Motorola Corporation

David M Demuro

Joseph Patino

Robert B Ford

Mike M Albert

John A Kalenowsky

William Paul Alberth, Jr

Vernon Meadows

John E Herrmann

John Wendell Oglesbee

Michael D Geren

Roger L Boyer

Jose' M Fernandez

Charles T Byrne

James Cornett

Tony A Trandai

This method of charging includes a method of terminating charge when three events have occurred: a voltage across at least one of the cells reaches a predetermined maximum voltage, the average charging current falls below a predetermined minimum current, and the presence of a power source has been detected. The method also includes a safety termination that prohibits charge upon the expiration of a timer when the cells have stored little or no energy.

Method of terminating charge for a battery

This invention includes a thermally stable, low-cost charging circuit for rechargeable batteries. The circuit includes a thermal control circuit that employs a temperature dependent component such as a thermistor or positive temperature coefficient device. The temperature dependent device is thermally coupled to a charging pass element, which is typically a power transistor. When the transistor enters a danger zone, which is a region of operation characterized by elevated power dissipation in the pass element, the thermal control circuit is actuated to regulate the pass element in a constant power mode until the circuit exits the danger zone.

Thermally limited battery protection and charging circuit

The present invention provides a power adapter (,) adapted to couple an external antenna (,) to a communication device (,) by way of a cable (,) which is typically plugged into a cigarette lighter of a vehicle or some other power source at one end, and an input connector of the communication device (,) at the other. In particular, the present invention provides a simple one-piece vehicle power adapter which also provides RF input/output capability for connection to an external vehicle antenna. According to certain aspects of the invention, the adapter can be configured to have a variety of selection mechanisms. For example, the communication device could include an RF switch (,) and control circuitry for selecting either the internal or external antenna for optimum reception. Alternatively, the cable could include an external switch (,) for allowing the user to select the desired antenna. Finally, the cable could include a component which automatically actuates the switch to select the external antenna when the external antenna is connected to the communication device.

Power adapter with integral radio frequency port

The present invention provides a power adapter (,) adapted to couple an external antenna (,) to a communication device (,) by way of a cable (,) which is typically plugged into a cigarette lighter of a vehicle or some other power source at one end, and an input connector of the communication device (,) at the other. In particular, the present invention provides a simple one-piece vehicle power adapter which also provides RF input/output capability for connection to an external vehicle antenna. According to certain aspects of the invention, the adapter can be configured to have a variety of selection mechanisms. For example, the communication device could include an RF switch (,) and control circuitry for selecting either the internal or external antenna for optimum reception. Alternatively, the power adapter could include an external switch (,) for allowing the user to select the desired antenna. Finally, the power adapter could include a component which automatically actuates the switch to select the external antenna when the external antenna is connected to the communication device.

A battery pack (102) comprises a lithium battery cell or cells (112), and is charged by a charger (104). In the event of a failure in the charger, an over-voltage protection circuit (120, 122) normally prevents charging of the battery cell above an over-voltage limit. In the event of a failure in both the charger and the over-voltage protection circuit, a critical voltage protection circuit (124, 126, 128) is provided to render the battery inoperative in a fail safe state. Specifically, a critical voltage control circuit (128) senses the battery voltage reaching the critical voltage level and responds by closing a current shunt switch (126), which draws current from the battery cell or cells through a fuse (124), causing the fuse to open, thus rendering the battery pack inoperative in a fail safe state.

Fail safe circuit and battery pack using same

A battery and charging system including a charger (200) that provides a current and a battery (107) having at least one cell (108) that can be charged by the current provided by the charger (200). The battery (107) includes a memory (110) that stores battery information and a coding resistor (111) indicative of battery type. A battery switching circuit (113, 114) coupled to the memory (110) and the coding resistor (111) switches the memory (110) into contact with the charger (200) when the charger (200) is capable of reading the memory (110). Otherwise, the battery switching circuit (113, 114) switches the coding resistor (111) into contact with the charger (200).

Battery and charging system using switchable coding devices

A battery charger (12) and battery pack (14) are each provided with a wireless communications device, (24) and (28) respectively, to communicate over a wireless channel (32). The battery charger (12) receives charging information from a memory (30) housed in the battery pack (14), and commences a recharge process in accordance with the received information when the battery pack (14) is electrically coupled to the charger (12). The charger may update the information contained in the battery's memory (30) during the recharge process.

Wireless battery charging system

In summary, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining an external power supply type and modifying the charging of the internal battery (14) based upon the external power supply type and battery information. The device has an external power adapter (12) used to provide power to the device (10), as well as charging current for the battery which is regulated by the internal battery charger. A microcontroller (20) in the device (10) regulates the charging current to the battery (14). The microcontroller (20) preferably contains an A/D converter (21) which is connected to a pull-up resistor (32) internal to the device, and to a pull-down resistor (34) in the external power adapter (12). The voltage generated by the resistor divider network including the pull-up resistor (32) and the pull-down resistor (34) in the external power adapter is used to identify the external power adapter type. By changing the value of the pull-down resistor (34) in the external power supply to identify the external power supply, the microcontroller ( 20) in the apparatus may determine the optimum charging profile to use for the battery based upon the charger type and other information relating to the battery.

Method and apparatus for determining external power supply type

An aural annunciator circuit for a radio receiver and a radio transceiver incorporating such. The annunciator circuit is operative to generate an aural signal when a signal is transmitted to the receiver in a manner analogous to telephonic ringer circuitry of conventional telephonic apparatus. The aural signal is of a signal level of a relatively high magnitude when the receiver in which the aural annunciator circuit is embodied is configured in a closed configuration and the aural signal is of a relatively low magnitude when the receiver is configured in an open configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Snellville, GA, United States of America

David M Demuro