Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Battery or cell charging – With thermal condition detection
Patent
1996-11-05
1998-05-12
Wong, Peter S.
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Battery or cell charging
With thermal condition detection
H02J 704
Patent
active
057511365
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method for checking a connection between a secondary battery and a battery charger, and a device therefor. The secondary battery is preferably used for a power source of, e.g., an electric vehicle such as a human-driving vehicle with an auxiliary power source.
BACKGROUND ART
A secondary battery, which is mounted on, for example, a human-driving vehicle with an auxiliary power source, is recharged by means of a battery charger connected to a domestic electrical outlet. When the secondary battery is connected to the battery charger, which is also connected to the domestic electrical outlet, an indication, e.g., an LED is turned on for representing that the connection is secured. Conventionally, various methods have been utilized for checking whether the connection between the battery charger and the secondary battery is secured or not. One is that the voltage of the secondary battery is detected. Second, special checking terminals are provided with a connector between a battery charger and a secondary battery, and it is decided as to whether a current flows through the connector or not.
However, by means of the former method, the check is impossible when an overcurrent has been discharged from the secondary battery or when a short circuit exists inside the secondary battery. Also, according to the latter method, the number of terminals increase, so that the production is costly.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to propose a method and a device for checking the connection between a secondary battery and a battery charger, in which the production cost is not increased and the connection can be checked in spite of the condition of the secondary battery.
To resolve the above-described problems, in accordance with the invention stated in claim 1, provided is a method for checking connection between a secondary battery and a battery charger for charging the secondary battery, the connection being made by a disconnectable connector. The method is characterized in that: to the secondary battery through the connector, charge-control means for controlling the charging means, and a direct current power supply; temperature of the secondary battery, the temperature sensing element having terminals, one of which is connected to the direct current power supply of the battery charger via the connector when the connection is secured, so that the temperature sensing element outputs voltage according to the temperature of the secondary battery; and temperature sensing element, so that the output voltage of the temperature sensing element is input thereto when the connection is secured, the charge-control means storing a standard range of the voltage of the temperature sensing element and deciding that the connection is not secured when the voltage input to the charge-control means is out of the standard range.
In accordance with the invention stated in claim 2, provided is a device for checking connection between a secondary battery and a battery charger for charging the secondary battery, the connection being made by a disconnectable connector, the secondary battery including a temperature sensing element for sensing temperature of the secondary battery. The device is characterized in that it is situated in the battery charger and comprises: temperature sensing element when the connection is secured, so that the temperature sensing element outputs voltage according to the temperature of the secondary battery; sensing element; temperature sensing element; and voltage detection means is within the standard range or not.
OPERATION
When the secondary battery is connected securely to the battery charger, the output voltage of the temperature detecting element is provided for the charge-control means. On the contrary, when the secondary battery is disconnected from the battery charger, the voltage provided for the charge-control means is not related to the temperature detecting element and is out of the standard range of th
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Ono Tomohiro
Takechi Hiroaki
Toatley , Jr. Gregory J.
Wong Peter S.
Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
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