Battery charge circuit with multi-charge stage and method thereof

• US 20070139011A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunjett Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sunjett Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Sheng-Chan
• Granted Patent: US 7,375,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A charge circuit having multi charge stages for charging at least one battery includes: a first current generating circuit for generating a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery; a voltage generating circuit connected to the first current generating circuit for controlling the first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage; a voltage control circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a first constant voltage and/or a second constant voltage; and a second current generating circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a variant power comprising a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency wherein a charge voltage included in the variant power varies with the second frequency.

Claims

1. A charge circuit for charging at least one battery, comprising:

a first current generating circuit for generating a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

a voltage generating circuit connected to the first current generating circuit for controlling the first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage;

a voltage control circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a first constant voltage and/or a second constant voltage; and

a second current generating circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a variant power comprising a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency wherein a charge voltage included in the variant power varies with the second frequency.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first current generating circuit comprises:

a first photodiode; and

a first resistor connected to the first photodiode.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a control circuit to supply a small power source to the microprocessor to prevent shut down of the microprocessor, the control circuit comprises a third and a fourth resistor connected in series;

and a first transistor having a base connected to the fourth resistor, a emitter connected to the third terminal of the first photodiode.

4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a control circuit to supply a small power source to the microprocessor to prevent shut down of the microprocessor, the control circuit comprises a third and a fourth resistor connected in series;

and a first transistor having a base connected to the fourth resistor, a emitter connected to the third terminal of the first photodiode.

5. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a pulse provider with minimum duty to the control circuit, the pulse provider comprising two diodes connected in series.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage generating circuit comprises:

a second photodiode;

a fifth resistor connected to the second photodiode;

a sixth resistor and seventh resistor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor connected in series for feedback compensation, wherein one terminal of the sixth resistor is connected to one terminal of the fifth resistor;

a eighth resistor, a ninth resistor connected in series; and

a first Zener diode connected with the ninth resistor in parallel for feedback voltage control.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage generating circuit further comprises a tenth resistor connected in parallel with the ninth resistor.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage control circuit comprises:

a second transistor and a third transistor;

a eleventh resistor and a twelfth resistor connected in series;

a thirteenth resistor with one terminal connected to the second transistor;

a fourteenth resistor connected to the third transistor;

a fifteenth resistor is connected to the second transistor;

a sixteenth resistor is connected to the second transistor; and

wherein when the third transistor turns on, the first constant voltage is generated;

when the third transistor turns off, the second constant voltage is generated.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second current generating circuit comprises:

a second Zener diode connected to the sixteenth resistor.

a third diode connected to the second Zener diode;

a seventeenth resistor connected with the third diode in series; and

a eighteenth resistor and a nineteenth resistor connected in series, wherein one terminal of the seventeenth resistor is connected between the eighteenth resistor and the nineteenth resistor.

10. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a twentieth resistor and a switch connected in series.

11. A charge system for charging at least one battery, comprising:

an interface provided with a plurality of control buttons, each of which corresponds to an specific function;

a microprocessor executing the specific function when the corresponding control button is pressed;

a charge circuit controlled by the microprocessor for charging at least one battery, the circuit comprising;

a first current generating circuit for generating a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

a voltage generating circuit connected to the first current generating circuit for controlling the first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage;

a voltage control circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a first constant voltage and/or a second constant voltage; and

a second current generating circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a variant power comprising a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency wherein a charge voltage included in the variant power varies with the second frequency.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plug for receiving electrical power source.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a display provided on the interface.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor issues an error message when the charge system does not connect with a battery.

15. The system of claim 14 comprising steps of turning off a relay when the charge current is less than a setting value;

and when the battery voltage is less than a setting value, the error message of open cell is generated.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor issues an error message when the charge system detects at least one short cell in the battery.

