Patent ID: 6157171
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G01R,H02J

Abstract:
An apparatus including a voltage monitoring circuit suitable for use in monitoring the voltage of a rechargeable battery, comprising:first and second battery connection nodes configured to connect to first and second terminals, respectively, of a rechargeable battery;a resistive circuit with first and second terminals, wherein said first resistive circuit terminal is connected to said first battery connection node;a switching circuit with an input terminal and first and second output terminals, wherein said switching circuit input terminal is connected to said second resistive circuit terminal and said switching circuit is configured toconnect said switching circuit input terminal to said first switching circuit output terminal and disconnect said switching circuit input terminal from said second switching circuit output terminal during a first time period, andconnect said switching circuit input terminal to said second switching circuit output terminal and disconnect said switching circuit input terminal from said first switching circuit output terminal during a second time period;a voltage sampling circuit, connected between said first switching circuit output terminal and said second battery connection node, configured to sample a voltage between said first and second battery connection nodes via said resistive circuit and said switching circuit during said first time period and in accordance therewith provide a stored voltage corresponding to said sampled voltage; anda voltage measurement circuit, connected between said second switching circuit output terminal and said second battery connection node, configured to measure said stored voltage during said second time period.