Abstract:
A device and a process for charging of rechargeable NiCd, Ni-metal hydride or lithium batteries ( 12 ) of implants by transcutaneous transmission of electric power from an external power transmission part ( 11 ) to a power receiving part ( 10 ) which forms a part of the implant. The charging device is provided with a charging current detector ( 27, 32, 34 ) which, in a first charging phase (T 1 ), allows a relatively high charging current (I L ) to flow and which, after the cell voltage (U Z ) of the battery has reached a predetermined limiting charging voltage (U G ), in a second charging phase (T 2 ), reduces the charging current as compared to the charging current which flows at the end of the first charging phase. The charging current detector is made such that, during the second charging phase, it sets the charging current to a value causing the cell voltage during the second charging phase to be kept at least approximately at a predetermined constant voltage value (U G ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a charging device for charging of rechargeable NiCd, Ni-metal hydride or lithium batteries of implants (with one or more cells or with one or more secondary elements, as required) by transcutaneous transmission of electric power from an external power transmission part to a power receiving part which forms a part of the implant, the charging device being provided with a charging current detector which in a first charging phase allows a relatively high charging current to flow and which, after the cell voltage of the battery has reached a predetermined limiting charging voltage, in a second charging phase reduces the charging current compared to the charging current which flows at the end of the first charging phase. The invention furthermore relates to a process for charging of implanted batteries of implants by transcutaneous transmission of electric power in which, in the first charging phase, a relatively high charging current flows, and in which, after the cell voltage of the battery has reached a predetermined limiting charging voltage, in a second charging phase, the charging current is reduced compared to the charging current flowing at the end of the first charging phase. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     When a battery is charged, only one part of the supplied electric power is converted into charge. Another part of this power is converted into heat on the internal resistance of the battery and is lost for charging. The power loss can lead to an impermissible temperature rise of the implant housing, and thus, to damage of the surrounding tissue. 
     Another part of the supplied energy drives secondary electrochemical reactions which, for example, lead to gas evolution within the battery. This applies mainly when the battery has reached a higher charging level, for example, is charged to more than 80% of its nominal capacity. Especially over years of operation of an implanted battery does the capacity ratio of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell or cells shift due to electrolyte loss and passivation of the electrode surfaces and/or by corrosion with time, such that, during charging (i.e., re-charging), a greater and greater preponderance of the gas-forming over the gas-consuming reactions occurs, and thus, the internal pressure of the cell rises quickly during charging. As the gas pressure rises the cell housing swells, which under certain circumstances can lead to destruction of the cell or the implant. The increasing corrosion and/or passivation of the electrodes and the decrease of the electrolyte-wetted electrode surface, at the same time, cause an increase of the internal resistance of the battery. 
     In one such charging device and a charging process of the indicated type, use of a charging protocol is known (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,690,693; 5,702,431 and 5,411,537) which provides for either the instantaneous charging current or the duty factor of a fixed charging current to be reduced as the charging level of the battery increases. Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,537, a multistage charging process for lithium batteries is proposed in which, during the charging process, the no-load voltage of the battery is periodically interrogated to estimate the charging state of the battery, and in which, depending on the no-load voltage determined at the time, one of several predetermined charging current values is selected, the charging current values becoming smaller as the no-load voltage increases. The charging process is ended when the measured no-load voltage exceeds a stipulated boundary value. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,431 discloses an alternative of the above described multistage charging process in which the amplitude of the charging current remains constant, but the charging current is pulse width modulated and the duty factor is changed depending on the periodically determined no-load voltage values. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,693, a pulse width modulation device with a variable duty cycle is used as a controller for the current level applied during the charging process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to devise a device and a process for charging of rechargeable NiCd, Ni-metal hydride or lithium batteries of implants which, on the one hand, for the battery preclude harmful charging conditions with great reliability, and especially limit temperature evolution and gas formation in an implanted battery for the most part but, on the other hand, ensure effective, and thus, comparatively rapid, charging. 
