Discharge circuit

• US 20060176020A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICC-Nexergy, Inc
• Original Assignee: ElectriTek-AVT, Inc.
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Randolph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

According to the invention, an apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle is disclosed. The apparatus may have a discharge circuit for discharging a battery. The discharge circuit may be adapted to be coupled with a discharge load and configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharging cycle. The apparatus may have a first power input and a second power input, which may configured to receive power from a first power source and a second power source, respectively. The power inputs may be further configured to supply power to the discharge circuit. The apparatus may have a power switching circuit for switching power from the first power source to the second power source when the first power source is interrupted. The second power source may be the battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle, the apparatus comprising:

a discharge circuit for discharging a battery, wherein;

the discharge circuit is adapted to be coupled with a discharge load; and

the discharge circuit is configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharging cycle;

a first power input, wherein;

the first power input is configured to receive power from a first power source; and

the first power input is further configured to supply power to the discharge circuit;

a second power input, wherein;

the second power input is configured to receive power from a second power source; and

the second power input is further configured to supply power to the discharge circuit; and

a power switching circuit for switching power from the first power source to the second power source, wherein;

when the first power source is interrupted, the power switching circuit switches power from the first power source to the second power source; and

the second power source comprises the battery.

2. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, wherein the discharge load comprises at least one resistive element.

3. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, wherein a load value of the discharge load is reduced when the power is switched to the second power source.

4. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, wherein the first power source is powered by alternating-current.

5. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, wherein the power switching circuit switches power from the second power source to the first power source when the first power source is no longer interrupted.

6. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of an operating load is also the discharge load; and

the operating load is powered by the battery during normal operation outside of the discharge cycle.

7. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a shut-down circuit configured to shut down the discharge circuit based, at least in part, on a discharge level of the battery.

8. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a shut-down circuit configured to shut down the discharge circuit based, at least in part, on the length of time the power is switched to the second power source.

9. The apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data storage circuit configured to store data related to the discharge cycle.

10. A method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle, the method comprising:

discharging a battery using a circuit, wherein;

the circuit is adapted to be coupled with a discharge load; and

the circuit is configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharge cycle;

powering the circuit from a first power source at a first instance in time, wherein the first power source which is different from a second power source;

reacting to an interruption of power in the first power source, wherein reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source comprises a step of;

configuring the circuit to use power from the second power source; and

powering the circuit from the second power source at a second instance in time, wherein the second power source comprises the battery.

11. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, wherein the first instance in time is before the second instance in time.

12. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising reducing a load value of the discharge load when the circuit is powered from the second power source.

13. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising:

reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source no longer existing, wherein reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source no longer existing comprises;

configuring the circuit to use power from the first power source; and

powering the circuit from the first power source at a third instance in time.

14. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 13, wherein the second instance in time is before the third instance in time.

15. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising shutting down the circuit based, at least in part, on the discharge level of the battery.

16. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising shutting down the circuit based, at least in part, on the length of time the circuit is powered by the second power source.

17. The method for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle as recited in claim 10, the method further comprising storing data related to the discharge cycle.

18. A machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle, wherein the machine-readable medium comprising machine-executable instructions for:

discharging a battery using a circuit, wherein;

the circuit is adapted to be coupled with a discharge load; and

the circuit is configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharge cycle;

powering the circuit from a first power source at a first instance in time, wherein the first power source which is different from a second power source;

reacting to an interruption of power in the first power source, wherein reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source comprises a step of;

configuring the circuit to use power from the second power source; and

powering the circuit from the second power source at a second instance in time, wherein the second power source comprises the battery.

19. A machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle, as recited in claim 18, wherein the machine-readable medium further comprise machine-executable instructions for:

reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source no longer existing, wherein reacting to the interruption of power in the first power source no longer existing comprises;

configuring the circuit to use power from the first power source; and

powering the circuit from the first power source at a third instance in time.

20. A machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions for robust battery discharging which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle, as recited in claim 18, wherein the machine-readable medium further comprises machine-executable instructions for:

storing data related to the discharge cycle.