charged
using
an
appro
priate
loW
to
moderate
charge
current
suitable
for
recharging
of
primary
alkaline
batteries
until
their
preset
full
charged
voltage
is
reached
at
a
preferred
1.7V
level
ii.
and
appropriate
charging
channels
Would
be
sWitched
off
from
further
processing;
and
iii.
suitable
audio
or
visual
signals
generated
to
inform
the
user
of
the
battery
fully
charged
status.
10.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identify
ing
and
improved
charging
technique
of
claim
9
Wherein
e.
the
voltage
responses
that
overshoot
the
preset
abnormal
voltage
range
Would
render
the
batteries
as
faulty
or
no
longer rechargeable
i.
and
the
appropriate
charging
channels
Would
then
be
sWitched
off
from
further
processing
ii.
and
suitable
audio
or
visual
signals
generated
to
inform
the
user
of
the
battery
bad
status.
11.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identify
ing
and
improved
charging
technique
according
to
claim
8,
Wherein
f.
for
secondary
rechargeable
NiMH
and
NiCD
batteries
together
With
a
certain
percentage
of
alkaline
and
rechargeable
alkaline
batteries
Would
have
a
voltage
responses,
from
the
applied
relatively
constant
test
cur
rent,
rise
relatively
much
sloWer
and
thereby
automati
cally
determine
that
these
batteries
regardless
of
their
battery
types
all
have
in
common
very
loW
internal
resis
tances
and
O
13
Jul.
28,
2011
i.
are
capable
of
accepting
fast
and
safe
pulse
or
constant
charging
current
range
of
the
order
betWeen
300
m
to
500
mA;
.
Whereby
under
this fast
charging
rate,
rechargeable
NiMH
batteries’
voltage
responses
Would
rise
sloWly
to
a
preset
full
charged
voltage
range
of
1
.40
to
1.46V
over
time
Which
varies
depending
on
the
capacity
of
the
batteries
under
charge
and
iii.
the
battery
voltage
Would
then
stay
relatively
con
stant
at
the
above
voltage
range
over
a
preset
period
of
time
and
iv.
When
this
condition
is
met
it
signals
a
full
charged
status
for
NiMH
batteries
and
no
further
processing
to
the
batteries
are required.
12.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identify
ing
and
improved
charging
technique
according
to
claim
8
Wherein
g.
With
the
same
fast
charge
condition
applied
relatively
constant
test
current,
loW-intemal-resistance
primary
alkaline
and
rechargeable
alkaline
batteries
as
Well
as
NiCd’s
voltage
responses
Would
rise
much
faster
than
those
of
NiMH
described
earlier
and
overshoot
the
NiMH
full
charged
voltage
range
of
1.40
to
1.46V
and
continue
to rise
further
and
undertaking
application
of
an
inherently
appropriate
preferred
charge
current
and
voltage
to
safely
and
properly
charge
up
the
batteries
i.
by
once
this
limit
is
passed,
sWitching
the
appropriate
charging
channels
to
a
sloW
to
moderate
charge
cur
rent
suitable
for
charging
alkaline
batteries
and
ii.
the
charging
process
continuing
until
the
full
charge
1.7V
limit
is
reached.
13.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identify
ing
and
improved
charging
technique
according
to
claim
8
Wherein
during
the
Whole
charging
process
of
all
battery
types,
the
controlling
microprocessor(s)
Would
sense
and
measure
all
battery
voltage
changes
in
one
second
increment
steps
and
monitor
for
any
abnormal
charge
responses
and
or
charge
termination
criteria
to
occur
so the
charging
process
can be
terminated
promptly
and
all
battery
types
are
appro
priately
charged.
14.
Multi-chemistry
battery
charging
method
of
identify
ing
and
improved
charging
technique
according
to
claim
8
Wherein
a
combination
of
multiple
charge
termination
and
protection
schemes
are
employed
to
ensure
the
highest
safety
level
can
be
achieved
that
includes
one
or
more
of:
a.
Alkaline
battery
chargesafe
protection,
including
the
step
of
a gentle
variable
loW
current
Within
a
range
of
30
mA
up
to
100
mA
being
used
to
charge
and
dynamically
being
monitored
to
ensure
alkaline
batteries
being
charged
Will
not
heat
up
and
reach
unsafe
level;
b.
Faulty
battery
detection
&
rejection,
including
the
built-in
microprocessor
running
a
series
of
test
patterns
(Zero
voltage
for
dead
battery
and
over
voltage
above
1.8V
for
bad
batteries)
at
the
beginning
and
at
the
ending
of
the
charging
process
on
the
batteries
being
charged
and
thereby
?ltering
out
bad
and
dead
batteries;
c.
Overcharge
protection,
including
each
battery
type
being
pre-assigned
a
maximum
voltage
level
alloWable
that
signal
full
charge
condition
reached:
Alkaline,
RAM
and
NiCd
batteries
are
set at
1.7V
max.,
NiMH
is
set at
1.48V
max
While
Lithium
Ion/Polymer
single
cell
battery
(3.6V/3.7V
rated)
is
set at
4.1V
max.
and
Lithium
lon/
Polymer
double
cell
battery
(7.2V/7.4V
rated)
is
set
at
8.4V
max.
and
When
these
limits
for
the
corresponding