Trent L Bollman

US Patent:

20030197485, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Apr 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/128991

Inventors:

Michael Miller - Mason City IA, US
Michael Frank - Clear Lake IA, US
Trent Bollman - Orchard IA, US
Jay Miller - Mason City IA, US

International Classification:

H02J007/00

US Classification:

320/112000

Abstract:

A battery adapter having a base unit, a battery holder coupled to the base unit, the battery holder configured to receive a battery therein, and a circuit arrangement having a first connection arrangement, a second connection arrangement, a third connection arrangement and a processing arrangement, each of the first connection arrangement, the second connection arrangement and the third connection arrangement configured to receive power from an external power source and configured to provide said power to the processing arrangement, the processing arrangement configured to at least one of charge and discharge the battery.

US Patent:

61777781, Jan 23, 2001

Filed:

Mar 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/282078

Inventors:

Jay Stephen Miller - Mason City IA
Michael Scott Frank - Clear Lake IA
Trent Lee Bollman - Orchard IA

Assignee:

Alexander Manufacturing Corp. - Mason City IA

International Classification:

H02J 700

US Classification:

320112

Abstract:

A battery adapter includes a base unit, a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein, a first connection arrangement and a second connection arrangement. Each of the first and second connection arrangements is capable of receiving power from an external power source. The external power source may be provided via a docking station. The battery adapter also includes a device which is conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements. The device receives the power from the first connection arrangement and/or the second connection arrangement for charging and/or discharging the battery.

US Patent:

58181970, Oct 6, 1998

Filed:

Oct 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/739914

Inventors:

Jay S. Miller - Mason City IA
Bret Evan Mumm - Nora Springs IA
Trent Lee Bollman - Orchard IA

Assignee:

Alexander Manufacturing Corp. - Mason City IA

International Classification:

H02J 700

US Classification:

320107

Abstract:

A universal interface plate has a predetermined and universal configuration suitable for connecting any one of a plurality of types of rechargeable batteries to the circuitry of a charging device. The universal plate is adapted to any type of rechargeable battery using an appropriate bay adapter, the bay adapter including a first interface for mounting the bay adapter to the universal interface plate and a second interface for accommodating a particular type of battery. The charging device utilizes a ramping charge method whereby batteries are initially charged at a low charging rate, thereby allowing safe charging of low and high capacity batteries utilizing a single charging algorithm. The charging rate is increased incrementally after determining whether the incremental current increase would cause the power to the battery to exceed the maximum power that can be handled by the bay. If the maximum charging rate is reached, charging is continued at the previous rate, otherwise the charging current is increased by the incremental amount thereby providing for rapid ramp-up of charging current for high capacity batteries while providing a low charging current for low capacity batteries, thus preventing overcurrent charging of low capacity batteries.