Apparatus and method for charging battery by lowering charge power in phase

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus (and method) for charging a battery having a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage, a control unit for outputting a charge control signal corresponding to an early charging mode in which the battery is charged until a voltage of the battery rises to a preset cut-off voltage (Vc) and a charge control signal corresponding to a late charging mode in which the battery is charged while lowering a charge power in phases, and a charging unit for providing a charge power corresponding to the charge control signal to the battery, wherein a point of lowering the charge power in phases is associated with a point at which the voltage of the battery reaches the cut-off voltage again by the lowered charge power. Therefore, a voltage level reached at full charge of a battery may be raised in a simple and efficient way.

主权项

1. An apparatus for charging a battery, comprising:
a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage of a battery; a control unit for outputting a charge control signal corresponding to an early charging mode in which the battery is charged until a voltage of the battery rises to a preset cut-off voltage (Vc) and a charge control signal corresponding to a late charging mode in which the battery is charged while lowering a charge power in phases; and a charging unit for providing a charge power corresponding to the charge control signal to the battery, wherein a point of lowering the charge power in phases is associated with a point at which the voltage of the battery reaches the cut-off voltage again by the lowered charge power, wherein, in the late charging mode, the control unit outputs the charge control signal for lowering both a charge voltage and a charge current or the control unit outputs the charge control signal for lowering the charge current, wherein, when outputting the charge control signal for lowering both the charge voltage and the charge current in the late charging mode, the control unit outputs the charge control signal so that the charge voltage approaches the cut-off voltage, and wherein, when outputting the charge control signal for lowering the charge current in the late charging mode, the control unit outputs the charge control signal so that the charge voltage rises according to a preset voltage range.