Patent ID: 7106027
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a battery pack comprising battery cells and a first temperature sensor coupled to the battery cells, and a battery charger comprising a power source circuit arranged and constructed to supply charging current to the battery cells, a second temperature sensor coupled to the power source circuit and a processor arranged and constructed to (i) calculate battery temperature increase rate based upon signals from the first temperature sensor and power source temperature increase rate based upon signals from the second temperature sensor, (ii) select a first allowable charging current value based upon the battery temperature and the calculated battery temperature increase rate, (iii) select a second allowable charging current value based upon the power source circuit temperature and the calculated power source circuit temperature increase rate, (iv) select the smaller of the first and second allowable charging current values as the charging current that will be supplied by the power source circuit to the battery cells, and (v) supply the selected charging current to the battery cells.