From nickel-cadmium to nickel-hydride fast battery charger
1 Introduction
Today, many cordless and portable equipment are supplied by a rechargeable battery
(Nickel-Cadmium, NiCd or Nickel-Hydride, NiMH). Individual applications such as portable
phones, camcorders, cordless power tools, portable appliances and audio equipment
highlight the enormous contribution made by rechargeable batteries to our comfortable
lifestyle. NiCd battery chargers charging in one hour and even less are already widespread.
Ultra fast charging of NiCd batteries in less than 15 minutes is a very attractive feature in
applications where the battery is rapidly discharged, as in power tools such as cordless drills
[1.].
Nevertheless, when fast charging, the use of a non-adapted charge termination method may
lead to a significant reduction of the battery service life. This could cause a prejudice against
the appliance manufacturer's image, as when the battery service life is reduced, the user is
practically led to a costly replacement of the complete battery pack.
AN417
Application note
The trend is now to replace NiCd batteries by the more environmentally friendly NiMH
batteries. Several charger applications such as notebook computers and portable phones
already require NiCd /NiMH compatible battery chargers. In this case, the most common
charge monitoring method used for a NiCd battery (negative delta voltage: [longer suited to the NiMH battery.
In this application, the charge termination method is based on the detection of the inflexion
point in the battery voltage curve. This inflexion point detection method is not only "NiCdNiMH compatible", it also significantly increases the NiCd battery life-time when fast
charging.
Such a high performance charger can be totally managed by a low cost 8-bit microcontroller
(MCU), the ST6210. Safe charging is achieved by the combination of three back-up charge
termination methods: [additional benefit of using such a 20 pin standard microcontroller lies in its high adaptability
of application features.
The proposed charging power converters use the Switched Mode Power Supply technology
(SMPS), operating from AC mains or DC voltage sources. A 35W/100kHz offline and a
15W/100kHz DC/DC chargers are described in this note.
Δ V] detection, temperature monitoring and timer cut-off. An
Basically, NiCd and NiMH batteries are charged by a constant current source (see Figure 1).
A battery charger is made of a constant current source controlled by a microcontroller which
monitors the battery voltage variation with its internal analog-to-digital converter
Figure 1.Battery charger circuit diagram
As soon as the full capacity of the battery has been detected by the microcontroller, the
charging is stopped by turning the current off. Schematic examples of power converters
operating as current sources are given later. The same converter hardware can be used in
two different charging methods depending upon the appliance requirements.
2.1 The [-Δ V] method
When a NiCd battery reaches full charge, its voltage decreases slightly (see Figure 2). The
negative delta voltage method [-
slope versus time becomes negative. This first charge termination technique is optimized to
fast charge a NiCd battery to its full capacity.
Δ V] consists of stopping the charge as soon as the voltage
Doc ID 2074 Rev 25/21
Charge termination methodsAN417
charging time
cell voltage
battery voltage
battery temperature
temperature
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
20
30
40
50
60
-dV
deg C
V
A
-36
Figure 2.The negative delta voltage method fast charge is terminated at point A
In fact, a NiCd battery charged with the [-
Δ V] method is slightly overcharged: Figure 2
shows that the battery temperature has substantially increased at point A when charge is
terminated, which may decrease the life-time of the battery. More precisely in Figure 3, most
of the current fed to the battery between point B and the negative voltage drop A is not
directly converted into active battery charge, but into heat. This can be seen in the
temperature curve shown in Figure 3. The point B corresponds to the inflexion point of the
battery voltage curve versus time.
The [-
Δ V] method is definitely no longer suited when it comes to charging NiMH batteries:
the NiMH charging reaction is permanently exothermic (releases heat), so the battery
temperature would become excessive in its [-
Another characteristic of the NiMH batteries makes the [-
types of NiMH batteries do not exhibit a significant voltage drop as NiCd batteries do when
reaching their full capacity.
Δ V] area of the voltage curve (see Figure 3).
Δ V] method unsuitable: some
6/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Charge termination methods
charging time
cell voltage
battery voltage
battery temperature
temperature
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
20
30
40
50
60
deg C
V
B
A
-36
2.2 The inflexion point method
A second charge termination method much more adapted to NiMH batteries consists of
detecting the inflexion point of the voltage curve, thus avoiding any excessive overheating of
the battery. This method therefore significantly increases the battery life-time.
