Adaptive battery charging based on battery condition
First Claim
1. A method for determining the condition of a battery, comprising the steps of:
- applying a test pulse to said battery;
measuring the battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse;
measuring the battery voltage at the end of said test pulse; and
using said battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse and said battery voltage at the end of said test pulse to determine at least one of the following conditions of said battery;
a state of deterioration of said battery, a charge capacity for said battery, and an appropriate charging current for said battery.
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Abstract
A test pulse having an amplitude (IP) and a duration (T) is applied to the battery. The battery voltages at the beginning (V1) and at the end (V2) of the test pulse are measured, and a difference voltage (ΔV) is determined. This difference voltage is used, either alone or along with the difference voltage for a new battery and a compensation factor, to determine the state of deterioration of the battery, the charge capacity of the battery, and/or the charging rate of the battery. The state of deterioration of a battery affects its charge capacity and its ability to accept a charge. A battery is best charged when its state of deterioration is considered. The charge capacity of the battery and the charging rate for charging the battery are therefore adjusted with respect to those parameters for a new battery based upon the state of deterioration of the battery.
81 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for determining the condition of a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a test pulse to said battery;
measuring the battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse;
measuring the battery voltage at the end of said test pulse; and
using said battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse and said battery voltage at the end of said test pulse to determine at least one of the following conditions of said battery;
a state of deterioration of said battery, a charge capacity for said battery, and an appropriate charging current for said battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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14. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
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measuring the open circuit voltage of said battery;
if said open circuit voltage is greater than a predetermined amount then;
applying a test pulse to said battery;
measuring the battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse;
measuring the battery voltage at the end of said test pulse;
using said battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse and said battery voltage at the end of said test pulse to determine an appropriate charging current for said battery; and
charging said battery using said appropriate charging current.
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23. A method for determining the condition of a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a test pulse to said battery;
measuring the battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse;
measuring the battery voltage at the end of said test pulse;
determining a difference voltage between said battery voltage at the beginning of said test pulse and said battery voltage at the end of said test pulse;
performing a comparison of said difference voltage with a predetermined difference voltage value; and
using said comparison to determine at least one of the following conditions of said battery;
a state of deterioration of said battery, a charge capacity for said battery, and an appropriate charging current for said battery.
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24. A battery tester, comprising:
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a charging circuit connected to a battery and responsive to a control signal for applying a test pulse to said battery; and
a control circuit functionally connected to said charging circuit and to said battery, said control circuit causing said charging circuit to apply said test pulse, measuring the voltage of said battery at the beginning of said test pulse and at the voltage of said battery at the end of said test pulse, and determining at least one of the following conditions of said battery based upon said voltage of said battery at the beginning of said test pulse and said voltage of said battery at the end of said test pulse;
a state of deterioration of said battery, a charge capacity for said battery, and an appropriate charging current for said battery.
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27. A battery charger, comprising:
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a charging circuit connected to a battery and responsive to a control signal for applying a test pulse to said battery and for applying charging pulses to said battery; and
a control circuit functionally connected to said charging circuit and to said battery, said control circuit causing said charging circuit to apply said test pulse, measuring the voltage of said battery at the beginning of said test pulse and at the end of said test pulse, and determining an appropriate charging current for said battery based upon said voltage of said battery at the beginning of said test pulse and at the end of said test pulse, and causing said charging circuit to apply said charging pulses to said battery, said charging pulses providing said appropriate charging current for said battery.
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Specification