High frequency battery charger and method of operating same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
- a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
means for measuring a charge rate of the battery;
means for determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
means for measuring a voltage of the battery; and
means for detecting an overtime fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging longer than a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage.
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Abstract
A high frequency charger includes a charge circuit for charging a depleted battery and a boost circuit for jump-starting a vehicle. Two separate high frequency transformers are provided for the charge and boost circuits. A selector switch selectively activates at least one of the charging circuit and the boost circuit.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
means for measuring a charge rate of the battery;
means for determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
means for measuring a voltage of the battery; and
means for detecting an overtime fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging longer than a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
means for measuring a charge rate of the battery;
means for determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
means for measuring a voltage of the battery; and
means for detecting a shorted cell battery fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
clamps for connecting the charger to the battery;
means for measuring a voltage at the clamps;
means for indicated a bad battery fault if no voltage is detected at the clamps. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
means for measuring a charge current of the battery;
means for determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
means for measuring a voltage of the battery; and
means for detecting an open cell battery fault if the charge current is less than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a boost circuit including a second high frequency transformer;
a second switch switching the second high frequency transformer at a second frequency, and a selector for selecting one of a charge mode for charging a depleted battery and a boost mode for supplying a boosting current to start a vehicle with the depleted battery, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
detecting a selected mode of operation;
if the boost mode is selected, controlling the boost circuit to supplying a boosting current to the depleted battery;
checking for a rapid rise in voltage after the vehicle has been started;
indicating the alternator is working properly if the rapid rise in voltage is present; and
indicating the alternator is not working properly if the rapid rise in voltage is not present. - View Dependent Claims (12)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
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13. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger comprising a charge circuit including a high frequency transformer;
- a switch switching the high frequency transformer at a predetermined frequency, the computer-readable information storage medium storing containing software implementing a method of reducing arcing in a battery charger, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a test current that is lower than a charging current from the battery charger to a battery;
detecting if the test current is present at the battery;
indicating a fault if the test current is not detected at the battery; and
increasing the test current a predetermined amount and returning to the detecting step if the test current is detected at the battery.
- a switch switching the high frequency transformer at a predetermined frequency, the computer-readable information storage medium storing containing software implementing a method of reducing arcing in a battery charger, the method comprising the steps of;
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14. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
measuring a charge rate of the battery;
determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
measuring a voltage of the battery; and
detecting an overtime fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging longer than a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
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17. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
measuring a charge rate of the battery;
determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
measuring a voltage of the battery; and
detecting a shorted cell battery fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is less than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
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20. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal; and
clamps for coupling the filter to the battery, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
measuring a voltage at the clamps;
indicating a bad battery fault if no voltage is detected at the clamps; and
proceeding with a charging operation if a voltage is detected at the clamps. - View Dependent Claims (21)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
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22. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency, the charge circuit operating in at least one of a pulse mode and a charge mode; and
a selector for selecting one of the charge mode and the pulse mode, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
measuring a charge current of the battery;
determining an amount of time the battery has been charging;
measuring a voltage of the battery; and
detecting an open cell battery fault if the charge current is less than a predetermined current, the battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (23)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency, the charge circuit operating in at least one of a pulse mode and a charge mode; and
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24. A high frequency charger, comprising:
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a charging circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency for producing a charging current for charging the depleted battery;
a boost circuit including a second high frequency transformer, separate from the first high frequency transformer; and
a second switch switching the second high frequency transformer at a second frequency for producing a relatively high boost current compared to the charging current for jump-starting the vehicle; and
a selector switch for selectively activating at least one of the charging circuit and the boost circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A control circuit for a high frequency charger, comprising:
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a pulse width modulation controller having a reference voltage input, a control input and an output for outputting a control signal;
a switch receiving the control signal and being switched on and off in response to the control signal, the switch adapted for connection to a transformer for switching the transformer;
a voltage divider network dividing a voltage applied to the reference voltage input and the control input, whereby a duty cycle of the control signal output from the pulse width modulation controller varies based on the percentage of the reference voltage applied to the control input. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method of reducing arcing in a battery charger, comprising:
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providing a test current that is lower than a charging current from the battery charger to a battery;
detecting if the test current is present at the battery;
indicating a fault if the test current is not detected at the battery; and
increasing the test current a predetermined amount and returning to the detecting step if the test current is detected at the battery. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency, the charge circuit operating in at least one of a pulse mode and a charge mode; and
a selector for selecting one of the charge mode and the pulse mode, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
detecting a selected of mode of operation input from the selector; and
when the pulse mode is selected;
a) generating a driving signal for the first switch for a first period of time;
b) disabling the first switch for a second period of time; and
c) returning to step a). - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency, the charge circuit operating in at least one of a pulse mode and a charge mode; and
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72. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger comprising a charge circuit including a high frequency transformer;
- a switch switching the high frequency transformer at a predetermined frequency, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
checking a flag indicating the battery is in a bulk charge state or an absorption charge state;
if the battery is in the bulk charge state;
increasing a duty cycle of a driving signal for the first switch if a current provided by the battery charger is less than a desired current;
decreasing the duty cycle of the driving signal for the first switch if the current provided by the battery charger is greater than the desired current; and
setting the flag indicating the battery is in the absorption charge stage when a voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage and the battery has been charging for more than a predetermined time, otherwise ending the charging process; and
if the battery is in the absorption charge stage;
decreasing the duty cycle of the driving signal for the first switch if the voltage of the battery is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage;
increasing the duty cycle of the driving signal for the first switch if the voltage of the battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and
stopping the charging process when the battery has been charging for more than a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74)
- a switch switching the high frequency transformer at a predetermined frequency, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
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75. A high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising:
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a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal;
means for coupling a resistance in parallel with the battery;
means for measuring a voltage of the battery while the battery is coupled to the resistance; and
means for correlating the measured voltage to a CCA value. - View Dependent Claims (76)
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77. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a high frequency charger for charging a battery, comprising a charge circuit including a first high frequency transformer;
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
a filter coupled to the first and second high frequency transformers for passing a DC voltage signal, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of;
coupling a resistance in parallel with the battery;
measuring a voltage of the battery while the battery is coupled to the resistance; and
correlating the measured voltage to a CCA value.
- a first switch switching the first high frequency transformer at a first frequency;
Specification