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:
May. 05, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2004
Mikitaka Tamai, Tsuna-gun, JP;
Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, Sumoto, JP;
Masao Yamaguchi, Sumoto, JP;
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A battery pack including a discharge current interruption FET which cuts off the discharge current, and a minimum voltage detecting portion which switches the discharge current interruption FET from ON to OFF state when the voltage of any battery becomes lower than a minimum voltage. The charge circuit includes a charge current switching portion which switches the charge current so as to charge the battery pack in a main charge mode when the output voltage is higher than a prescribed voltage, and in a preliminary charge mode with a small current when the output voltage is lower than the prescribed voltage. A charge current switching portion charges the battery pack in the preliminary charge mode in the state where the OFF signal of the discharge current interruption FET is provided, even in the state where the output voltage of the battery pack is higher than the prescribed voltage.