JPH0619264U - Battery charger with battery discrimination function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a charger capable of determining the type of a battery to be charged and performing charging under a charging condition suitable for the battery. [Structure] In a charging tub 4 of a charger 1, a detection switch S for discriminating between different types of batteries 2 or 3 inserted in the tub 4.
₁ is provided and the detection switch S ₁ is turned on according to the type of battery
Alternatively, it is turned off, and charging is performed under a charging condition suitable for the type of battery via the charging control circuit to which the switch S ₁ is connected.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a charger with a battery discriminating function, which discriminates the type of a secondary battery such as Ni-Cd to be charged and performs charging according to the type.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, most of secondary batteries such as Ni-Cd have been widely used as a power source of electric devices for various applications in the form of a battery pack, but it is often necessary to charge the battery. In this case, charging is performed via the charging terminal of the charger with the battery pack inserted in the charging tub of a desktop type charger or the like.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional charger can be charged with a predetermined charge output corresponding to the battery of the charger when charging one type of secondary battery, but it is possible to charge the secondary battery with two or more types. When charging the next battery, it is necessary to charge the charger with its charge output corresponding to each battery type. For this reason, various battery packs are provided with a discrimination terminal. As a result, the structure of each of a large number of battery packs to be manufactured becomes complicated, and accordingly, there is an inconvenience of increasing manufacturing processes and manufacturing costs.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention solves the above-mentioned inconvenience of providing a discrimination terminal on the battery side, and when charging various ordinary batteries, it automatically discriminates the type of battery inserted in the charging tub and automatically It provides a battery charger with a battery discriminating function that can switch to a charging output suitable for the battery and perform charging with a charging output according to the type. Insert a secondary battery to be charged. At least one detection switch for battery discrimination, which is exposed in the internal space of the charging tub and is connected to the charging control circuit, is provided.

[0005]

[Action]

 When a certain type of secondary battery is inserted into the charging tub of the charger, the detection switch does not operate and the charging control circuit is kept in an OFF state to control the charging control. It can be charged with a predetermined charge output corresponding to the battery through the circuit. When a specific secondary battery of a different type from this battery is inserted into the charging tub, the detection switch responds to this insertion and turns on the charging control circuit. , The battery can be charged with its charge output suitable for the battery.

The charging tub is configured to be suitable for inserting at least two types of secondary batteries or suitable for inserting at least two types of secondary battery built-in electric equipment, and The battery discrimination detection switch of the battery charger with a battery discrimination function is inactive when one type of secondary battery or an electric device with a built-in secondary battery is inserted into the trough, and is turned off. However, if another type of rechargeable battery or an electric device with a built-in rechargeable battery is inserted in the tub, it should be installed so that it can be turned on in response to the insertion. It is preferable.

In addition, as the charging tub of the charger, when two tubs for inserting a battery and inserting an electric device with a built-in secondary battery are provided side by side, remove the secondary battery to be charged from the electric device. Alternatively, you can charge the battery by inserting it into the corresponding tub without removing it.

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a top view of a desktop type battery charger with a battery discriminating function according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, two kinds of secondary batteries, for example, a small battery pack 2 shown in FIG. 3 and a large battery pack 3 shown in FIG. 4 having different battery capacities are separately provided on the upper surface of the charger 1. A charging tub 4 suitable for insertion was formed. Preferably, the shape of the trough 4 is preferably formed according to the outer shape of the small battery pack 2 and the large battery pack 3 so that they can be fitted and inserted into each other. As is well known, the battery packs 2 and 3 accommodate a plurality of secondary batteries such as Ni-Cd connected in series inside (not shown) in a container and have negative and positive terminals used for charging. Through the holes 5 and 6 of the container, it is exposed and arranged so that the output terminal of the external charger or the input terminal of the electric device can be connected. In the drawing, the containers 2a and 3a are made of synthetic resin molded containers which can be appropriately divided into two parts, and a pair of parallel fitting grooves 3b and 3b extending vertically are provided on the front wall of the large battery pack 3. When the large battery pack 3 is inserted into the tub 4 of the charger 1, that is, the internal space 4a thereof, these grooves 3b and 3b are formed by a pair of parallel vertical locking ribs projecting on the inner surface of the side wall of the tub 4. It is fitted to 4b and 4b to enable stable insertion and fitting. The pair of negative and positive terminal connecting holes 5 and 6 provided in the containers 2a and 3a are provided on the bottom surface of the trough 4 of the charger 1 so as to be exposed in the internal space 4a of the charging output terminal. They are arranged at positions corresponding to 7 and 8.

