Patent ID: 6534956
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A charging cut-off circuit for a rechargeable battery charger, comprising:a thermo-sensitive circuit breaker connected in series between the rechargeable battery and a power supply, wherein when a temperature of said battery exceeds a predetermined temperature, said thermo-sensitive circuit breaker opens to cut-off supply of charging current from said power source to said rechargeable battery, and wherein said circuit breaker resets to enable supply of charging current from said power source to said rechargeable battery as said battery cools following saturation; a charge-maintaining heat-generating resistance means connected in parallel with and thermally coupled to said thermo-sensitive circuit breaker for conducting a topping current when said thermo-sensitive circuit breaker opens, and for holding said thermo-sensitive circuit breaker open by heat from said resistance means as the battery cools following saturation, thereby extending a time for the circuit breaker to reset.