Optimized current pulse charging apparatus and method employing increasing clamp reference voltages and decreasing current pulses
First Claim
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1. An optimized charging apparatus, comprising:
- a charge circuit configured to provide a plurality of charge current pulses to a battery; and
a control circuit configured to;
receive a terminal voltage of the battery,compare the terminal voltage of the battery to a clamp voltage, andcompare a value for a high time current to a threshold current value;
based on determining that the terminal voltage of the battery is less than the clamp voltage, the charge circuit is configured to provide a plurality of first charge current pulses to the battery in a first step of a first charge profile, each of the plurality of the first charge current pulses having a same first duty cycle, a same high time current at a first value, and a same low time current,based on determining that the terminal voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the clamp voltage, the charge circuit is configured to, in the first charge profile, step down the high time current by providing a discharge current pulse to the battery, and by decreasing the first value for the high time current by a step current value resulting in a second value for the high time current, andbased on determining that the second value for the high time current is greater than the threshold current value, the charge circuit is configured to provide a second charge current pulse to the battery in a second step of the first charge profile, the second charge current pulse having the first duty cycle, a high time current at the second value, and the low time current.
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Abstract
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods to optimize charging of a battery, including providing a first charge profile configured to provide charge current pulses to a battery in a plurality of steps. In the first charge profile, the charge current pulses can be stepped down in the plurality of steps using a comparison of a terminal voltage of the battery to a clamp voltage. When the terminal voltage meets or exceeds the clamp voltage, a high time current of the charge current pulse can be decreased and the clamp voltage can be increased before providing a subsequent charge current pulse.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An optimized charging apparatus, comprising:
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a charge circuit configured to provide a plurality of charge current pulses to a battery; and a control circuit configured to; receive a terminal voltage of the battery, compare the terminal voltage of the battery to a clamp voltage, and compare a value for a high time current to a threshold current value; based on determining that the terminal voltage of the battery is less than the clamp voltage, the charge circuit is configured to provide a plurality of first charge current pulses to the battery in a first step of a first charge profile, each of the plurality of the first charge current pulses having a same first duty cycle, a same high time current at a first value, and a same low time current, based on determining that the terminal voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the clamp voltage, the charge circuit is configured to, in the first charge profile, step down the high time current by providing a discharge current pulse to the battery, and by decreasing the first value for the high time current by a step current value resulting in a second value for the high time current, and based on determining that the second value for the high time current is greater than the threshold current value, the charge circuit is configured to provide a second charge current pulse to the battery in a second step of the first charge profile, the second charge current pulse having the first duty cycle, a high time current at the second value, and the low time current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optimized charging method, comprising:
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providing a plurality of first charge current pulses to a battery in a first step of a first charge profile, each of the plurality of the first charge current pulses having a same first duty cycle, a same high time current at a first value, and a same low time current, the providing occurring while a terminal voltage of the battery is determined to be less than a clamp voltage; and responsive to determining that the terminal voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the clamp voltage, stepping down, in the first charge profile, the high time current including; providing a discharge current pulse to the battery; and decreasing the first value for the high time current by a step current value resulting in a second value for the high time current; and based on determining that the second value for the high time current is greater than a threshold current value, providing a second charge current pulse to the battery in a second step of the first charge profile, the second charge current pulse having the first duty cycle, a high time current at the second value, and the low time current. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification