Power supply apparatus with chargeable battery and charge/discharge method
First Claim
1. A power supply apparatus in which a plurality of chargeable batteries are connected in parallel between the node of an external power source and a load, and the common ground of the external power source and the load, comprising:
- charge/discharge monitoring means for judging whether the external power source is in a charging state when the load is driven and a sufficient voltage for charging the batteries is outputted, or in a discharging state when a sufficient voltage is not outputted and a discharging current should be supplied from the chargeable batteries to the load;
switch means connected in series to each of the plurality of batteries; and
on/off controlling means for controlling the on/off operation of the switches according to the output of the charge/discharge monitoring means and the charging/discharging state of each of the plurality of batteries.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a battery charging/discharging method for effectively using the battery energy of a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries. The power supply apparatus in which batteries are connected in parallel to the node of an external power source and a load comprises a charge/discharge monitor unit for judging whether the external power source is in a state where a load is driven and sufficient voltage to charge the batteries is outputted or in a state where sufficient voltage is not outputted and a discharge current should be supplied from the batteries to the load, switches inserted in series with each of the batteries, and an on/off control unit for controlling the on/off operation of the switches according to the output of the charge/discharge monitor unit and the charging/discharging state of each battery.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A power supply apparatus in which a plurality of chargeable batteries are connected in parallel between the node of an external power source and a load, and the common ground of the external power source and the load, comprising:
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charge/discharge monitoring means for judging whether the external power source is in a charging state when the load is driven and a sufficient voltage for charging the batteries is outputted, or in a discharging state when a sufficient voltage is not outputted and a discharging current should be supplied from the chargeable batteries to the load;
switch means connected in series to each of the plurality of batteries; and
on/off controlling means for controlling the on/off operation of the switches according to the output of the charge/discharge monitoring means and the charging/discharging state of each of the plurality of batteries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for charging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging one battery out of the plurality of batteries;
(b) judging whether or not the charging of the battery during charging is completed;
(c) when the charging of the battery is judged to be completed in step (b), charging one battery out of the plurality of remaining batteries other than a battery in which the charging is completed; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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17. A method for charging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a battery with the lowest voltage among the plurality of batteries;
(b) judging whether or not the charging of the battery during charging is completed;
(c) when the charging of the battery is judged to be completed in step (b), charging a battery with the lowest voltage among the plurality of remaining batteries other than the battery in which the charging is completed; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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18. A method for charging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging only the batteries out of the plurality of batteries in which the current flows in a charge direction when starting to charge;
(b) detecting batteries of which the voltages become equal to the voltages of the batteries during charging from the plurality of batteries, except for those during charging;
(c) charging the batteries detected in step (b); and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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19. A method for charging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging only the batteries out of the plurality of batteries in which the current flows in a charging direction when starting to charge;
(b) when the predetermined charging times of the batteries during charging elapse, detecting the direction of the current flowing in each of the plurality of batteries;
(c) charging only the batteries in which the current detected in step (b) flows in a charging direction; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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20. A method for charging a plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus comprising a plurality of chargeable batteries and a direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter, provided between the node of an external power source and a load, and the parallel node of the plurality of batteries and controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) when charging the plurality of batteries, for composing a direct discharging route from the plurality of batteries to the load when the plurality of batteries discharge current to the load, comprising the steps of:
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(a) when charging said plurality of batteries, the DC-DC converter judges whether the converter is constant-voltage-controlled so that the output voltage may become constant, or constant-current-controlled so that the output current may become constant;
(b) if it is judged in step (a) that the DC-DC converter is constant-voltage-controlled, executing the following steps;
(c) charging only the batteries out of the plurality of batteries in which the current flows in a charge direction when starting to charge;
(d) detecting batteries of which the voltages become equal to the voltages of the batteries during charging from the plurality of batteries, except for those during charging;
(e) charging the batteries detected in step (d); and
(f) repeating steps (d) and (e), and (g) if it is judged in step (a) that the DC-DC converter is constant-current-controlled, executing the following steps;
(h) charging a battery with the lowest voltage among the plurality of batteries;
(i) detecting batteries of which the voltages become equal to the voltages of the batteries during charging from the plurality of batteries, except for those during charging;
(j) charging the batteries detected in step (i); and
(k) repeating steps (i) and (j).
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21. A method for discharging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) when the status of the power supply apparatus charges from a charging state of the batteries to a discharging state, making charged batteries discharge;
(b) judging whether or not the discharging of the batteries during discharging is completed;
(c) when in step (b) it is judged that the discharging of the batteries is completed, making one battery out of the plurality of remaining batteries other than a battery in which the discharging is completed, discharge; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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22. A method for discharging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) making one battery out of the plurality of batteries discharge;
(b) judging whether or not the discharging of the battery during discharging is completed;
(c) when in step (b) it is judged that the discharging of the battery is completed, making one battery out of the plurality of remaining batteries other than a battery in which the discharging is completed, discharge; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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23. A method for discharging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) discharging only the batteries out of the plurality of batteries in which the currents flow in a discharging direction when discharging is started;
(b) when the discharging time during discharging exceeds a predetermined time, detecting the current directions of each of the plurality of batteries;
(c) making only the batteries in which the current directions detected in step (b) are discharging directions discharge; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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24. A method for discharging the plurality of batteries in a power supply apparatus with a plurality of chargeable batteries, comprising the steps of:
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(a) discharging only the batteries out of the plurality of batteries in which the currents flow in a discharging direction when discharging is started;
(b) detecting batteries of which the voltages become equal to the voltage of the batteries during discharging from the plurality of batteries, except for those during discharging;
(c) discharging the batteries detected in step (b); and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
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Specification