GB2386006A

GB2386006A - A charging device

Info

Publication number: GB2386006A
Application number: GB0204906A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ka Nam Peter Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-01
Filing date: 2002-03-01
Publication date: 2003-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-01
Also published as: GB0204906D0; GB2386006B

Abstract

A charging device comprising: a housing having first and second charging sites 3, 6, first and second pairs of charging contacts 4, 8 associated respectively with the first and second charging sites, the charging sites being adapted to receive a rechargeable battery and charge the battery by a flow of current between the associated charging contacts; and a power distributor operable to distribute power to the first and second pairs of charging contacts in accordance with respective first and second charging profiles, for example, the first charging site may be given priority over the second. The device may further comprise a removable unit (figure 6) capable of holding batteries which connects with the second charging site 6 to allow the batteries to be charged.

Description

"A Charging Device" THIS INVENTION relates to a charging device and, in particular, to a versatile charging device operable to charge chargeable batteries at different rates or in accordance with different charging profiles.

Conventional charging devices comprise a body having one or more recesses adapted to receive chargeable batteries. Typically, each recess is provided with a pair of contacts, and a battery to be charged by the charging device abuts each of these contacts so that a charging current can flow between the contacts and through the battery to charge the battery in accordance with a predetermined or default charging profile.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide an improved charging device.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a charging device comprising: a housing having first and second charging sites ; first and second pairs of charging contacts associated respectively with the first and second charging sites, each of the first and second charging sites being adapted to receive a chargeable battery and charge the battery by a flow of current between the associated charging contacts ; and a power distributor operable to distribute power to the first and second pairs of charging contacts in accordance with respective first and second charging profiles.

Advantageously, the first and second charging profiles are different from one another.

Preferably, a first operating state, the second charging current will not flow between the second pair of charging contacts if a chargeable battery that is not substantially fully charged is being charged by the first charging site.

Conveniently, the charging profile of one of the pairs of charging contacts allows the charging of a chargeable battery substantially more rapidly than the charging profile of the other of the pairs of charging contacts.

Advantageously, the charging device comprises a switch allowing the selection of alternative charging profiles for at least one of the pairs of charging contacts.

Preferably, the charging device further comprises a removable unit capable of holding a chargeable battery, the housing being adapted to removably receive the removable unit at one of the charging sites.

Conveniently, when the removable unit is received at the one of the charging sites, the removable unit is in contact with the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites, the removable unit being operable to transmit charging current flowing between the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites to a chargeable battery held by the removable unit, and hence to charge the chargeable battery.

Advantageously, the removable unit is able to completely surround a chargeable battery held thereby.

Preferably, the removable unit is capable of holding a plurality of chargeable batteries.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a base unit embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the base unit of Figure 1: Figure 3 is a rear view of the base unit of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a removable unit embodying the present invention; Figure 5 shows a side view of the removable unit of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the removable unit of Figure 4 in an open condition; and Figure 7 shows a side view of the removable unit of Figure 6.

Turning firstly to Figures I to 3, a base unit I embodying the present invention is shown. Conveniently, the base unit 1 has a generally oblong body 2 having rounded edges, although the base unit 1 may be of any suitable shape.

On a top surface of the base unit 1, four first battery recesses 3 are provided, each of the first battery recesses 3 being generally in the form of a semi-cylindrical trough of appropriate dimensions to receive a standard cylindrical battery therein. Each of the first battery recesses 3 is associated with a pair of first charging contacts 4, which are located at opposite ends of the first battery recess 3 and arranged so as to oppose one another. The first battery recesses 3 comprise a first charging site of the base unit 1.

Each of the first battery recesses 3 is adapted to so that, when a chargeable battery is received therein, the chargeable battery abuts both of the first charging contacts 4 associated with the first battery recess 3. Preferably, one or more of the pair of first charging contacts 4 associated with each first battery recess 3 is movable, so that the first battery recess 3 may accommodate chargeable batteries of varying dimensions. In addition, one or more of the first charging contacts 4 may be spring-loaded, so that the first charging contacts 4 are biased towards one another. This assists in the forming of good electrical contact between the first charging contacts 4 and a chargeable battery received therebetween.

Each first battery recess 3 may be provided with more than two first charging contacts 4, arranged so that a chargeable battery of predetermined dimensions will abut an appropriate pair of these first charging contacts 4 when inserted into the first battery recess 3.

The base unit 1 is provided with a connection to a power source (not shown), and it will be appreciated that, when a chargeable battery is received in one of the first battery recesses 3, a first charging current may be caused to flow between the pair of first charging contacts 4 associated with the first battery recess 3, thereby charging the chargeable battery received therein. LED's 5

associated with respective ones of the first battery recesses 3 provide an indication of the charging status of a battery received therein. The power source employed for the base unit 1 may be the mains power supply, but the invention is not limited to use with this power source. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base unit 1 is adapted to be powered from the cigarette lighter plug of a vehicle.

The base unit 1 may be provided with a first cover (not shown), which can be placed over the first battery recesses 3 of the first charging site to protect the first battery recesses 3 (and any batteries received therein) from damage or accumulation of dirt.

In use of the base unit 1, one or more chargeable batteries may be placed in the first battery recesses 3 thereof, and these batteries will be charged by the base unit 1 in a conventional fashion.

The base unit I is further provided with a second charging site. In the" present example, the second charging site comprises a charging recess 6, located at a rear surface of the base unit 1. Second charging contacts 8 are provided on one or more inner surfaces of the charging recess 6, and the base unit I may cause a second charging current to flow between the second charging contacts 8. The charging recess 6 is preferably of a suitable shape to receive one or more chargeable batteries, such that a chargeable battery received in the charging recess 6 abuts the second charging contacts 8 and may be charged by the flow of the second charging current.

In embodiments of the present invention, the first and second charging contacts 4,7 have first and second charging profiles respectively associated therewith, the first and second charging profiles being different from one

another. A charging profile defines the rate at and/or manner in which a chargeable battery is charged by the charging contacts 4,7, and may, in some cases, dictate that a chargeable battery is charged in one of a number of ways in dependence upon external factors.

A power distributor (not shown) within the base unit 1 controls the power that is delivered to the first and second charging contacts 4,7 in accordance with the respective charging profiles associated therewith. The power distributor may, for example, comprise a processor, having details of the charging profiles stored thereon, or may be hard-wired and include a switch to select between appropriate circuitry operable to distribute power in accordance with a required charging profile.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the charging profiles of the first and second charging contacts 4,7 are such that a chargeable battery will be charged by the first charging site substantially more rapidly than an equivalent chargeable battery will be charged by the second charging site. In this embodiment, the first charging site may be used for rapidly charging batteries for urgent use, while the second charging site may be used for charging batteries more slowly for use as and when required.

Preferably, the charging profile of the second pair of charging contacts 7 is determined such that batteries received in the second charging site will only be charged if no batteries are received in the first charging site or if all such batteries are substantially fully charged. In this example, a user of the charging device 1 may use the first charging site for charging batteries for urgent use, without worrying whether other batteries received by the second charging site will reduce the rate at which these urgently-required batteries will be charged.

A switch 8 is optionally provided on the base unit 1. The switch 8 allocates charging profiles to the respective charging contacts 4,7 depending upon its position. the switch 8 this may be used to change between alternative charging profiles of one or both of the pairs of charging contacts 4,7.

Turning to Figures 4 to 7, a removable unit 9 conveniently comprises a generally oblong body, having rounded comers. However, the shape of the removable unit 9 is dictated in part by the internal configuration of the recharging recess 6 of the base unit 1 (as will become apparent), and the removable unit 9 may have any shape that allows convenient insertion thereof into the charging recess 6 of the base unit 1.

Figures 6 and 7 show the removable unit 9 in an open configuration. A battery holding portion 10 of the removable unit 9 comprises four second battery recesses 11, each of which is adapted to receive and retain one or more chargeable batteries. The removable unit 9 further comprises a lid 12, which. may be placed over the battery holding portion 10, so that batteries retained in the second battery recesses 11 are completely enclosed by the removable unit 9.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a hinge 13 is provided between the battery holding portion 10 and the lid 12. In addition, cooperating fastening means 14 (such as clips or clasps) are provided on the battery holding portion 10 and on the lid 12, so that when the lid 12 is placed over the second battery recesses 11, the lid 12 may be secured in place.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the hinge 13 may be dispensed with, and fastening means 14 may simply be provided on the battery holding portion 10 and on the lid 12 to keep the lid 12 in place when it is placed over the battery holding portion 10.

Of course, the removable unit 9 need not completely encapsulate batteries placed in the second battery recesses 11, and any configuration of removable unit 9 that holds batteries may be employed with the present invention.

Third charging contacts 15 are provided on opposed external surfaces of the removable unit 9. Internal circuitry of the removable unit 9 allows a charging current flowing between the third contacts 15 to pass through chargeable batteries received in the second battery recesses 11, thereby charging these batteries. Preferably, springs 16 or other biasing means are provided at one or both ends of each of the second battery recesses 11, to urge a battery received therein into a position in which good electrical contact is made between the battery and the internal circuitry of the removable unit 9.

The removable unit 9, with chargeable batteries received in the second battery recesses 11 thereof, may be inserted into the charging recess 6 of the base unit 1, and the base unit 1 and the removable unit 9 are advantageously configured such that, when the removable unit 9 is so inserted, the third charging contacts 15 on the removable unit 9 abut the second charging contacts 8 on the inner surfaces of the charging recess 6.

It will be understood that, when the removable unit 9 is inserted into the charging recess 6 of the base unit 1 in this manner, the second charging current, which may flow between the second charging contacts 8, will flow through any chargeable batteries which are contained in the removable unit 9, thereby charging these batteries.

It will be understood that the removable unit 9 comprises a useful carrying pack for charged batteries to be used when required. In addition, exhausted batteries may be stored in the removable unit 9, which is simply inserted into the base unit 1 so that the exhausted batteries may be charged for later use.

In the context of the present invention, a chargeable battery may comprise a unit containing a plurality of chargeable cells. Hence, the removable unit 9 described above, when containing one or more chargeable batteries, may itself be considered itself to be a chargeable battery.

While both the base unit I and the removable unit 9 have been described as each containing four battery recesses 3,11, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to this number of battery recesses 3,11, and any suitable number may be provided both in the base unit 1 and the removable unit 9.

Preferably, the base unit 1 and the removable unit 9 are adapted to receive AA or AAA size batteries, but this need not be the case, and both the base unit 1 and the removable unit 9 may be adapted for use with different types of batteries. In particular, the base unit 1 may be operable to charge car batteries, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate how the base unit 1 may be adapted to perform such a function.

In summary, this skilled person will appreciate that the present invention provides a convenient and versatile charging apparatus.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of" and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A charging device comprising: a housing having first and second charging sites; first and second pairs of charging contacts associated respectively with the first and second charging sites, each of the first and second charging sites being adapted to receive a chargeable battery and charge the battery by a flow of current between the associated charging contacts; and a power distributor operable to distribute power to the first and second pairs of charging contacts in accordance with respective first and second charging profiles.
2. A charging device according to Claim 1, wherein the first and second charging profiles are different from one another.
3. A charging device according to Claim 1 or 2 in which, in a first operating state, the second charging current will not flow between the second pair of charging contacts if a chargeable battery that is not substantially fully charged is being charged by the first charging site.
4. A charging device according to any preceding claim, wherein the charging profile of one of the pairs of charging contacts allows the charging of a chargeable battery substantially more rapidly than the charging profile of the other of the pairs of charging contacts.
5. A charging device according to any preceding claim, comprising a switch allowing the selection of alternative charging profiles for at least one of the pairs of charging contacts.

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6. A charging device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a removable unit capable of holding a chargeable battery, the housing being adapted to removably receive the removable unit at one of the charging sites.
7. A charging device according to Claim 6 wherein, when the removable unit is received at the one of the charging sites, the removable unit is in contact with the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites, the removable unit being operable to transmit charging current flowing between the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites to a chargeable battery held by the removable unit, and hence to charge the chargeable battery.
8. A charging device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A charging device according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the removable unit is able to completely surround a chargeable battery held thereby.

9. A charging device according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the removable unit is capable of holding a plurality of chargeable batteries.

10. A charging device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS:

1. A charging device comprising: a housing having first and second charging sites; first and second pairs of charging contacts associated respectively with the first and second charging sites, each of the first and second charging sites being adapted to receive a chargeable battery and charge the battery by a flow of current between the associated charging contacts; and a power distributor operable to distribute power to the first and second pairs of charging contacts in accordance with respective first and second charging profiles, the arrangement being such that the charging profile of one of the pairs of charging contacts allows the charging of a chargeable battery substantially more rapidly than the charging profile of the other of the pairs of charging contacts allows an equivalent chargeable battery to be charged.

2. A charging device according to Claim 1 in which, in a first operating state, the second charging current will not flow between the second pair of charging contacts if a chargeable battery that is not substantially fully charged is being charged by the first charging site.

3. A charging device according to any preceding claim, comprising a switch allowing the selection of alternative charging profiles for at least one of the pairs of charging contacts.

4. A charging device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a removable unit capable of holding a chargeable battery, the housing being adapted to removably receive the removable unit at one of the charging sites.

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5. A charging device according to Claim 4 wherein, when the removable unit is received at the one of the charging sites, the removable unit is in contact with the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites, the removable unit being operable to transmit charging current flowing between the pair of charging contacts associated with the one of the charging sites to a chargeable battery held by the removable unit, and hence to charge the chargeable battery.

6. A charging device according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the removable unit is able to completely surround a chargeable battery held thereby.

7. A charging device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the removable unit is capable of holding a plurality of chargeable batteries.