Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Battery or cell discharging – With charging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-06
2003-05-20
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Battery or cell discharging
With charging
Reexamination Certificate
active
06566844
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to batteries, and more specifically, to extending the functionality of a battery.
BACKGROUND
Batteries are used for many functions, to power portable computers, provide backup power, and power all types of portable devices. However, batteries have a limited lifetime. After a period of use, most rechargeable batteries have “voltage depression,” which results in the battery lasting for a shorter period on each recharge.
FIG. 1
illustrates a prior art voltage curve, for a new battery
110
and an old battery
120
. The turn-off voltage
130
is set, for example for a camcorder, at a level below the level of the fully charged battery. Thus, a new battery, as can be seen, takes an hour to reach the turn-off voltage
130
. However, an old battery
120
drops down more rapidly, to reach the turn-off voltage
130
after a mere 2.5 minutes. Thus, the old battery cannot be used to power devices, since the useable time is minimal.
The prior art to reduce the “memory” effect has been to deep discharge the batteries, which is typically done at a current discharge, rate well below the normal operating current level for a given application. Neither the battery run time or lifetime is enhanced by this. In addition, the standard practice of discharging a Nickel Cadmium battery down only to about 1.12 volts, which is considered the fully discharged level for new batteries, contributes directly to the battery “memory” phenomenon where older batteries have greatly reduced run time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method to extend the functionality of a battery, the method comprising drawing a current greater than the minimum rejuvenation current from the battery thereby increasing a functionality of the battery.
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Battery Performance Technologies, Inc.
Tibbits Pia
Tso Edward H.
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