Patent ID: 7221125

Claim:
A method for charging a battery, comprising: applying a first positive current pulse to the battery, the first current pulse being defined by a first pulse amplitude and a first pulse width; applying a second positive current pulse to the battery after applying the first current pulse, the second current pulse being applied such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between the first and second current pulses, the second current pulse being defined by a second pulse amplitude and a second pulse width, the second pulse amplitude being smaller than the first pulse amplitude, the first and second current pulses defining a first pulse group; repeating application of the first pulse group until a first measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value; applying a third positive current pulse to the battery, the third current pulse being defined by a third pulse amplitude and a third pulse width; applying a fourth positive current pulse to the battery after applying the third current pulse, the fourth current pulse being applied such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between the third and fourth current pulses, the fourth current pulse being defined by a fourth pulse amplitude and a fourth pulse width, the fourth pulse amplitude being smaller than the third pulse amplitude, the third and fourth pulses defining a second pulse group; and repeating application of the second pulse group until a second measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value; wherein the first and second current pulses define a first average current, and the third and fourth current pulses define a second average current smaller than the first average current, and further comprising applying additional current pulses to the battery, thereby defining at least one additional pulse group, the at least one additional pulse group including a pair of positive current pulses, the additional current pulses being applied until a predetermined condition is met.