Patent ID: 8436588
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A method of charging a battery array with charging power that performs constant current and constant voltage charging of a battery array, which is a plurality of series connected batteries, while detecting the voltage of each battery, the method predetermining the charging power using multiple setting values based on battery temperature regions being charged, the method comprising: detecting a first battery temperature; setting an initial value of the charging power that is determined from the first battery temperature and beginning charging the plurality of battery cells of the battery array with the charging power set as the initial value; and renewing the value of the charging power with a second value of the charging power, the second value being one of the multiple setting values based on a second battery temperature detected during charging, and continuing charging the plurality of battery cells of the battery array with the second value of the charging power, wherein the initial value of the charging power is a same value as one of the multiple setting values predetermined based on the battery temperature regions being charged, and wherein, during charging, detecting a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells of the battery array at a prescribed sampling rate; and when a voltage of any battery cell of the battery array exceeds a maximum specified voltage, performing a constant current and constant voltage charging of all the plurality of battery cells of the battery array at a same reduced charging power that is determined from the multiple setting values predetermined based on the battery temperature regions being charged, when a voltage of any battery cell of the battery array is at or below the maximum specified voltage, comparing the second value of the charging power that is determined from the second battery temperature during the battery array with the initial value of the charging power that is determined from the first battery temperature at a start of charging the battery, and continuing charging of all the plurality of battery cells of the battery array with a same charging power, the same charging power being renewed to a lower value of charging among the second value of the charging power and the initial value of the charging power if the initial and second values are different from each other.