Patent ID: 6812672
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
An electric charge control device, comprising:an electric power source for supplying a first voltage; a converter connected to the electric power source for converting the first voltage into a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage; a secondary battery that receives a direct-current voltage from the converter; a switching regulator for receiving the second voltage from the converter and switching to vary an output voltage which is supplied to the secondary battery; a series regulator for receiving the second voltage from the converter and adjusting power consumption to vary an output voltage which is supplied to the secondary battery; a voltage detector for detecting the output voltage from the switching regulator and the series regulator; and a controller for controlling the output voltage based on a voltage value detected by the voltage detector so as to charge from any one of the switching regulator and the series regulator to the secondary battery with a constant electric current, wherein the controller performs controlling so that the secondary battery is charged by the switching regulator when the voltage value is at a predetermined value or below, and the controller performs controlling so that the secondary battery is charged by the series regulator when the voltage value is at the predetermined value or more, and wherein the controller retains the predetermined value indicating an output voltage at which the efficiency of the series regulator exceeds the efficiency of the switching regulator.