Abstract:
A battery charging system (200) includes a field-effect transistor (212) as a current discharge protection device in order to prevent current from flowing from battery (222) to charger (202) when charger (202) is not charging or discharging battery (222). The field-effect transistor (212) also protects battery (222) in the case that the battery contacts are inadvertently shorted. When charger (202) is charging battery (222), field-effect transistor (212) is turned on, providing for reduced voltage drop across the device due to its low on resistance, and also allows for charger (202) to charge and discharge (condition) battery (222).
Abstract:
A battery (100) has at least two terminals (222 and 224) adapted for interconnection to a power consuming device. The battery (100) comprises at least one cell (202 and 203) having two terminals (228 and 230). The battery apparatus (100) further comprises a circuit carrying substrate (300) for providing connection between the battery terminals (222 and 224) and the cell terminals (228 and 230). Disposed on the circuit carrying substrate (300) is a circuit runner (302), having a pre-determined width and length for establishing a pre-determined resistance. This circuit runner (302) is adapted for providing current limiting between the battery terminals (222 and 224) and the cell terminals (228 and 230). The use of this circuit runner (302) eliminates the need for a resistive component to perform similar function.