Patent ID: 7782011

Claim:
A charging apparatus for charging a plurality of detachable battery packs one after another, said charging apparatus comprising: a charging device configured to charge the plurality of battery packs one after another; a switching device operative to switch from a first one of the battery packs to a next one of the battery packs; a voltage detecting device configured to detect a voltage of the next battery pack before charging of the next battery commences; a charging manner setting device configured to (i) select constant current charging as a charging technique to start charging said next battery pack, if a voltage of the next battery pack detected before charging of said next battery pack commences is in a first range, and (ii) select constant voltage charging as a charging technique to start charging said next battery pack, if a voltage of the next battery pack detected before charging of said next battery pack commences is in a second range; and a charge current detecting device configured to detect a current during charging of the next battery pack, wherein the charging device is configured to start charging the next battery pack by using the charging technique selected by said charging manner setting device.