Method and device for equalizing the float voltage of a battery cell
First Claim
1. A method for equalizing the float voltage of a battery cell continuously receiving a float charge, said method comprising:
- monitoring the actual float voltage of the cell;
creating a float charge bypass circuit for said cell;
measuring the bypass current passing through said bypass circuit;
establishing a predetermined relationship between an optimum desired cell float voltage and the bypass current required to maintain said optimum cell float voltage;
comparing the monitored actual float voltage level of the cell with said optimum desired cell float voltage level and computing a desired bypass current based on said predetermined relationship;
comparing the computed desired bypass current with the actual measured bypass current; and
adjusting the actual bypass current to equal said computed desired bypass current, thereby equalizing the cell float voltage at said optimum level by regulating said bypass current and thereby varying the float current applied to said cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A module and method incorporated thereby is provided for maintaining the float voltage of a battery cell at an optimum fully charged condition while being continuously charged by a float current. The module preferably includes a mechanism for measuring the actual float voltage of the cell, and a circuit is established for variably bypassing the float current directed to the cell. A device is provided for calculating and establishing a predetermined relationship between a desired cell float voltage and a bypass current required to maintain the desired cell voltage. A mechanism then determines a desired bypass current by comparing the measured actual float voltage of the cell with the predetermined relationship. A system compares the actual bypass current with the desired bypass current, and then a mechanism adjusts the actual bypass current to equal the desired bypass current. This arrangement equalizes the cell float voltage by regulating the bypass current diverted from the cell which in turns varies the actual float current applied to the cell. In one most preferred form, the module is powered from the actual battery cell being monitored by the module.
7 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for equalizing the float voltage of a battery cell continuously receiving a float charge, said method comprising:
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monitoring the actual float voltage of the cell;
creating a float charge bypass circuit for said cell;
measuring the bypass current passing through said bypass circuit;
establishing a predetermined relationship between an optimum desired cell float voltage and the bypass current required to maintain said optimum cell float voltage;
comparing the monitored actual float voltage level of the cell with said optimum desired cell float voltage level and computing a desired bypass current based on said predetermined relationship;
comparing the computed desired bypass current with the actual measured bypass current; and
adjusting the actual bypass current to equal said computed desired bypass current, thereby equalizing the cell float voltage at said optimum level by regulating said bypass current and thereby varying the float current applied to said cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for automatically maintaining each of the individual cells of a multicell battery at an optimum state of charge, said system comprising:
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a device for providing a float current to said cells for continuously charging said cells;
a float current bypass circuit associated with each said cell adapted to selectively vary and divert portions of the float current to bypass the said associated cell;
means for measuring the actual bypass current for each said cell flowing through said bypass circuit and comparing said actual bypass current with a desired bypass current based on a preestablished relationship between said bypass current and a desired optimum float voltage for said cell; and
means for selectively regulating the actual bypass current for each said cell to match said desired bypass current to thereby equalize the float voltage of said associated cell. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A module for maintaining the float voltage of a battery cell at an optimum fully charged condition while being continuously charged by a float current, said module comprising:
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means for measuring the actual float voltage of said cell;
a circuit for variably bypassing and diverting a potion of the float current directed to said cell;
means for calculating and establishing a predetermined relationship between a desired optimum cell float voltage and the bypass current required to maintain said desired optimum cell float voltage;
means for determining a desired bypass current by comparing the measured actual float voltage of said cell with said predetermined relationship;
means for comparing the actual bypass current with the desired bypass current; and
means for modifying the actual bypass current to equal said desired bypass current thereby equalizing the cell float voltage by regulating the bypass current diverted from said cell. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification