Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes one or more rechargeable cells and means for providing information to control charging. Information is provided in a form for being read or sensed by mechanical, optical, electromagnetic, or electronic techniques including combinations of these techniques. The information may indicate battery performance history, present state of the battery, and parameters for how it may be charged. As to performance history, the information may include, for the battery or a cell of the battery, indicia describing: one or more previous charging or discharging processes, of the last charging process, of the last discharging process, of the time period lapsed since the last charging or discharging process. The information may include indicia of the present charge state and condition of the battery or its individual cells.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes one or more rechargeable cells and means for providing information to control charging. Information is provided in a form for being read or sensed by mechanical, optical, electromagnetic, or electronic techniques including combinations of these techniques. The information may indicate battery performance history, present state of the battery, and parameters for how it may be charged. As to performance history, the information may include, for the battery or a cell of the battery, indicia describing: one or more previous charging or discharging processes, of the last charging process, of the last discharging process, of the time period lapsed since the last charging or discharging process. The information may include indicia of the present charge state and condition of the battery or its individual cells.

Abstract: In order to optimally control the charging of a rechargeable battery of one or more cells to ensure that full and rapid charge is achieved without damaging the battery, a maximum safe value (or sequence of values during the charging process) for one or more charging parameters is determined during a test charge, and subsequent charges of the battery are performed without exceeding the predetermined maximum value(s) for the charging parameter(s). Among the charging parameters contemplated for use are: the charging voltage potential placed across the battery terminals, the charging current supplied to the battery, the temperature of the battery cell and internal pressure of the battery cell as well as rates of changes of the parameters.

Abstract: In order to optimally control the charging of a rechargeable battery of one or more cells to ensure that full and rapid charge is achieved without damaging the battery, a maximum safe value (or sequence of values during the charging process) for one or more charging parameters is determined during a test charge, and subsequent charges of the battery are performed without exceeding the predetermined maximum value(s) for the charging parameter(s). Among the charging parameters contemplated for use are: the charging voltage potential placed across the battery terminals, the charging current supplied to the battery, the temperature of the battery cell and internal pressure of the battery cell as well as rates of changes of the parameters.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery is charged by connecting the terminals of the battery to an electrical power source. In order to avoid overcharging and undue temperature increase in the battery cell, the course of a least one charging parameter, such as the increase rate of voltage, is surveyed during at least part of the process of charging the battery. This charging parameter surveyed is compared with a number of reference parameter courses representing idealistic or desireable processes of charging the battery for different starting states of charge of the battery. Such comparisons may for example be made by means of a microprocessor, which may also select the reference course with a starting state of charge similar to the actual starting state of charge of the battery. Thereafter the process of charging the battery may be controlled so as to approximate the course of said charging parameter to the selected reference course. The charging voltage may be limited to a maximum value (Vmax).