JPH0845563A - Charging method for secondary cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable even a plurality of secondary cell systems to be properly charged by one charger by judging the kind of a cell system for a secondary cell when the secondary cell is charged on the charger. CONSTITUTION:In changing control for a secondary cell, a detection means for judging the kind of the secondary cell is provided, and thereby a plurality of charging control methods are employed, which correspond to a plurality of secondary cell systems. Based on output information from the detection means, a charging control method suitable for a secondary cell system is selected out of a plurality of the charging control methods to perform charging. As a cell system judging method, following methods may be used, they are a mechanical method where each irregular section different by each cell system is provided for a portion of each cell, by which its system can be mechanically detected, a constitution method where the constitution of cell terminals is changed, by which its system can be electrically detected, and a magnetic constitution method where a portion of each cell is changed in magnetic constitution from that of the charger, by which its system can be magnetically detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging method capable of charging a plurality of secondary batteries according to their battery system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as a power source for portable equipment,
Lithium secondary batteries have come to be used by taking advantage of their light weight and high capacity. Further, some portable devices use a nickel cadmium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery that have been used conventionally.

However, since the charging control method differs depending on the type of the secondary battery, when charging a plurality of secondary battery type batteries, for example, a lithium secondary battery charger, a nickel cadmium secondary battery charger, etc. For example, a dedicated charger is provided for each of them, and it is necessary to prepare a charger according to the battery and to use it properly, which is very complicated and inconvenient.

An outline of conventional charging control will be described below. FIG. 2 is an example of charge control of the lithium secondary battery charger, and FIG. 3 is an example of charge control of the nickel-cadmium secondary battery. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, 1 indicates the battery voltage, and 2 indicates the charging current. As described above, each secondary battery requires charge control suitable for each battery, and each charger has been conventionally provided.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for charging a plurality of secondary battery systems, such as a lithium secondary battery and a nickel-cadmium secondary battery, by using a single charger. Is.

[0006]

According to the present invention, even in the case of a plurality of secondary battery systems, the types thereof are detected and judged so that the battery can be charged by one charger. And a plurality of charging control methods corresponding to a plurality of secondary battery systems, the output information from the detecting means, the secondary charging control method from among the plurality of charging control methods. The charging is performed by selecting a charging control method suitable for the battery system.

[0007]

According to the above charging method, when the secondary battery is mounted on the charger, the type of the battery system of the secondary battery is detected and discriminated. The charging control method suitable for the secondary battery system is selected from among the charging control methods described in 1 above, and the battery is charged.
Therefore, by detecting the types of a plurality of secondary battery systems, it is possible to perform appropriate charging with a single charger.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows battery connection A, battery system discrimination B,
It shows a flow from selection C of charging control method, charging D, to completion of charging E.

Among them, in the battery system discrimination method, a part of the battery is provided with an uneven portion which is different depending on the battery system, a method of mechanically detecting this and a configuration of the terminal of the battery are changed, and this is detected by an electrical method. It can be realized by using any one of a method of detecting a battery system by a magnetic method by changing a magnetic configuration of a battery in a part of the battery.

Further, this charging control method can be selected by transmitting a discrimination signal from the battery system type detecting means to a terminal of a microcomputer incorporating a plurality of charging control methods and selecting the charging control method.

As described above, according to the present invention, even with a plurality of secondary battery systems, proper charging can be performed with a single charger.

[0013]

According to the method as described above, even in the case of a plurality of secondary battery systems, it is possible to detect and determine the battery types and perform proper charging with one charger, which is rational. It becomes possible to provide a charger.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow of charger control of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of charge control of a lithium secondary battery charger.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of charge control of a charger for a nickel-cadmium secondary battery.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Battery voltage 2 Charging current

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for discriminating the types of a plurality of secondary battery systems and a plurality of charging control systems corresponding to the secondary battery systems are built in, and the plurality of charging operations are performed based on the information of the detection means. A charging method for a secondary battery, which comprises selecting a charging control method suitable for the secondary battery system from a control method and performing charging. 2. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising an uneven portion provided on a part of the battery depending on a type of the battery system, and a detecting means for distinguishing a plurality of types of the secondary battery system by the uneven portion. How to charge the next battery. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting means for changing the terminal configuration depending on the type of the battery system and detecting the terminal configuration by an electrical method to determine the type of the plurality of secondary battery systems. How to charge the secondary battery. 4. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising a detection means for discriminating a kind of a plurality of secondary battery systems by a magnetic method by changing a magnetic configuration with a charger in a part of the battery. How to charge the next battery.