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The bq2404x series of devices are highly integrated Li-ion linear chargers devices targeted at space-limited portable applications. The devices operate from either a USB port or AC adapter. The high input voltage range with input overvoltage protection supports low-cost unregulated adapters. 

BQ24040: Single Cell Li-Ion Battery Charger With Auto Start  - [Link]

Fast charger for NiCd, NiMh, LiPo and SLA batteries

The Universal Charger usage is very easy but some point must be strictly followed in order to avoid any problem in battery and charger management. First read the charger documentation, then follow these recommendations in order to have a good charger usage.

Universal Charger – [Link]

In this project there are actually 3 chargers combined in a single PCB, each charger having an output voltage of 4.2V. You can cascade them to become charger fit for 2 or 3 cels Lipo pack. The transformer used is 3 x 8 VAC. As more and more devices are powered with LiPo batteries such a charger could come handy some day.

DIY LiPo Charger - [Link]

Here is the simple Lithium Ion Battery Charger. Lithium Ion batteries pack a lot of power by weight compared to other types. There are 2 things that need to be handled differently than nicad on NiMH 1. They cannot be used as a direct substitute (even if they look like other AA’s) since they run at about 3.6 (or so) volts.2. They cannot be charged in the same way as nicad or NiMH. [via]

Lithium Ion Battery Charger – [Link]

NiMH cells are still very popular energy source in portable media like digital cameras, clocks, various players, etc. They provide quite good energy density for reasonable price. Charging current of NiMH cells should be about 10% of their rated hourly capacity. And charging time should not exceed 14 hours. Following charger is what it does. [via]

AVR based NiMH charger - [Link]

Portable USB charger’s will always be handy, lets face it these days every gadget around us has USB charging capabilities. This is a very basic and simple project, and cheap too. Maybe its time for you to build your own diy portable USB charger.

DIY portable USB charger - [Link]

Any USB port can supply 5V at up to 500mA. The USB standard specifies that a device may not use more than 100mA until it has negotiated the right to use 500mA, but apparently no USB ports enforce that requirement. This makes the USB port a convenient source of power for devices such as this charger. [via]

USB AA NiMH and NiCd Battery Charger - [Link]

A flyback converter implements a current-limited power supply to charge lead-acid batteries. The MAX773 current-mode controller limits the output current and the flyback transformer provides isolation and flexibility for input voltages both above and below the battery voltage. The MAX471 current-sense amplifier monitors the charging current and feeds back to a threshold detector so that below a designed threshold the flyback converter can switch to a lower charging voltage for trickle-charge mode. [via]

MAX773 Lead Acid Batteries Charger - [Link]

Mark: To keep the lights on and the camera going I have a multi-purpose battery charger. This contains around 24Wh of energy storage in eleven NiMh AA cells and circuitry to charge my laptop, satellite phone, mobile phone, camera battery and a PP3 for Ju’s Dog Dazer. It can also power a white LED tent light that sheds just about enough light to cook by. A cunning design means that some of the AA cells can be removed from the internal battery stack and exchanged with flat ones from a torch or whatever. [via]

Multi-purpose charger - [Link]

I think this subject will always get new project because of the spread of the ipods. People will always want to charge their iPods when their away or any mod to an iPod will always show interest for the public.

The circuit’s pretty simple, basicly it’s just a voltage regulator. Both the LM317 and the REG1117A (LDO) fit the PCB, maybe there are even more types that I’m aware of that can be used on it. I did add one extra thing: a LED that shows if the connected device is consuming power. To do this I used a shunt resistor and a current converter. [via]

USB iPOD Charger based on REG1117A - [Link]