Patent ID: 9667096
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: F21S,F21V,F21Y,H02J,H03K,H05B

Claim:
1. A method for charging a rechargeable battery by a charge current comprising the steps of (a) sampling a voltage of said rechargeable battery and said charge current; (b) if said voltage of said rechargeable battery is less than or equal to a voltage threshold value and said charge current is less than or equal to a current threshold value, setting said charge current to a bulk charge value and applying said charge current to said rechargeable battery for a bulk charge time period; (c) if said voltage of said rechargeable battery is greater than or equal to a low voltage threshold value and less than or equal to said voltage threshold value and said charge current is within a certain range of said bulk charge value, and a duration of said bulk charge time period is greater than or equal to a bulk charge time expiration period, setting said charge current to a trickle charge low value and applying said charge current to said rechargeable battery for a trickle charge low time period; (d) if said charge current is less than or equal to a current threshold value, and a duration of said trickle charge low time period is greater than or equal to a trickle charge low time expiration period, setting said charge current to a trickle charge high value and applying said charge current to said rechargeable battery for a trickle charge high time period; (e) if said voltage of said rechargeable battery is greater than or equal to said low voltage threshold value and less than or equal to said voltage threshold value and said charge current is within a certain range of said trickle charge high value, and a duration of said trickle charge high time period is greater than or equal to a trickle charge high time expiration period, setting said charge current to a trickle charge low value and applying said charge current to said rechargeable battery; and (f) repeating said steps (a) through (e) at least once.