Patent ID: 6100668
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A battery charger comprising:a charge current selecting section that selects a charge current to be supplied to a battery;a battery voltage detecting section that detects, when the battery is charged with the charge current, a voltage across the battery and outputting a battery voltage signal indicative of the voltage across the battery;a full charge presuming section that presumes the battery has reached a fully charged condition based on the battery voltage signal; anda microprocessor operative to control said charge current selecting section to firstly select a first charge current having a first level wherein the battery is firstly charged with the first charge current and to thereafter select a second charge current having a second level lower than the first level when said full charge presuming section presumes that the battery has reached the fully charged condition before expiration of a first predetermined period of time during charging with the first charge current, wherein the battery is determined to be fully charged when said full charge presuming section presumes that the battery has reached the fully charged condition during charging with the second charge current for a second predetermined period of time.