The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1996
James J Blanc, San Mateo, CA (US);
Mark C Gurries, San Jose, CA (US);
Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for programmably adjusting output voltage of a constant-voltage battery charger is disclosed. The present invention includes a power circuit for generating an output voltage for charging batteries. This power circuit generates this output voltage as a function of an incoming power source and an incoming error signal. The invention further includes a controller for providing a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal operating at a pre-determined frequency. This PWM signal controls the effective divider ratio of a voltage divider network which is implemented, among other things, for generating the error signal to be fed to the power circuit. The present invention varies the effective divider ratio by programmably applying the pulse width modulated signal from the controller. As a result, the output voltage from the power circuit can be varied to optimally charge batteries of differing types and technologies.