Motorola Corporation

Arthur G Burns

John Wendell Oglesbee

Jose M Fernandez

Georgina More

Robert D Kreisinger

Joseph Patino

Robert E Stengel

David L Muri

Henry A Bogut

A protection circuit ( ) and protection device ( ) for protecting a rechargeable (lithium-based) battery cell or cells from overcharging. A voltage regulator element ( ) is connected in parallel with the battery cell or cells ( ) and is thermally coupled to a thermal element ( ) connected in series with the charging current supply. The voltage regulator element ( ) prevents overcharging of the battery ( ) by shunting current away from the battery when a predetermined voltage across the battery is exceeded. Moreover, the thermal element ( ) prevents failure of the voltage regulator element ( ) by open circuiting the current path when the heat dissipated by the voltage regulator element ( ), thermally coupled to the thermal element ( ) causes the thermal element to enter a high resistance state. Additional protection may be provided by fuse bonds ( ) connecting the combination of the shunt voltage regulator and the thermal elements ( ) to the charging current supply and to the battery ( ).

Overcharge protection device and methods for lithium based rechargeable batteries

This invention includes a battery overprotection device comprising a thermal resistor, a zener diode, a pass element and a control circuit. The thermal resistor is used as an over-temperature limiting device, rather than an overcurrent device. By thermally coupling the thermal resistor to the zener diode, the thermal resistor protects the zener diode from &ldquo;burning up&rdquo; as a result of continuous power dissipation. When the zener is subjected to continuous power dissipation, its temperature rises. As the temperature rises, the thermal resistor's impedance increases, thereby reducing the power dissipation in the zener. The zener/thermal resistor combination serves as an auxiliary safety circuit for the transistor and control circuit.

Supplemental battery overcharge protection device

A battery charging system includes a battery pack (106) and charger (102). Battery pack (106) includes a selectable magnetic field generator (202) which is activated by radio controller (206) when radio (104) changes states. A Hall-effect switch (204) located in either charger (102) or battery (106) receives the magnetic field and informs charger monitor circuit (128) that radio (104) has changed states. This allows for charger (102) to modify the amount of current being provided to radio (104) via line (129). In a second embodiment, an infrared source (402) and an infrared detector (404) are used in place of selectable magnetic field generator (202) and Hall-effect switch (204).

Apparatus for determining radio state during charging in order to

A battery charger system (100) is provided which includes a charger (110) for supplying charge current and voltage and a battery (120) having a memory (122) for storing charge parameters. The charge parameters comprise battery related information instructing for battery charging. The battery related information stored in the memory (122) may include charge instructions instructing the charger of procedure for charging the battery (122).

Battery with memory for storing charge procedure

A battery assembly (200) includes first and second battery housings (202 and 204), a plurality of battery cells (204), and a flexible circuit having a thermal sensing surface (206) which is located in thermal proximity to battery cells (204). The thermal sensing surface (206) is in thermal proximity to the plurality of battery cells (204) providing for improved thermal sensing of battery assembly (200).

Assembly having improved thermal sensing capability

A rechargeable battery (10) comprises at least one cell (7) having a positive and a negative terminal. Switching regulation circuitry (9) coupled to the cell (7) is selectively used for regulating the battery output (28) and for regulating the charging (12) of the battery.

Integral battery charging and supply regulation circuit

A battery package (100) includes a transparent window (108) which communicates information about the battery to a battery-powered device such as a portable radio (200). Information about the battery (100) is communicated through the window (108) by a series of light pulses, and is received by a light sensor (340) in the radio. The information is processed by the radio microprocessor (344) and the status of the battery (100) is displayed on the radio display (346). The window (108) is gas permeable and water impermeable, serves as a vent for the battery housing (110) and also as an optical data transmission window.

Growing community of inventors

Plantation, FL, United States of America

Arthur G Burns