BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT
First Claim
1. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising:
- a microprocessor for receiving a current sense signal and a voltage sense signal, the microprocessor generating control signals for selectively operating the circuit in a charging mode and a maintenance mode;
a current sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and generating the current sense signal responsive to the measured current consumption;
a voltage sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and generating the voltage sense signal responsive to the measured battery voltage; and
a waveform generator circuit for receiving the control signals, and operating in response thereto to apply a charging signal to the battery when in the charging mode and to deactivate the charging signal when in the maintenance mode, wherein the charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit charges and maintains a battery. The circuit includes a microprocessor for receiving a current sense signal and a voltage sense signal. The microprocessor generates control signals for selectively operating the circuit in a charging mode and in a maintenance mode. The circuit includes a current sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and generating the current sense signal responsive to the measured current consumption. The circuit includes a voltage sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and generating the voltage sense signal responsive to the measured battery voltage. The circuit includes a waveform generator circuit for receiving the control signals, and operating in response thereto to apply a charging signal to the battery when in the charging mode and to deactivate the charging signal when in the maintenance mode. The charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising:
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a microprocessor for receiving a current sense signal and a voltage sense signal, the microprocessor generating control signals for selectively operating the circuit in a charging mode and a maintenance mode; a current sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and generating the current sense signal responsive to the measured current consumption; a voltage sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and generating the voltage sense signal responsive to the measured battery voltage; and a waveform generator circuit for receiving the control signals, and operating in response thereto to apply a charging signal to the battery when in the charging mode and to deactivate the charging signal when in the maintenance mode, wherein the charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A circuit for charging battery, comprising:
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a microprocessor for receiving a current sense signal and a voltage sense signal, the microprocessor generating a first control signal and a second control signal; a current sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and generating the current sense signal responsive to the measured current consumption; a voltage sense circuit for measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and generating the voltage sense signal responsive to the measured battery voltage; and a waveform generator circuit for receiving the first and second control signals and a DC bias signal, the waveform generator circuit generating an output signal for application to the battery when in a charging mode as selected by the first and second control signals, the output signal including an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal, the waveform generator circuit deactivating the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias when in a maintenance mode as selected by the first and second control signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A circuit, comprising:
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a current sense circuit for measuring a current consumption of a battery during charging and generating a current sense signal; a voltage sense circuit for measuring a voltage of the battery and generating a voltage sense signal; a signal generator for applying a signal to the battery, the signal generating comprising; a first circuit for generating an oscillating triangular waveform; and a second circuit for generating a DC bias signal; a control circuit responsive to the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal;
the control circuit controlling the signal generator to apply the signal to the battery with the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal if the voltage sense signal indicates a voltage less than a first threshold, the control circuit controlling the signal generator to inhibit the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal if the voltage exceeds the first threshold and if the current sense signal indicates the current consumption is less than a second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification