Apparatus and method for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery

• US 20040251876A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A system for counteracting self-discharge in a storage battery is provided. The system includes a charge supply battery that provides a supply voltage. The system also includes a DC-DC converter circuit that has an input that electrically couples to the charge supply battery and an output that electrically couples to terminals of the storage battery. The DC-DC converter circuit provides a charging voltage at the output that has a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage. The storage battery is a carbon battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery, comprising:

a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

a DC-DC converter circuit having an input configured to electrically couple to the charge supply battery and an output configured to electrically couple to terminals of the storage battery;

wherein the charge supply battery comprises a small battery; and

wherein the DC-DC converter circuit is configured to provide a charging voltage at the output having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a transistor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a charge storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

82. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a carbon battery.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

85. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

87. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a nickel-metal hydride battery.

88. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a nickel cadmium battery.

89. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a lithium ion battery.

90. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a lead-acid battery.

91. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 6-cell storage battery.

92. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 12-cell storage battery.

93. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in an 18-cell storage battery.

94. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 24-cell storage battery.

19-22. -22. (Canceled)

23. A jump-start booster pack, comprising:

a booster battery configured to provide starting energy to a vehicle;

a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

a DC-DC converter circuit having an input electrically coupled to the charge supply battery and an output electrically coupled to the booster battery;

wherein the charge supply battery comprises a small battery; and

wherein the DC-DC converter circuit is configured to provide a charging voltage at the output having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery.

34. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

36. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising battery charging circuitry configured to charge a vehicle battery.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the booster battery.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 where the battery charging circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

39. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising battery testing circuitry configured to test a vehicle battery.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the battery testing circuitry is further configured to test the booster battery.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the battery testing circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

95. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the booster battery is a Thin Metal Film lead-acid battery.

96. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the booster battery is a carbon battery.

97. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

98. The apparatus of claim 97 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

99. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

100. The apparatus of claim 99 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

42-45. -45. (Canceled)

46. A method for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery, comprising:

providing a supply voltage from a charge supply battery, wherein the charge supply battery comprises a small battery; and

providing a charging voltage to the storage battery as a function of the supply voltage, with the charging voltage having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein providing the charging voltage is carried out by a DC-DC converter circuit.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a transistor.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a charge storage device.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

54. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

56. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery.

57. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries.

59. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery.

60. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries.

62. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery.

63. The method of claim 46 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries.

101. The method of claim 46 wherein the storage battery is a carbon battery.

102. The method of claim 101 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

103. The method of claim 102 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

104. The method of claim 101 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

105. The method of claim 104 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

65-68. -68. (Canceled)

69. A method of making a jump-start booster pack, comprising:

providing a booster battery configured to provide starting energy to a vehicle;

providing a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

providing a DC-DC converter circuit having an input electrically coupled to the charge supply battery and an output electrically coupled to the booster battery;

wherein the charge supply battery comprises a small battery; and

wherein the DC-DC converter circuit is configured to provide a charging voltage at the output having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein providing the charge supply comprises providing a single cell battery.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein providing the charge supply battery comprises providing a “

D”

cell alkaline battery.

72. The method of claim 69 further comprising providing battery charging circuitry configured to charge a vehicle battery.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the booster battery.

74. The method of claim 72 further comprising coupling the battery charging circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

75. The method of claim 69 further comprising providing battery testing circuitry configured to test a vehicle battery.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the battery testing circuitry is further configured to test the booster battery.

77. The method of claim 75 further comprising coupling the battery testing circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

110. The method of claim 69 wherein the booster battery is a Thin Metal film lead acid battery.

111. The method of claim 69 wherein the booster battery is a carbon battery.

78-81. -81. (Canceled)