Patent ID: 7615969
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling charge current provided to one or more battery cells during a charge cycle, comprising: sensing a temperature representative of an ambient temperature to which said one or more battery cells are exposed during said charge cycle; determining a value of charge current to be provided to said one or more battery cells during said charge cycle using a temperature-dependent current regulation algorithm and based on said sensed temperature; and providing said determined value of charge current to said one or more battery cells as a constant charge current during said charge cycle; wherein said temperature-dependent current regulation algorithm comprises a plurality of charge current control values, or wherein said temperature-dependent algorithm is implemented by software, or a combination thereof; and wherein said method comprises determining a value of charge current to be provided to said one or more battery cells during said charge cycle using a temperature-dependent current regulation algorithm and based only on a sensed temperature representative of ambient temperature to which said one or more battery cells are exposed during said charge cycle.