Patent ID: 8305046
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: B60L,H01M,H02J,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. Charger protection circuitry for a rechargeable battery, the charger protection circuitry for coupling between the rechargeable battery and a battery charger, during a charging operation of the battery charge current being arranged to flow through the charger protection circuitry in a first direction, the charger protection circuitry comprising: a main current tripping element for interrupting current flow if the current reaches a first predetermined level; a switch element; an auxiliary current tripping element connected in parallel with the switch element and operable independently of the main current tripping element to interrupt current flow if the current reaches a second predetermined level lower than the first predetermined level; and a switch controller for turning the switch element on and off in dependence on a direction of current flow through the charger protection circuitry; if current is flowing in said first direction the switch controller being arranged to turn on the switch element such that said auxiliary current tripping element is bypassed and hence not used to control interruption of current flow, such that the main current tripping element controls interruption of current flow in dependence on whether the current flowing in said first direction reaches said first predetermined level; and if current is flowing in a second direction opposite to said first direction the switch controller being arranged to turn off the switch element, such that the auxiliary current tripping element is used to control interruption of current flow in dependence on whether the current flowing in said second direction reaches said second predetermined level.