Abstract: The battery charger provides a current to a battery depending on its type. The type of the battery is determined using, a two-pronged fork and a pusher slider assembly which may actuate two switches using a spring leaf. The two switches enable to provide a current depending on the type of battery. AAA-type, AA-type, C-type and D-type batteries may be used. The battery charger also enables to easily position the battery in the battery charger.

Abstract: A battery charger and method are disclosed for charging alkaline, Ni-Cad and zinc-based batteries, particularly sizes N, AAA, AA, C and D. For batteries rated at about 1.25 volts to about 1.5 volts, the battery charger and method provide a constant charging current of between about 0.28 ma to about 1.5 ma per gram weight of the battery. A substantially constant current is supplied to the battery while a reference voltage greater than the battery voltage is provided. Thereafter, as the battery voltage increases, the reference voltage is incremented up to a predetermined maximum reference voltage. Charging is terminated when the reference voltage reaches the predetermined maximum, or when the battery voltage does not increase during charging to be greater than a first or a subsequent reference voltage during a predetermined charging time period. The controller may also cause the constant current to be increased by from about 2.