Patent ID: 6246214
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A battery charging and protection circuit comprising:first and second input terminals to which a charging current is coupled, wherein a voltage between the first and second input terminals is limited to a maximum value;first and second output terminals to which at least one rechargeable battery cell is to be coupled;a single transistor coupled in series between the first input terminal and the first output terminal and operated to control current flow both in a direction from the first input terminal to the first output terminal, and in a direction from the first output terminal to the first input terminal;a discharge regulator system coupled to the transistor, the discharge regulator system sensing a condition in which it may be desirable to control a discharge current flowing from the first output terminal to the first input terminal through the transistor and controlling the transistor accordingly; anda charge regulator system coupled to the transistor to control the transistor to regulate current flow in the direction from the first input terminal to the first output terminal.