Method and apparatus for recharging batteries in a more efficient manner

Abstract

A battery charger including a converter unit, a terminal adaptor, a cable, a battery, and/or multiple power connectors. A terminal, such as an electronic device, can be connected to the converter unit using the cable or directly to the converter unit without the cable. The converter unit determines when to draw power from an external power and when to cease drawing power from the external power source by detecting a power enablement condition or a power disablement condition. The power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is fully charged, the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit, and/or a charge time of the terminal exceeds the predetermined charge time threshold. The power enablement condition occurs when the terminal is initially connected to the converter unit and/or the terminal needs to be charged. The battery supplies power to components of the converter unit and/or the terminal.

1 . An electric charge cutoff device comprising:
 a terminal adapter connectable to a terminal;   a cable connected to the terminal adapter;   a power connector for receiving power from a power source; and   a sensor circuit electrically coupled between the power source and the cable, the sensor circuit connecting the cable to the power connector when a capacitance is detected from the cable or the terminal, or the terminal adapter is connected to the terminal, and disconnecting the cable from the power connector when no capacitance has been detected from the cable.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a rechargeable battery coupled to the sensor circuit for providing power to the sensor circuit when the power connector is not receiving power from the power source. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a renewable energy source coupled to the sensor circuit for providing power to the sensor circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the power connector is an AC plug or a DC plug. 
     
     
         5 . A battery charger comprising:
 a converter unit connectable to a terminal and an external power source, wherein the converter unit disables reception of power from the external power source and disables supply of power to the terminal when the converter unit detects a power disablement condition.   
     
     
         6 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit. 
     
     
         7 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein the converter unit detects a voltage of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the voltage of the terminal exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein the converter unit detects a current of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the current of the terminal is below a predetermined current threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein the converter unit detects a charge time of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the charge time exceeds a predetermined charge time threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein the converter unit enables reception of power from the external power source and supplies power to the terminal when a power enablement condition occurs. 
     
     
         11 . The battery charger of  claim 10  further comprising a cable connected between the terminal and the converter unit, wherein the power enablement condition occurs when a capacitance of the cable increases, or the terminal is initially connected to the converter unit. 
     
     
         12 . The battery charger of  claim 10  wherein the converter unit includes a battery and the power enablement condition occurs when the battery is below a predetermined energy level. 
     
     
         13 . The battery charger of  claim 5  wherein when the terminal is connected to the converter unit and a power disablement time exceeds a predetermined power disablement time threshold, the converter unit enables reception of power from the external power source and monitors the terminal for the power disablement condition. 
     
     
         14 . A battery charger comprising:
 a latched relay connectable to an external power source, wherein the latched relay disables reception of power from the external power supply when a power disablement condition occurs and enables reception of power from the external power supply when a power enablement condition occurs; and   a load monitor circuit connectable to a terminal, the load monitor circuit detecting when the load monitor circuit is electrically connected to the terminal and supplying power to the terminal when the power enablement condition occurs.   
     
     
         15 . The battery charger of  claim 14  wherein the load monitor circuit detects a capacitance of the terminal to determine when the terminal adapter is connected to the load monitor circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The battery charger of  claim 15  further comprising a microcontroller electrically connected to the load monitor circuit and the latched relay, the microcontroller detecting the power disablement condition and the power enablement condition. 
     
     
         17 . The battery charger of  claim 16  wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit. 
     
     
         18 . The battery charger of  claim 16  wherein microcontroller detects a voltage of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the voltage of the terminal exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The battery charger of  claim 16  wherein microcontroller detects a current of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the current of the terminal is below a predetermined current threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The battery charger of  claim 16  wherein the microcontroller detects a charge time of the terminal and the power disablement condition occurs when the charge time exceeds a predetermined charge time threshold. 
     
     
         21 . The battery charger of  claim 16  wherein when the terminal is connected to the converter unit and a power disablement time exceeds a predetermined power disablement time threshold, the converter unit enables reception of power from the external power source and monitors the terminal for the power disablement condition. 
     
     
         22 . The battery charger of  claim 16  further comprising a battery, the battery electrically connected to the microcontroller and the latched relay, the battery supplying power to the microcontroller. 
     
     
         23 . The battery charger of  claim 21  further comprising a battery monitor electrically connected to the battery and the microcontroller, the battery monitor determining a charge level of the battery. 
     
     
         24 . The battery charger of  claim 21  wherein the battery supplies power to the terminal when the latched relay is disconnected from the external power source and the terminal is connected to the load monitor circuit. 
     
     
         25 . A method for charging a battery comprising:
 detecting when a terminal is connected to a converter unit;   detecting a power disablement condition;   disabling reception of power from an external power source when the power disablement condition is detected; and   disabling supply of power to the terminal when the power disablement condition is detected.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising detecting a voltage of the terminal, wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the voltage of the terminal exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising detecting a current of the terminal, wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the current of the terminal is below a predetermined current threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising detecting a charge time of the terminal, wherein the power disablement condition occurs when the charge time exceeds a predetermined charge time threshold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 detecting a power enablement condition; and 
 enabling reception of power from the external power source when the power enablement condition is detected. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising enabling supply of power to the terminal when the power enablement condition is detected. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the power enablement condition occurs when a capacitance of a cable increases or the terminal is initially connected to the converter unit. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the power enablement condition occurs when a battery in the converter unit is below a predetermined energy level. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising enabling reception of power from the external power source when the terminal is connected to converter unit and a power disablement time exceeds a predetermined power disablement time threshold.