17. The system of claim 15 comprising steps of detecting a first battery voltage, a second battery voltage, and a third battery voltage;

and if the first voltage is greater than the second voltage and the second voltage is greater than the third voltage, the error message of short cell is generated.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor issues an error message when the charge system detects at least open short cell in the battery.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the battery voltage is smaller than a first predetermined voltage and the battery voltage is greater than a second predetermined voltage, the error message of open cell is generated.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor issues an error message when the charge system charges the battery over a predetermined time.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the first current generating circuit comprises:

a first photodiode; and

a first resistor connected to the first photodiode.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a control circuit to supply a small power source to the microprocessor to prevent shut down of the microprocessor, the control circuit comprises a third and a fourth resistor connected in series;

and a first transistor having a base connected to the fourth resistor, a emitter connected to the third terminal of the first photodiode.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a control circuit to supply a small power source to the microprocessor to prevent shut down of the microprocessor, the control circuit comprises a third and a fourth resistor connected in series;

and a first transistor having a base connected to the fourth resistor, a emitter connected to the third terminal of the first photodiode.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first current generating circuit further comprises a pulse provider with minimum duty to the control circuit, the pulse provider comprising two diodes connected in series.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the voltage generating circuit comprises:

a second photodiode;

a fifth resistor connected to the second photodiode;

a sixth resistor and seventh resistor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor connected in series for feedback compensation, wherein one terminal of the sixth resistor is connected to one terminal of the fifth resistor;

a eighth resistor, a ninth resistor connected in series; and

a first Zener diode connected with the ninth resistor in parallel for feedback voltage control.

26. The system of claim 11, wherein the voltage generating circuit further comprises a tenth resistor connected in parallel with the ninth resistor.

27. The system of claim 11, wherein the voltage control circuit comprises:

a second transistor and a third transistor;

a eleventh resistor and a twelfth resistor connected in series;

a thirteenth resistor with one terminal connected to the second transistor;

a fourteenth resistor connected to the third transistor;

a fifteenth resistor is connected to the second transistor;

a sixteenth resistor is connected to the second transistor; and

wherein when the third transistor turns on, the first constant voltage is generated;

when the third transistor turns off, the second constant voltage is generated.

28. The system of claim 11, wherein the second current generating circuit comprises

a second Zener diode connected to the sixteenth resistor;

a third diode connected to the second Zener diode;

a seventeenth resistor connected with the third diode in series; and

a eighteenth resistor and a nineteenth resistor connected in series, wherein one terminal of the seventeenth resistor is connected between the eighteenth resistor and the nineteenth resistor.

29. The system of claim 11, further comprising a twentieth resistor and a switch connected in series.

30. A charge system for charging at least one battery, comprising:

an interface provided with a plurality of control buttons, each of which corresponds to an specific function;

a microprocessor executing the specific function when the corresponding control button is pressed;

a charge circuit controlled by the microprocessor for charging at least one battery, wherein;

in a first charge stage, applying a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

in a second charge stage following the first charge stage, applying a second power having a second charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a second charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the second charge current in the second charge stage decreases gradually, the charge voltage remains the fist constant voltage; and

in a third charge stage following the second charge stage, applying a third charge power having a third charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a third charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the third current in the third charge stage decreases gradually, the third charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage; and

in a fourth charge stage following the third charge stage, applying a fourth charge power having a fourth charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a fourth charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the fourth current in the fourth charge stage decreases gradually, the fourth charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the charge circuit further applies a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency between the second charge stage and the third charge stage, wherein the charge voltage in this stage varies with the second frequency.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the second frequency is smaller than the first frequency.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the starting current of the second charge current in the second charge stage is lower than the first charge current.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the starting current of the third charge current is higher than the ending current of the second charge stage and lower than the first charge current.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the third charge stage and the fourth charge stage.

