Patent ID: 7737665

Claim:
A battery charging system comprising: a junction temperature sensor adapted to measure a junction temperature associated with the battery charging system, wherein the junction temperature is indicative of the temperature at a semiconductor junction in an integrated circuit used to implement the battery charging system; a charging current generator adapted to provide a charging current to a rechargeable battery; and a charging controller adapted to receive the measured junction temperature, wherein: if the measured junction temperature is less than a first threshold temperature, then the charging controller directs the charging current generator to increase the charging current at a first rate; else, if the measured junction temperature is less than a second threshold temperature that is higher than the first threshold temperature, then the charging controller directs the charging current generator to increase the charging current at a second rate different from the first rate; else, if the measured junction temperature is less than a third threshold temperature that is higher than the second threshold temperature, then the charging controller directs the charging current generator to decrease the charging current at a third rate; else, if the measured junction temperature is greater than the third threshold temperature, then the charging controller directs the charging current generator to turn off the charging current.