Systems and methods for charging a battery

• US 20070139010A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bonneau, William, Thomas, Sherrill, Meyer, Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/312,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A system for charging a battery is described. The system includes a direct current (DC) power source configured to supply a DC power source output signal, a converter configured to convert the DC power source output signal into a converter output signal, a battery coupled to the converter and having a plurality of terminals, and a controller configured to receive a measure of a terminal charge across the terminals and configured to adjust a power that charges the battery based on the terminal charge.

Claims

1. A system for charging a battery, said system comprising:

a direct current (DC) power source configured to supply a DC power source output signal;

a converter configured to convert the DC power source output signal into a converter output signal;

a battery coupled to said converter and having a plurality of terminals; and

a controller configured to receive a measure of a terminal charge across said terminals and configured to adjust a power that charges said battery based on the terminal charge.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said DC power source comprises one of a fuel cell and a solar cell.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said converter comprises a DC-to-DC converter.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is located within a vehicle.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a processor configured to control a motor of a vehicle based on a signal received from an accelerator.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a meter configured to measure a voltage across said terminals.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to control the opening and closing of said switch according to a pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a level.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to:

open and close said switch according to a first pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a first level; and

open and close said switch according to a second pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is at above the first level and below a second level.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to:

open and close said switch according to a first pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a first level;

open and close said switch according to a second pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is at above the first level and below a second level; and

open and close said switch according to a third pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is above the second level and below a third level.

10. A system for charging battery, said system comprising:

a motor;

a direct current (DC) power source configured to supply a DC power source output signal;

a converter configured to convert the DC power source output signal into a converter output signal;

a battery coupled to said converter and said motor, and having a plurality of terminals; and

a controller configured to receive a measure of a terminal charge across said terminals and configured to adjust a power that charges said battery based on the terminal charge.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said DC power source comprises one of a fuel cell and a solar cell.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said converter comprises a DC-to-DC converter.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said controller is located within an electric vehicle.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said controller comprises a processor configured to control a motor of a vehicle based on a signal received from an accelerator.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a meter configured to measure a voltage across said terminals.

16. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to adjust the opening and closing of said switch according to a pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a level.

17. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to:

adjust the opening and closing of said switch according to a first pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a first level; and

open and close said switch according to a second pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is above the first level and below a second level.

18. A system for charging a battery, said system comprising:

a direct current (DC) power source configured to output a DC power source output signal;

a converter configured to convert the DC power source output signal into a converter output signal;

a plurality of electric vehicles, wherein each of said electric vehicles comprise;

a battery coupled to said converter and having a plurality of terminals; and

a controller configured to receive a measure of a terminal charge across said terminals and configured to adjust a power that charges said battery based on the terminal charge.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said DC power source comprises one of a fuel cell and a solar cell.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said converter comprises a DC-to-DC converter.

21. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said controller comprises a processor configured to control a motor of a vehicle based on a signal received from an accelerator.

22. A system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a meter configured to measure a voltage across said terminals.

23. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said converter comprises a switch configured to open and close, and said controller configured to adjust the opening and closing of said switch according to a pulse width modulation cycle upon determining that the terminal charge is below a level.

24. A method for charging a battery, said method comprising:

receiving a direct current (DC) power source output signal from a DC power source;

generating, by a converter, a converter output signal by converting the DC power source output signal;

coupling a battery having a plurality of terminals to the converter;

receiving, by a controller, a measure of a terminal charge across the terminals; and

controlling, by the controller, a power supplied to the battery by adjusting the power based on the terminal charge.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said receiving the DC power source output signal comprises receiving the DC power source output signal from one of a fuel cell and a solar cell.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said generating, by the converter, the converter output signal comprises generating, by a DC-to-DC converter, the converter output signal.

27. A method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising implementing the controller within an electric vehicle.

28. A method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising controlling, by the controller, a motor of a vehicle based on a signal received from an accelerator.