Patent ID: 8093861

Claim:
A power transfer system for a rechargeable battery comprising: a power transfer apparatus electrically coupled to a rechargeable battery having an energy capacity and an energy level, a controller communicatively coupled to the power transfer apparatus, the controller having a memory containing temporal energy usage data, the controller being configured to determine a predicted disconnect time when the rechargeable battery is to be electrically uncoupled from the power transfer apparatus based upon the temporal energy usage data, and a monitor electrically coupled to the battery, the monitor communicatively coupled to the controller to send the battery energy level to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a minimum final energy level for the battery, the minimum final energy level being less than the energy capacity of the battery, the minimum final energy level being based upon the temporal energy usage data, wherein the controller is configured to determine an energy transfer rate and a minimum energy transfer interval, the minimum energy transfer interval being based upon the energy transfer rate, the minimum final energy level, and the battery energy level, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the power transfer apparatus to initiate an energy transfer with the battery of a duration of at least the minimum energy transfer interval, the energy transfer ending before the predicted disconnect time.