Charger, vehicle with charger, and method of charging
First Claim
1. A battery charger comprising:
- a variable alternating-current power supply configured to output a first alternating current of a controllable power level;
a digital controller configured to control said power supply, the control including at least control of the power level of the first alternating current;
a foil-type first transformer configured to change the voltage of the first alternating current to a second alternating current; and
a rectifier configured to convert the second alternating current to a direct current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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a variable alternating-current power supply configured to output a first alternating current of a controllable power level;
a digital controller configured to control said power supply, the control including at least control of the power level of the first alternating current;
a foil-type first transformer configured to change the voltage of the first alternating current to a second alternating current; and
a rectifier configured to convert the second alternating current to a direct current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electric-vehicle charger comprising:
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a card reader configured to enable the charger;
a variable-frequency generator configured to input electrical power and output a first alternating current of a controllable frequency;
a digital controller configured to control said variable-frequency generator, the control including at least control of the frequency of said first alternating current;
a first transformer configured to change the voltage of said first alternating current to a second alternating current;
a rectifier configured to convert the second alternating current to a direct-current output;
a multi-pin connector configured to connect to an electric vehicle and deliver the direct-current output to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A vehicle comprising:
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a variable alternating-current power supply configured to input electrical power and output a first alternating current of a controllable power level;
a digital controller configured to control said power supply, the control including at least control of the power level of the first alternating current;
a foil-type first transformer configured to change the voltage of the first alternating current to a second alternating current;
a rectifier configured to convert the second alternating current to a direct current; and
at least one battery configured to store the direct-current output. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of charging at least one battery comprising at least the steps of:
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measuring the substantially open-circuit voltage of the at least one battery;
using the substantially open-circuit voltage, selecting a first power level for charging the at least one battery;
starting to charge the at least one battery at the first power level;
measuring the charging voltage and the charging current;
increasing the charging power level until at least one of a current lid and a voltage lid is exceeded, the voltage lid being based on the open-circuit voltage; and
charging until a current threshold is reached. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of charging at least one battery comprising in the following order the steps of:
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starting to charge the at least one battery at a first power level;
measuring a charging voltage and a charging current;
increasing a charging power level and a frequency until at least one of a current lid and a voltage lid is exceeded; and
charging substantially at the voltage lid. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification