Method and Apparatus for Charging a Battery to an Enhanced Capacity

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery ( 126 ) is normally charged using a constant current/constant voltage charge regime ( 206, 210 ), where the battery is charged to a preselected normal voltage level ( 210 ) whereupon the voltage is maintained at the limit while the charging current diminishes. The battery charge capacity can be selectively increased by charging the battery to an enhanced voltage level ( 212 ) and it can recorded that the battery voltage passed the normal voltage limit. The enhanced charging mode is selected by a user via a device user interface ( 112 ), or alternatively by a broadcast command ( 304 ) transmitted to the device.

1 . A method of charging a battery to provide enhanced capacity, comprising:
 selecting an enhanced capacity charge mode for the battery coupled to a portable device,   wherein the enhanced capacity charge mode comprises:
 charging the battery with a constant charging current until a battery voltage reaches an enhanced voltage limit that is higher than a normal voltage limit, and then charging the battery at a constant voltage substantially equal to the enhanced voltage limit; and 
 recording that the battery voltage passes the normal voltage limit in a memory associated with the battery. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of charging a battery as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the selecting is performed via a user interface of the portable device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of charging a battery as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the selecting is performed via a graphical user interface of the portable device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of charging a battery as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the selecting is performed in response to the portable device receiving a control command. 
     
     
         5 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the control command comprises an emergency notification. 
     
     
         6 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the portable device is a mobile communication device, and wherein the control command is received from a fixed equipment network with which the mobile communication device is communicatively connected. 
     
     
         7 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 alerting a user of the portable device upon receipt of the control command.   
     
     
         8 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the control command includes a broadcast command received from a base station. 
     
     
         9 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the control command includes a wireless control command. 
     
     
         10 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the constant charging current is a substantially constant charging current. 
     
     
         11 . The method of charging the battery as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the recording is used to modify a warranty of the battery. 
     
     
         12 . A portable device system, comprising:
 a portable device;   a battery, coupled to the portable device, and having a battery voltage; and   a charge controller, coupled to the battery, which charges the battery according to either a normal charge regime or an enhanced charge regime based on a control command;   wherein the normal charge regime comprises:
 charging the battery with a constant charging current until the battery voltage reaches a normal voltage limit and then charging the battery at a constant voltage substantially equal to the normal voltage limit; 
   wherein the enhanced charge regime comprises:
 charging the battery with a constant charging current until the battery voltage reaches an enhanced voltage limit that is higher than the normal voltage limit, and then charging the battery at a constant voltage substantially equal to the enhanced voltage limit; and 
   wherein the battery includes a writeable memory in which each instance of the battery voltage exceeding the normal voltage limit is recorded.   
     
     
         13 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the battery is removeably coupled to the portable device. 
     
     
         14 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein one of the normal charge regime and the enhanced charge regime is selected using a user interface of the portable device. 
     
     
         15 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises:
 a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 12  further comprises:
 a receiver, of the portable device, for receiving the control command including an emergency notification, from a base station, to use at least one of the normal charge regime and the enhanced charge regime. 
 
     
     
         17 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a user of the portable device system is alerted upon receiving the control command. 
     
     
         18 . The portable device system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a power supply, coupled to the charge controller, for providing the constant charging current and voltage to the battery, wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery. 
 
     
     
         19 . The portable device system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the power supply is external to the portable device and coupled to the portable device.