Figure 3.Fast charge terminates at point B in the inflexion point method
Doc ID 2074 Rev 27/21
Charge termination methodsAN417
charging time
NiCd voltage
NiMH voltage
NiCd temperature
NiMH temperature
-36
Figure 4.NiMH versus NiCd charging characteristics
Note:The NiMH battery temperature rise is larger during fast charge, and its -[
important, than its voltage slope variation.
Detecting the inflexion point of the voltage curve with the MCU requires the evaluation of the
first derivative of the battery voltage curve versus time, and to detect its summit.
Δ
V] is less
8/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Principle of the inflexion method
battery voltage
voltage derivative
smoothed derivative
charging time ->
B
battery voltage and derivative
-36
3 Principle of the inflexion method
Every 4 seconds, the analog to digital converter (ADC) of the ST6210 microcontroller
measures the battery voltage and temperature. If the temperature is above a predetermined
threshold (40 degrees Celsius for example), fast charge is terminated.
The battery voltage is actually measured several times in series, and an average of the
measurements is made, to reduce measurement errors due to high frequency noise (for
example generated by a switched mode charging current).
Further, a rolling average of the present and previous measurements is made, to remove
low frequency noise due to electrochemical battery voltage variations (see previous
description of this technique in References [1.]).
This averaged battery voltage data is used to extract a time derivative, by calculating the
difference between present voltage and the voltage n samples earlier. Because of the
voltage digitization, which is measured by the ADC of the MCU, the first derivative curve
features a typical discontinuous aspect (see Figure 5).
For this reason, the MCU calculates a digital smoothing of this discontinuous derivative. The
inflexion point is then identified by detecting the first highest summit encountered on the
smoothed derivative curve (point B in Figure 5).
Figure 5.Inflexion point method
When this summit is detected, fast charge is terminated.
Doc ID 2074 Rev 29/21
Charge control program descriptionAN417
NEW BATTERY
INSERTED ?
START
NOISE FILTERING AND AVERAGING
CALCULATE DERIVATIVE
SMOOTH DERIVATIVE
ARE WE AT INFLEXION ?
ARE WE AT DELTA-V ?
IS TIMER EXPIRED ?
WAIT 4 SECONDS
IS TEMPERATURE ABOVE THRESHOLD ?
IS BATTERY PRESENT ?
TRICKLE MODE
MEASURE BATTERY VOLTAGE 256 TIMES
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
YN
-36
4 Charge control program description
The microcontroller detects the inflexion point in the battery voltage versus time curve while
charging. When full charge is detected, the MCU puts the charger in trickle charge mode.
As safety protection, the MCU also terminates fast charge if -[
temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, or a timer with programmable time
duration expires.
Figure 9 shows the simplified flowchart of the program for the complete charge control. The
overall system is reset after each new input source voltage connection. It is also reset when
a charged battery is removed, and replaced by a discharged battery.
Figure 6.Simplified program flowchart
Δ V] is detected, or the battery
10/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Test results
charging time
cell voltage
temperature
voltage
temperature
22.4 deg
32 deg
-36
5 Test results
Figure 7 and Figure 8 show curves of a NiCd battery charge respectively terminated by
-[
Δ V] and inflexion point methods. A similar comparison is made with a NiMH battery in
Figure 9 and Figure 10. The charging current is 2.2 A, the NiCd battery was a 1.4 Ah type
and the NiMH battery a 2.2 Ah type. These measurement results clearly show that the
battery temperature increase is much smaller with the inflexion method than with the
conventional -[
NiMH batteries can be properly monitored by the ST6210 MCU.
Δ V] method. Moreover, these curves demonstrate that a one hour charge of
Figure 7.Charge of a 1.4 Ah NiCd battery with the -[
time 48 mn, temperature increase 9.6°C.
Δ V] method: charging current 2.2 A, total
Doc ID 2074 Rev 211/21
Test resultsAN417
charging time
cell voltage
temperature
voltage
temperature
21 deg
26 deg
smoothed derivative
-36
charging
time
cell
voltage
temperature
voltage
temperature
22.8
deg
41
deg
-36
Figure 8.Charge of a 1.4 Ah NiCd battery with the inflexion method: charging current 2.2 A,
total time 41 mn, temperature increase 5°C.
Figure 9.Charge of a 2.2 Ah NiMH battery with the -[
time 63 mn, temperature increase 18.2°C.
Δ V] method: charging current 2.2 A, total
12/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Test results
charging time
cell
voltage
temperature
voltage
temperature
19 deg
26.5 deg
smoothed voltage
derivative
-36
Figure 10. Charge of a 2.2 Ah NiMH battery with the inflexion method: charging current 2.2 A,
total time 57 mn, temperature increase 7.5°C.
Table 1.Charge of different battery types with an 2.2 A current source
BatteryMonitoringDurationTemperature increase
-[
NiCd 1.4 Ah
NiMH 2.2 Ah
ΔV]
inflexion point
-[
ΔV]
inflexion point
48 min.
41 min.
63 min.
57 min.
9.6 °C
5 °C
18.2 °C
7.5 °C
Doc ID 2074 Rev 213/21
Charger schematic examplesAN417
AC mains
SMPS
MCU
ST6210
PWM
current
mode
UC3845
NiMH
or
NiCd
battery
temperature
voltage
-36
DC voltage
SMPS
MCU
ST6210
PWM
current
mode
UC3843
NiMH
or
NiCd
battery
temperature
voltage
-36
6 Charger schematic examples
6.1 Block diagram
The charger is a power supply operating as a constant current source. Such a current
source can be made with a SMPS working from the AC mains or from a DC voltage source.
Figure 11 and Figure 12 give block diagrams of an offline SMPS charger and a DC to DC
charger.
Figure 11. Block diagram of an off-line SMPS charger
Figure 12. Block diagram of a DC/DC charger
14/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Charger schematic examples
6.2 Battery charger examples
6.2.1 Offline charger
Figure 13 gives an example of an offline 35 watt battery charger working at 100 kHz. This
SMPS can deliver up to 3.5 amps DC to a 6 cell battery. Typical charging time of a 1.4 Ah
7.2v NiCd battery pack is around 30 minutes. This offline charger is an asymmetrical half
bridge totally controlled from the primary side with a standard PWM control IC, the UC3845,
regulating in current mode (see References [3.]).
The asymmetrical half bridge structure allows the use of two standard 500V power
MOSFETS IRF820 without snubber network, as voltage across each power MOSFET is
systematically clamped to the input DC voltage by two demagnetization diodes
(BYT01/400). The MCU controls the SMPS section through a single optocoupler, either in
battery charge mode or in trickle mode.
Note that the high side power MOSFET is simply driven by an auxiliary winding of the power
transformer, avoiding the use of an additional pulse transformer.
The switching frequency is set at 100 kHz in order to keep the magnetic parts to a
reasonable manufacturing cost level (see References [2.]. The power transformer and the
output inductor can be integrated on a single ferrite core to allow a significant shrinking of
the power converter size. This integrated magnetic technique has been used in a 80 watts /
15 minutes charger (see References [2.]).
By a simple resizing of the discrete power devices ratings, and by applying the [termination method, the same off-line converter hardware has been used to charge a typical
7V2/1.2 Ah NiCd pack of cordless drill in less than 15 minutes (see References [1.] [2.]).
6.2.2 DC/DC charger
Figure 14 shows a 15 watt 100 kHz battery charger supplied from a 12 Vdc input voltage.
The DC input voltage can be supplied from a car battery, or from a 50/60 Hz transformer
rectified voltage. This DC/DC charger is controlled by the PWM control circuit UC3843.
For example, such a 15 watt converter is able to deliver 1.5 amp DC, charging five 1500
mAh NiMH cells in approximately 1 hour.
Δ V]
Doc ID 2074 Rev 215/21
Charger schematic examplesAN417
47uF
200V
1A
400V
10R
220
110
MAINS
90/260VAC
1A
+
47UF
200V
IRF820
470K
270K
1/2W
1N4148
BYT01/ 400
4.7R
BZX83C18
BZX83C18
EF25
BZW04P15
220uF
25V
STPS3045CT
70uH /4A
-
4N25
1.5K
680
1.8K
1K
27pF
27pF
VDD1TIMER2OSCIN3OSCOUT
4
NMI
5
VPP/TES6RESET7PB7
8
PB6
9
PB5
10
VSS
20
PA019PA118PA217PA316PB0
15
PB1
14
PB213PB312PB4
11
ST62E10
2MHz
1K
1K
IN
G
N
D
OUT
78L05
4.7uF
10V
BYV10/40
100uF
25V
IRF820
BYT01/400
1.8R
VIN7VREF8RT/CT
4
GND
5
C/SEN
3
COMP
1
VFB2OUT
6
UC3845
8.2K
4.7R
39K
4.7uF
25V
BZX85C18V
BC327
1nF
680pF
220R
1N4148
100K
1uF
10V
10K
22K
4.7uF
10V
5.6K
27K
78
6
541
2
3
TS271
120K
3.3K
6.8V
4.7uF
5.6K
15K
5.6K
5.6K
4.7uF
10V
-36
Figure 13. This 35W/100kHz off-line charger is an asymmetrical half-bridge regulated in current
mode from its primary side
16/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417Charger schematic examples
BATTERY
PAC K 6 V
1500mAH
+Vbatt
100uF
25V
+
5
3
1
7
2
64
L4962
BYV10-40
BYV10-40
80uH
1.5A
VIN7VREF8RT/CT
4
G
N
D
5
C/SEN
3
COMP
1
VFB
2
OUT
6
UC3843
10K
15K
1nF
2A
+
DC
+
GND
11 TO 25V
-
4.7uF
10V
220uF
25V
22nF
12K
2.2uF
10V
I=1.5A
-
0.33R
1.5W
680
On
4.7uF
16V
VDD1TIMER2OSCIN
3
OSCOUT
4
NMI
5
VPP/TES
6
RESET7PB78PB6
9
PB5
10
VSS20PA019PA118PA2
17
PA3
16
PB015PB114PB2
13
PB3
12
PB4
11
ST62E10
33pF
2MHz
33pF
LED
Temp
Stop
15K
680
1K
15K
BZX55C3V3
6.8K
1K
R12
18K
27K
3
2
41 5
6
7
8
uA741
6.2K
9.1K
6.8K
2.2uF
10V
2.2uF
10V
2.2uF
10V
6.8K
-36
Figure 14. This 15W/100kHz DC-to-DC charger is also driven by a low-cost PWM control
integrated circuit, the UC3843
Doc ID 2074 Rev 217/21
ConclusionAN417
7 Conclusion
A relevant feature dominates today's electronic appliances - true portability. In these
cordless appliances, fast charging of the battery packs is often considered by the user as a
significant comfort improvement. Such an improvement can be achieved with a safe and
cost-effective charger concept using an off-the-shelf microcontroller, the ST6210.
Moreover, the present battery charger concept is NiCd/NiMH compatible, meeting the
current trend to progressively replace the NiCd battery by the more environmentally friendly
NiMH battery.
The charge termination method is based on the detection of the battery voltage inflexion
point in order to avoid any excessive overheating of the battery. Such a charge technique
significantly improves the battery service life, preventing the user from untimely replacing his
battery pack by a costly new pack. In addition, this low cost microcontroller provides a safe
charge by combining three other back-up termination methods typical of high end dedicated
control circuits: [-
The natural programmability benefit of such a microcontroller-based charger design allows
the designer to easily implement additional user interface functions. For example, a "gas
gauge" function indicating the remaining battery capacity to the user could be easily added
to the present basic program, whilst retaining the same charger hardware structure. Finally,
the major benefit of using this off-the-shelf ST6210 approach lies in the high adaptability of
its application features.
Δ V] detection, battery temperature monitoring and timer cut-off.
18/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417References
8 References
1.Ultra-fast NiCd battery charger using ST6210 Microcontroller AN433
(STMicroelectronics)
2. An ultra-fast NiCd battery charger concept 43rd International Appliance Technical
Conference, May 5-6, West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A. / L. Wuidart
3. A cost effective ultra-fast NiCd battery charger AN486 STMicroelectronics
Doc ID 2074 Rev 219/21
Revision historyAN417
9 Revision history
Table 2.Document revision history
DateRevisionChanges
01-Jan-19941Initial release.
02-Nov-20112Updated format and company logo.
20/21Doc ID 2074 Rev 2
AN417
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