Patent ID: 8035343
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A method for charging a plurality of cells in a battery pack to a target charging value, comprising: delivering a charging current having a periodic pulsed waveform from a charger during repeatable charge cycles to the plurality of cells until cell voltage for each of the plurality of cells is within a range of the target charging value; monitoring cell voltage of each cell in the plurality of cells to determine when at least one of the cells reaches the target charging value; diverting the charging current around the cells having reached the target charging value and cooperatively adjusting the charging current during subsequent charge cycles by lowering the charging current until the charging current reaches a minimum charging current that can be output by the charger and furthering lowering the charging current by skipping pulses after the charging current reaches the minimum charging current that can be output by the charger.