36. A charge method for charging at least one battery, the method comprising steps of:

in a first charge stage, applying a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

in a second charge stage following the first charge stage, applying a second power having a second charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a second charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the second charge current in the second charge stage decreases gradually, the charge voltage remains the fist constant voltage; and

in a third charge stage following the second charge stage, applying a third charge power having a third charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a third charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the third current in the third charge stage decreases gradually, the third charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage;

in a fourth charge stage following the third charge stage, applying a fourth charge power having a fourth charge current in pulse form with the first frequency and a fourth charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the fourth current in the fourth charge stage decreases gradually, the fourth charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage; and

in a maintenance stage following the fourth charge stage, applying a fifth current maintain the battery until the battery is substantially full charged.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the fourth charge stage and the maintenance stage.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein in the maintenance stage, when the battery voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined voltage, applying the fifth current to the battery for remaintain the at least one battery.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein in the maintenance stage, when the battery voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined voltage, applying a sixth current which is different from the fifth current to recharge the at least one battery.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the charge circuit applies a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency between the second charge stage and the third charge stage, wherein the charge voltage in this stage varies with the second frequency.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the second frequency is smaller than the first frequency.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the starting current of the second charge current in the second charge stage is lower than the first charge current.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the starting current of the third charge current is higher than the ending current of the second charge stage and lower than the first charge current.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the third charge stage and the fourth charge stage.

45. A charge method for charging at least one battery, the method comprising steps of:

in a first charge stage, applying a first charge power having a first charge current with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

in a second charge stage following the first charge stage, applying a second power having a second charge current with the first frequency and a second charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the second charge current in the second charge stage decreases gradually, the charge voltage remains the fist constant voltage;

after the second charge stage, applying a variant current with a second frequency, wherein the charge voltage in this stage varies with the second frequency;

in a third charge stage following the second charge stage, applying a third charge power having a third charge current with the first frequency and a third charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the third current in the third charge stage decreases gradually, the third charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage; and

in a fourth charge stage following the third charge stage, applying a fourth charge power having a fourth charge current with the first frequency and a fourth charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the fourth current in the fourth charge stage decreases gradually, the fourth charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the second frequency is smaller than the first frequency.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the starting current of the second charge current in the second charge stage is lower than the first charge current.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the starting current of the third charge current is higher than the ending current of the second charge stage and lower than the first charge current.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the third charge stage and the fourth charge stage.

50. A charge method for charging at least one battery, the method comprising steps of:

in a first charge stage, applying a first charge power having a first charge current with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the first charge current in the first charge stage remains substantially constant, the first charge voltage remains a fist constant voltage;

in a second charge stage following the first charge stage, applying a second power having a second charge current with the first frequency and a second charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the second charge current in the second charge stage decreases gradually, the charge voltage remains the fist constant voltage; and

in a third charge stage following the second charge stage, applying a third charge power having a third charge current with the first frequency and a third charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the third current in the third charge stage decreases gradually, the third charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage;

in a fourth charge stage following the third charge stage, applying a fourth charge power having a fourth charge current with the first frequency and a fourth charge voltage to charge the at least one battery, wherein the fourth current in the fourth charge stage decreases gradually, the fourth charge voltage remains a second constant voltage is higher than the first constant voltage in the second charge stage; and

in a maintenance stage following the fourth charge stage, applying a fifth current maintain the battery until the battery is substantially full charged.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the fourth charge stage and the maintenance stage.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein in the maintenance stage, when the battery voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined voltage, applying the fifth current to the battery for remaintain the at least one battery.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein in the maintenance stage, when the battery voltage of the battery is lower than a predetermined voltage, applying the sixth current which is different from the fifth current to recharge the at least one battery.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the charge circuit applies a variant current with a second frequency between the second charge stage and the third charge stage, wherein the charge voltage in this stage varies with the second frequency.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the second frequency is smaller than the first frequency.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein the starting current of the second charge current in the second charge stage is lower than the first charge current.

57. The system of claim 50, wherein the starting current of the third charge current is higher than the ending current of the second charge stage and lower than the first charge current.

58. The system of claim 50, wherein the charge circuit suspends charge of the at least one battery for a predetermined time between the third charge stage and the fourth charge stage.