Control system for charging batteries and electronic apparatus using same

Patent 5739667 Issued on April 14, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 26, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Application

No. 578805 filed on 12/26/1995

US Classes:

320/128, With charging320/161, With detection of current or voltage differential (e.g., slope, etc.)320/162, With detection of current or voltage amplitude320/164Detection of current and voltage amplitude

Examiners

Primary: Wong, Peter S.
Assistant: Shin, K.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Staas & Halsey

International Class

H02J 007/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1994-12-26 JP

Abstract

A control system for charging enabling efficient charging of rechargeable batteries in an electronic apparatus which charges its rechargeable batteries by using a charger circuit when driving the apparatus by using an external power source, including first detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; second detecting unit for detecting a maximum usable current by detecting a differential value between a maximum supplyable current allowed by the external power source and the current consumption of the apparatus; third detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum useable current and the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; and control unit for controlling the system in accordance with the differential values detected by the first and third detecting units so that the charger circuit generates the maximum charging current within the range where the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries does not exceed either of the maximum permissible charging current and the maximum useable current.