     This object is achieved in a charging device in accordance with the invention by the charging current detector being made such that, in the course of the second charging phase, it sets the charging current to a value such that the cell voltage during the second charging phase is kept at least roughly to a predetermined constant voltage value. 
     A process in accordance with the invention is achieved by the charging current in the course of the second charging phase being set to a value such that the cell voltage is kept at least roughly to a predetermined constant voltage value. 
     In the device and process of the invention, the charging of the battery is regulated depending on the internal resistance of the battery. It is ensured that the cell is charged only with as much energy as the electrochemical state allows, without excess gassing or heating of the cell occurring. Older cells with increasing internal resistance, in this way, acquire less charge than new cells. Charging can be configured according to the individual patient needs without the immediate danger of overcharging, because the charging current is reduced when the limiting charging voltage is reached. An almost full cell reaches this limiting charging voltage very quickly and thus acquires only little additional charge by the end of the charging process due to the low charging current. 
     The implant can be basically any implantable medical or biological device. Thus, among others, it can be an active electronic hearing implant, a cardiac pacemaker, a defibrillator, a drug dispenser, a nerve or bone growth stimulator, a neurostimulator or retinal stimulator, a pain suppression device or the like. 
     The term lithium battery, as used here, is intended to encompass any rechargeable lithium systems, especially cells with liquid organic electrolytes, solid electrolytic cells, cells with inorganic electrolyte and lithium ion cells, such as carbon/lithium-cobalt oxide cells, carbon/lithium-nickel oxide cells, and carbon/lithium-manganese oxide cells with liquid or solid polymer electrolytes. Examples of known rechargeable lithium systems can be found in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,702,431 and 5,411,537 and in Halaczek/Radecke “Batteries and Charging Concepts,” 2nd edition, 1998, page 148, Franzis&#39; Verlag GmbH. 
     Thus, the charging current detector is preferably made such that the predetermined value at which the cell voltage is kept in the course of the second charging phase is at least roughly equal to the value of the limiting charging voltage which is reached at the end of the first charging phase. In this way, after reaching the limiting charging voltage, in the further course of charging harmful effects on the battery are precluded while, at the same time, the charging rate remains high. 
     It goes without saying that the voltage value at which the cell voltage is kept in the course of the second charging phase need not be exactly constant. Practical experience has shown that this voltage value will deviate from the limiting charging voltage reached at the end of the first charging phase generally by not more than ±30%, preferably by not more than ±20%, and especially preferably by not more than ±10%. 
     According to one development of the invention, an arrangement is provided which acquires the time change of the charging current and ends the charging process when the change of the charging current per unit of time falls below a predetermined minimum value in the course of the second charging phase. This automatic cutoff of the charging process, likewise, contributes to prevention of overcharging of the cell. In addition, the total charging time can be reliably limited to a duration which, when exceeded, does not yield additional charging at a reasonable charging/time ratio. 
     In the course of the first charging phase, the charging current is advantageously limited to C/4 to 4C, conventionally C which is measured in amperes corresponding to the nominal capacity of the battery measured in ampere-hours. Thus, for example, for a battery with a nominal capacity of 2 Ah a charging current of 2C has a value of 4A. 
     Feasibly, in the course of the first charging phase, the charging current, in the case of Ni-metal hydride battery cells, is limited, or if necessary, regulated to a value of C/2 to 2C, preferably from C/2 to C and especially preferably from C/2 to 3/4C. In lithium battery cells, during the first charging phase, the charging current is limited or regulated to a value of C/4 to 4C, preferably to a value of C/2 to 2C, and especially preferably to a value of C/2 to C. 
     These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which, for purposes of illustration only, show several embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic hearing implant with a charging device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows charging characteristics of a battery charged with a constant current; and 
     FIGS. 3 to  5  each show charging characteristics of a battery charged by means of the charging device in accordance with a respective charging technique of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The charging device shown in FIG. 1 has an implantable power receiving part  10  and an external (outside the body) power transmission part  11 . The charging device is used to charge a rechargeable battery  12  which, for its part, in this embodiment, provides power to an active implantable electronic hearing aid. The hearing aid also includes, among other elements, a sensor unit  14 , especially in the form of a microphone, an actuator unit  15  and a electronic signal processing and amplifier stage  16 . The actuator unit  15  can be, for example, an electromechanical converter which can be coupled hydromechanically to the liquid filled spaces of the inner ear and mechanically to the ossicular chain. These converters are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,277,694, and 5,411,467 and in published European Patent Application 0 831 674, and therefore, do not, themselves, form part of the present invention, and recourse can be had to these references for the details thereof. 
     The power transmission part  11  has an oscillator  18 , an electronic power stage  20  and a series resonant circuit connected to the output side of the power electronic stage  20 . The series resonant circuit is comprised of a capacitor  21  and an external field coil  22  in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The power receiving part  10  includes a series resonant circuit with a capacitor  23  and an implant coil  24 . The series resonant circuit  23 ,  24  feeds a rectifier stage  25 , that is preferably in the form of a full bridge circuit. The battery  12  is connected via a voltage controlled resistor (VCR)  27  to the output of the rectifier stage  25 . The battery  12  feeds the signal processing and amplifier stage  16 . Parallel to the battery  12  is an A/D converter  30  which acquires the cell voltage U Z  of the battery. In the charging current circuit of the battery  12 , between the rectifier stage  25  and the battery  12 , is a current measuring resistor  29  connected in parallel to the A/D converter  31 . A microcontroller  32  accepts input signals from the A/D converters  30  and  31 . The signal processing and amplifier stage  16  and a D/A converter  34  connected to the VCR  27  are connected to the outputs of the microcontroller  32 . 
     The two series resonant circuits  21 ,  22  and  23 ,  24  are tuned to the frequency of the oscillator  18 . This resonant charging device is known in principle from U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,292. 
     A charging process begins with the external field coil  22  being placed on the outside of the skin  35  of the implant wearer such that it is aligned at least approximately with the implant coil  24 . The electronic power stage  18 , in interaction with the oscillator  18 , preferably in the manner known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,292, an alternating current supplies to the field coil  22  which has a frequency in the range from 40 kHz to 50 MHz. The alternating electromagnetic field produced by the field coil  22  transcutaneously induces in the implant coil  24  an alternating current which is rectified in the rectifier stage  25 . The battery  12  is charged with the rectified charging current I L  via the VCR  27  which is in series with the output of the rectifier stage  25 , the instantaneous resistance value of the VCR  27 , which is controlled by the microcontroller  32  via the D/A converter  34 , determining the charging current I L  supplied to the battery from the rectifier stage  25 . The size of the charging current I L  is determined from the voltage drop on the current measuring resistor  29 , and a corresponding measured quantity travels to the microcontroller  32  via the A/D converter  31 . 
     The battery  12  is a rechargeable NiCd, Ni-metal hydride or lithium battery. This battery typically has a charging characteristic of the type shown in FIG.  2 . The charging characteristic shows the cell voltage U Z  of the battery depending on the time t at a constant charging current I L . As is shown, the cell voltage U Z  rises to a maximum U Max  and then drops by ΔU. 
     Here, stages  32 ,  34  and  27  are designed such that, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, charging of the battery  12  with a high current charging phase begins similarly to FIG.  2 . In this first charging phase T 1 , the charging current I L =I O  is selected such that, on the one hand, charging as fast as possible is achieved but, on the other hand, battery damage is precluded with certainty. In the case of Ni-metal hydride battery cells, the charging current I L  in the high current charging phase T 1  is advantageously limited to a value from C/2 to 2C, preferably C/2 to C, and especially preferably from C/2 to 3/4C. In lithium battery cells, during the high current charging phase, limiting of the charging current I L  to a value of C/4 to 4C, preferably to a value from C/2 to 2C and especially preferably to a value from C/2 to C, takes place. It is also possible to control the charging current I L  during the high current charging phase using the measured current value acquired via the A/D converter  31  to a stipulated setpoint. In this first charging phase, the cell voltage U Z  rises continuously. 
     When monitoring of the cell voltage U Z  of the battery  12  by the microcontroller  32  via the A/D converter indicates that the cell voltage has reached a limiting charging current U G , the microcontroller  32 , via the D/A converter  34  and the VCR  27 , sets back the charging current I L  for a second charging phase T 2  in appropriately chosen steps such that the cell voltage U Z  remains at least roughly constant for the further progression of the charging process, as depicted in FIG.  3 . In turn, the limiting charging voltage U G  is selected such that the battery cannot be damaged during charging. Preferably, the limiting charging voltage U G  is less than U Max  minus ΔU. In Ni-metal hydride battery cells, a limiting charging voltage U G  in the range from 1.3 to 2.5 volts and preferably from 1.4 to 1.5 volts is possible. In 2 volt lithium systems, a limiting charging voltage U G  from 1.2 to 2.5 volts and preferably from 1.5 to 2.3 volts is usable. For 4 volt lithium systems, especially a limiting charging voltage U G  from 3.6 to 4.5 volts and preferably from 3.8 to 4.3 volts is suitable. In the second charging phase T 2 , the cell voltage U Z  should not vary or deviate from the limiting charging voltage U G  by more than ±30%, preferably by not more than ±20% and especially preferably by not more than ±10%. 
     Preferably, the arrangement is such that, by means of microcontroller  32 , the time change of the charging current, i.e. the value ΔI L /Δt, is acquired during the second charging phase T 2 , and the second charging phase, and thus also the overall charging process, are ended when a predetermined slope of the charging current curve is not reached, in other words, when ΔI L /Δt is less than a stipulated minimum value. Determination of ΔI L /Δt can then be performed directly by acquiring the voltage which drops on the current measuring resistor  29  via the A/D converter  31 . However, it is also possible to derive ΔI L /Δt indirectly from the value which is stipulated by the microcontroller  32  for the VCR  27 . 
     The microcontroller  32  is advantageously used, in the manner shown in FIG. 1, also to control the signal processing and amplifier stage  16 . In addition, the program of the microcontroller  32  is preferably designed such that the signal and processing stage  16  prevents the microcontroller  32  from drawing additional power from the battery  12  when it is determined via the A/D converter  30  that the cell voltage U Z  of the battery  12  has dropped to a stipulated minimum value U Min . The explained means and measures effectively protect the battery  12  both against exhaustive discharging and also overcharging. 
     The means necessary to set the charging current I L , in the described manner, depending on the cell voltage U Z  of the battery  12  can, as shown in FIG. 1, be housed in an implantable power receiving part  10 . Basically however ,it can also be in the external power transmission part  11  or distributed between both parts  10  and  11 . The power transmission part  11  can be designed for supply with mains current and/or for feed from a battery located outside the body. 
     By choosing the correspondingly small values for ΔI L  and Δt, quasi-continuous behavior of the curves for the charging current I L  and the cell voltage U Z  can be achieved, as shown in FIG.  4 . But, it also goes without saying, for one skilled in the art, that this continuous behavior can be achieved by using corresponding analogous circuit components. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to control the VCR  27  via the microcontroller  32  such that it works as a pulse width modulator, in order to undertake the above described type of control of the charging current I L  depending on the determined cell voltage U Z  by pulse width modulation of the charging current I L , as is illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     The microcontroller  32  can be programmed such that it can only start the charging process when a minimum current is flowing in the charging current circuit of battery  12 . 
     While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the details shown and described herein, and includes all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.