Patent ID: 8253373

Claim:
A charger for a battery operated electronic device, said charger comprising: an input for connection to an external power source supplying current at a first voltage; an output for connection to said battery operated electronic device; circuitry for supplying said electronic device with current when said charger is connected to said external source; a cavity for mounting in said charger at least one battery having a terminal voltage different from said first voltage, and different from the voltage required for inputting to said electronic device, said battery supplying said electronic device with current when said charger is not connected to said external power source; a bidirectional converter and charge controller for controlling current supplied from said at least one battery mounted in said charger to said electronic device, and for controlling current flowing into said at least one battery when said charger is connected to said external power source; and circuitry for detecting the chemistry of said at least one battery.