According to the present invention, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the battery discrimination detection switch S ₁ derived from the charging control circuit 9 incorporated in the charger 1 is provided in the charging tub. It is provided so as to be exposed in the internal space 4a of the battery 4, and the type of the battery to be charged inserted in the tub 4 is discriminated by this. I was able to charge with a suitable charge output. As a specific example, in the illustrated embodiment, the detection switch S ₁ is offset to the bottom surface of the trough and to one side in the thickness direction of the battery pack 2 or 3 inserted into the trough 4, It was installed in a state where it was exposed in the internal space 4a of the tub 4. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the detection switch S ₁ is placed in an open state with respect to the control circuit 9 because its operating pin 10 is constantly pushed up by a spring (not shown) in the switch box. At the same time, the upper end of the trough 4 penetrates the through hole 11 passing through the bottom wall 4c in the trough 4 and is installed in a state of slightly protruding from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 4c. In the charging circuit 9, input terminals 12, 12 of lead wires extending from one end of the charging circuit 9 are connected to an AC power source, and a pair of lead wires extending from the other end is a pair of charging terminals protruding slightly into the internal space 4a of the trough 4. It is connected to the terminals 7 and 8. Each of the terminals 7 and 8 is supported by a spring in the box, and a good elastic pressure contact state is obtained with the positive and negative terminals of the battery packs 2 and 3 which are in contact with the upper surfaces thereof. Then, the current from the AC power supply is converted into DC by the charging control circuit 9 and is controlled to a constant voltage and a constant current to be output. In the illustrated example, the detection switch S _{When 1} is open, a predetermined constant current value, for example, a constant current of 45 mA is made to flow, and when the detection switch S ₁ is closed, a constant current of 150 mA is made to flow. In the drawings, 13 is a circuit board, 14 is an input indicator, and 15 is a charging indicator.

The operation of the battery charger with a battery discriminating function of the present invention thus constructed will be described below. When charging the small battery pack 2 and inserting it into the charging tub 4 of the battery charger 1, as shown in FIG. , 6 to contact the corresponding charging terminals 7 and 8 arranged on the bottom surface of the trough 4, but the lower end surface of the small battery pack 2 contacts the pin 10 of the detection switch S _1. Since it is not present, the detection switch S ₁ remains open. As a result, the charger 1 can be charged with a constant 45 mA constant-current charge output corresponding to the small battery pack 2. Next, when the large battery pack 3 is charged, it is fitted and inserted into the charging trough 4 of the charger 1, and as shown in FIG. 6, the anode and cathode terminals on the lower end surface are the lower end face of the large battery pack 3 abuts against the charging terminals 7 and 8 will strike the pin 10 of the switch S ₁ said detectable, pushes this switch S ₁ the detectable, is brought to a closed state. As a result, the constant current of the charger 1 is automatically switched from 45 mA to a predetermined 150 mA corresponding to the large battery pack 3, and the large battery pack 3 can be charged with this charging output.

Further, as described above, the battery charger with a battery discriminating function of the present invention can be automatically charged with an output current or the like suitable for each when different types of secondary batteries are inserted into the charging tub. However, a charging tub suitable for inserting a different type of battery-equipped electric device containing different types of secondary batteries, separately or in combination, is also shown. Even if various electric devices with built-in batteries are inserted into the device, the type of each electric device, that is, the type of the built-in battery is discriminated, and the output current, etc. are switched and automatically built in. A charger with a battery discriminating function may be configured to perform charging suitable for each different type of battery.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, in addition to the charging tub 4 for inserting the different types of battery packs 2 and 3 in the one charger 1, the different types of batteries are respectively installed next to the charging tub 4 next to the charging tub 4. The charger 1 with a battery discriminating function, which is also provided with charging tubs 4'for inserting the different types of electric devices, is shown. In this case, the small battery pack 2 and the large battery pack 3 have a pair of negative and positive output terminals 16 and 17 which are in contact with a pair of input terminals of an electric device on the outer surface of the battery packs 2 and 3, respectively. They are formed so that they are exposed, and each of them is housed in an appropriate electric device such as a radio device to be an electric device with a built-in battery and used as a cordless telephone. In the illustrated example, the size and shape of the electric device with a built-in battery are, for example, a small battery built-in electric device and a large battery built-in electric device that are similar to the size and shape of each battery pack. As shown in the drawing, the charging tubs 4'which are respectively inserted to charge them are constructed so as to be suitable for inserting and inserting these small or large-sized battery-equipped electric devices. The bottom surface of ′ is provided with charging terminals 7 ′ and 8 ′ that are exposed in the internal space 4 a ′ and project a little from the bottom surface, and are displaced to one side of the bottom surface to detect the battery detection switch. The S ₂ actuating pin 10 ′ penetrates through the through hole 11 ′ provided in the bottom wall 4 c ′ and slightly protrudes upward from the bottom wall surface, and the detection switch S ₂ is connected to the charging control circuit 9 ′. The battery is kept in a normally closed state, and a predetermined current suitable for the built-in small battery pack 2, for example, a constant current of 45 mA flows from the charging control circuit 9 ', and its output charge is applied to the charging terminals 7'and 8'. charging suitable for internal small battery pack 2 via is performed and closes the detection switch S ₂ When the flow is constant current of 150 mA, the output charging the charging terminal 7 ', 8' charge suitable for internal large-sized battery pack 3 through was Unishi I performed. Thus, through holes are provided on the bottom wall surface of each electric device with a built-in battery at positions corresponding to the charging terminals 7'and 8'for making contact with the anode and cathode terminals on the battery side. . In the drawing, 4b 'shows vertical ribs 4b', 4b 'for fitting a pair of vertical fitting grooves provided on the entire surface of the large-sized built-in electric device similarly to the large battery pack 3.

Thus, when an electric device with a built-in small battery is inserted and fitted in the charging tub 4 ', the negative and positive terminals of the lower end surface of the charging tub 4'are respectively charged through the through holes. However, since the lower end surface of the device does not contact the pin 10 ′ of the detection switch S ₂ , it is suitable for the small battery pack 2 in the device with the above-mentioned predetermined constant current charge output. Charging is performed. Alternatively, 'when fitted into the pin 10 of the switch S ₂ said detectable at its lower surface' a large battery-containing electrical equipment the charging for the tub 4 so pushing the, the switch S ₂ is closed, the As a result, with the above-mentioned predetermined constant current charging output, charging suitable for the large battery pack 3 in the device 4'is performed. Therefore, it is convenient that the battery pack 2 or 3 does not need to be taken out from the electric device, and the required proper charging can be performed, and on the other hand, the electric device can be continuously used under the charged state. .

In the above embodiment, the case where one battery detection switch S ₁ , S ₂ is provided in each tub 4, 4 ′ is shown, but of course, two or more battery switches 4 ′ are provided in each tub 4 ′. For each of the desired multiple types of batteries, a detection switch is provided so that when the switch is opened or closed, each charging output suitable for the type of battery inserted in the charging control circuit to which it is connected is obtained. Proper charging may be performed.

Further, in the above description, charging with a battery discriminating function, which is suitable as a tabletop type, is provided with one trough 4 for inserting different kinds of batteries and one trough 4'for inserting different kinds of electric devices containing these batteries. Although two or more tubs 4 or 4'are provided, the current value flowing through each charging control circuit can be obtained as a charging output according to the type of the inserted battery. It can be used as a large charger.

[0016]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the charging tub of the charger is provided with at least one battery detection switch exposed in the internal space and connected to the charging control circuit. Depending on the type of battery to be charged, the detection switch is turned ON or OFF, and accordingly, the charging can be automatically performed through the charging control circuit with a charging output suitable for each type of battery. Bring the convenience you can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of an example of a battery charger with a battery discriminating function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a charge control circuit diagram of the charger shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view of an example of a small battery pack.

FIG. 3 (b) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an example of a large battery pack.

FIG. 4 (b) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a usage state of the charger shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a usage state of the charger shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Battery charger with battery discriminating function 2 Small battery pack 3 Large battery pack 4, 4'Truck 7, 7 'Charging cathode terminal 8, 8' Charging anode terminal 9, 9 'Charging control circuit S ₁ , S ₂ Battery discrimination Detection switch 10, 10 'detection switch pin

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A battery charger with a battery discriminating function, which is provided with at least one battery discriminating detection switch exposed in the internal space of a charging trough into which a secondary battery to be charged is inserted and connected to a charging control circuit. . 2. The charging tub is configured to be suitable for inserting at least two types of secondary batteries or for inserting at least two types of secondary battery built-in electrical equipment, and the battery discrimination Detection switch does not respond to the insertion of one type of secondary battery or an electric device with a built-in secondary battery in the trough, but does not respond to another type of secondary battery or the secondary battery The charger with a battery discriminating function according to claim 1, wherein when the built-in electric device is inserted into the trough, the built-in electric device responds to the insertion. 3. The battery charger with a battery discriminating function according to claim 1, wherein the charging tub is provided with two batteries, one for inserting a battery and one for inserting an electric device with a built-in secondary battery.