ULTRA-FAST ULTRACAPACITOR PACK/DEVICE CHARGER

• US 20080106239A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan J. And Denise L. Costa 1997 Family Trust
• Original Assignee: IVUS Energy Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: CEGNAR, ERIK J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/167
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0018 using separate charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A charger for ultracapacitors that allows many ultracapacitors, that may be connected in several different configurations, to be charged from a very low voltage to their rated voltage very rapidly without cell damage. The charger also allows for the detection of failed cells.

Claims

1. An ultracapacitor charging method for charging a string of ultracapacitor cells, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring the voltage of each ultracapacitor cell;

charging said string of ultracapacitor cells through use of a charger, said charger connected to a voltage source;

calculating the total voltage of said string of ultracapacitor cells;

following a current profile based upon the total voltage;

determining the maximum voltage of each ultracapacitor cell;

determining which ultracapacitor cell has the largest voltage;

monitoring the voltage of the ultracapacitor cell having the largest voltage; and

stopping the charging of said string when the ultracapacitor cell with the largest voltage reaches its maximum voltage level.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of first connecting said string of ultracapacitor cells to said charger, and last disconnecting said string of ultracapacitor cells from said charger.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said voltage source is selected from the group consisting of at least one battery, a DC-DC converter, and a AC-DC converter.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of first connecting said string of ultracapacitor cells to said charger, and last disconnecting said string of ultracapacitor cells from said charger, and wherein said voltage source is selected from the group consisting of at least one battery, a DC-DC converter, and a AC-DC converter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the voltage of each ultracapacitor cell is monitored during the charging step to determine if one or more of the ultracapacitor cells has failed and if so stopping said charging and alerting a user of said method of said failure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said ultracapacitors are connected in series.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said ultracapacitors are connected in a combination of series and parallel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said ultracapacitors are connected in parallel.

9. A charger for charging a string of ultracapacitors, said charger comprising:

a power electronic converter, said power electronic converter connected to a voltage source, said power electronic converter for regulating the current that flows in said string of ultracapacitors;

a MCU, said MCU for commanding the current that flows from said power electronic converter to said string of ultracapacitors;

a first analog circuit, said first analog circuit for measuring said ultracapacitor cell voltage; and

a second analog circuit, said second analog circuit for performing closed loop current control.

10. The charger of claim 9, wherein said voltage source is selected from the group consisting of at least one battery, a DC-DC converter and an AC-DC converter.

11. The charger of claim 9, wherein said MCU monitors the voltage over each ultracapacitor cell and the current passing through each ultracapacitor cell to determine if one or more of the ultracapacitor cells has failed.

12. The charger of claim 9, wherein said MCU calculates the total string voltages by summing the voltages of said ultracapacitor cells, and wherein based upon said total voltage said MCU allows the current from the power electronic converter to follow a current profile.

13. The charger of claim 12, wherein the current profile is based upon the total output voltage and the individual cell voltages.

14. The charger of claim 9, wherein said MCU monitors the voltage over each ultracapacitor cell and the current passing through each ultracapacitor cell to determine if one or more of the ultracapacitor cells has failed, and wherein said MCU calculates the total string voltages by summing the voltages of said ultracapacitor cells, and wherein based upon said total voltage said MCU allows the current from the power electronic converter to follow a current profile.

15. A charger for charging a string of ultracapacitors, said charger comprising:

a voltage source;

a resistive network, said resistive network comprising controllable switches and resistors, said resistive network connected to said voltage source, said resistive network regulates the current that flows in the ultracapacitors;

an analog circuit allowing the voltage of each ultracapacitor cell to be measured; and

a MCU, where said MCU measures the voltage of each ultracapacitor cell, where said MCU commands the current that flows from said resistive network to said ultracapacitors, said MCU controls the switches in the resistive network by turning them on or off, said MCU determining which ultracapacitor cell has the largest voltage.

16. The charger of claim 15, wherein said resistive network is a series network, or a parallel network, or a combination of a series and parallel network.

17. The charger of claim 15, wherein when the ultracapacitor cell with the largest voltage reaches its maximum voltage, the MCU turns the switches in the resistive network off, thereby stopping the charging of said ultracapacitor string.

18. The charger of claim 15, wherein said MCU monitors the voltage over each ultracapacitor cell and the current passing through each ultracapacitor cell to determine if one or more of the ultracapacitor cells has failed.

19. The charger of claim 15, wherein said MCU calculates the total string voltages by summing the voltages of said ultracapacitor cells, and wherein based upon said total voltage said MCU allows the current from the voltage source to follow a current profile.

20. The charger of claim 15, wherein said voltage source is selected from the group consisting of at least one battery, a DC-DC converter and an AC-DC converter.