Qualcomm Incorporated

Charles E Hardgrove

Anthony M Richards

William Hugh Molesworth

The present invention includes a system and method of charging a rechargeable battery. The system can further include a processor that is adapted to control one of the high power charger or the low power charger to charge the battery in response to the high power input voltage relative to a predetermined high power voltage value and the low power input voltage relative to a predetermined low power voltage value. The method can include the steps of determining a high power input voltage of the high power source, determining a low power input voltage of the low power source, causing a high power charger to charge the battery in response to a sufficient high power input voltage, and causing a low power charger to charge the battery in response to an insufficient high power input voltage and a sufficient low power input voltage.

System and method for charging a rechargeable battery

An especially low power, fast completion battery charge process varies the voltage, current, and time of charging a battery according to the battery's state of charge. Initially, a battery charger apparatus applies a fast charge current to the battery. When the battery voltage increases to a target voltage, the battery charger applies a fast charge voltage to the battery. This continues until the current flowing through the battery decreases to a prescribed minimum current. The battery charger then calculates the elapsed time between the battery's initially receiving the fast charge current and later achieving the minimum current. Using the elapsed time, the charger computes a proposed overcharge time comprising a multiplicative product of the elapsed time and a temperature-dependent adjustment factor. Next, the battery charger applies an overcharge voltage to the battery for the proposed overcharge time, unless the proposed overcharge time exceeds a prescribed maximum time. In that event, the battery charger applies the overcharge voltage to the battery for the prescribed maximum time.

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Imperial Beach, CA, United States of America

Charles E Hardgrove