Battery charge regulator
First Claim
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1. A charge regulator for a battery, the charge regulator comprising:
- a charging circuit operable to selectively couple the battery to a charging source; and
a control circuit operable to cause the charging circuit to provide a predetermined amount of charge to the battery based on a measurement of charge that the battery has received.
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Abstract
An apparatus for and method of a charge regulator for a battery that will be easy to use, have less maintenance, and automatically adjust itself to varying conditions of use. This method of charge regulation eliminates some of the problems encountered when a traditional type of charge regulator is used with photovoltaic cells. The charge regulator will determine the initial charge remaining in the battery before charging begins, calculate what is needed to bring the battery to full charge, then start charging the battery. Charging is discontinued after the initial charge plus the charge received equals the equivalent of a fully charged battery.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A charge regulator for a battery, the charge regulator comprising:
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a charging circuit operable to selectively couple the battery to a charging source; and
a control circuit operable to cause the charging circuit to provide a predetermined amount of charge to the battery based on a measurement of charge that the battery has received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a charging source;
a first battery; and
a charge regulator including, a first charging circuit operable to selectively couple the first battery to the charging source; and
a first control circuit operable to cause the first charging circuit to provide a predetermined amount of charge to the first battery based on a measurement of charge that the first battery has received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of regulating charge in a battery, the method comprising:
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determining an initial charge of the battery after a rest period during which the battery is open-circuited;
charging the battery;
monitoring the charge accumulated by the battery; and
ending the charging of the battery when the sum of the initial charge and the accumulated charge substantially equals a desired level. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification