METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY

• US 20110062913A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fenix International, Inc. (ENGIE SA)
• Original Assignee: Fenix International, Inc. (ENGIE SA)
• Inventors: Lin, Michael, Warshawsky, Brian, Ketterle, Jonas, Thomas, Jonathan, Krieger, Brian, Heinrich, Mitchell, Pelochino, John, Jelen, Paul, Dhanaliwala, Akbar
• Granted Patent: US 8,581,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying different types of energy sources used to charge a battery by receiving energy from at least one of the different types of energy sources at input terminals, identifying the type of energy source, and selecting a mode for charging the battery based on the type of energy source identified. A method and apparatus for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for identifying different types of energy sources used to charge a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving energy from at least one of the different types of energy sources at input terminals;

determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals;

identifying the type of energy source; and

selecting a mode for charging the battery based on the type of energy source identified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the type of energy source comprises the steps of:

determining the transition time for transitioning from substantially no voltage at the input terminals to when the voltage at the input terminals is substantially constant and/or at or above a voltage threshold; and

comparing the transition time to a transition time threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the transition time is less than the transition time threshold;

incrementing the charging current of the energy source until a first current threshold is reached;

determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals after the first current threshold has been reached; and

identifying the type of energy source by comparing a voltage sag threshold to the voltage difference between the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals after the first current threshold has been reached and the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals before the step of incrementing the charging current.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining that the voltage difference is greater than the voltage sag threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the energy source is a solar panel.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of determining that the voltage difference is less than the voltage sag threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy source is a wall outlet adaptor.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step determining that the transition time is greater than the transition time threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy source is one of a bicycle generator, wind turbine, hydro turbine, hand-crank, or animal generator.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the voltage threshold is the minimum voltage for charging the battery.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

determining the power output of the solar panel;

incrementing the charging current of the solar panel by a step;

determining the power output of the solar panel after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step;

incrementing the charging current of the solar panel by a step if the power output of the solar panel after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is greater than the power output of the solar panel before the step of incrementing the charging current a step; and

decrementing the charging current of the solar panel by a step if the power output of the solar panel after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is less than the power output of the solar panel before the step of incrementing the charging current by a step.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals;

incrementing the charging current of the wall outlet adapter by a step;

determining the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step;

incrementing the charging current of the wall outlet adapter by a step if the voltage difference between the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step and the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals before the step of incrementing the charging current of the energy source is less than the voltage sag threshold; and

decrementing the charging current of the wall outlet adapter by a step if the voltage difference between the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step and the voltage of the wall outlet adapter at the input terminals before the step of incrementing the charging current of the energy source is greater than the voltage sag threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining the voltage of the battery after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step;

incrementing the charging current of the wall outlet adapter by a step if the voltage of the wall outlet adapter after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is less than the maximum battery voltage; and

decrementing the charging current of the wall outlet adapter by a step if the voltage of the battery after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is greater than the maximum battery voltage.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

incrementing the charging current of the bicycle generator by a step;

determining the voltage of the battery after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step;

incrementing the charging current of the bicycle generator by a step if the voltage of the battery after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is less than the maximum battery voltage; and

decrementing the charging current of the bicycle generator by a step if the voltage of the battery after the step of incrementing the charging current by a step is greater than the maximum battery voltage.

15. An apparatus for identifying different types of energy sources used to charge a battery, the apparatus comprising:

input terminals for receiving energy from at least one of the different types of energy sources;

a voltage sensor for determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals; and

a microcontroller for

determining the transition time for transitioning from substantially no voltage at the input terminals to when the voltage at the input terminals is substantially constant and/or at or above a voltage threshold;

identifying the type of energy source by comparing the transition time to a transition time threshold; and

selecting a mode for charging the battery based on the type of energy source identified.

16. A method for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;

(b) determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals;

(c) continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold;

(d) opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold;

(e) determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;

(f) opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than a minimum source voltage threshold and resetting a counter to zero;

(g) incrementing the counter if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;

(h) determining whether the counter has exceeded a counting threshold;

(i) repeating steps (e) through (g) if the counter has not exceeded the counting threshold;

(j) closing the switch to connect the energy source to the battery if the counter has exceeded a counting threshold, confirming that the energy source is not an alternating current (AC) source; and

(k) continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold is performed every 1 ms.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the switch is one of a MOSFET or relay.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the counter is a timer.

20. An apparatus for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery comprising:

input terminals for receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals;

a switch isolating the input terminals from the battery;

a voltage sensor for determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals;

a microcontroller for

(a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;

(b) determining the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals;

(c) continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold;

(d) opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold;

(e) determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;

(f) opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than a minimum source voltage threshold and resetting a counter to zero;

(g) incrementing the counter if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;

(h) determining whether the counter has exceeded a counting threshold;

(i) repeating steps (e) through (g) if the counter has not exceeded the counting threshold;

(j) closing the switch to connect the energy source to the battery if the counter has exceeded a counting threshold, confirming that the energy source is not an alternating current (AC) source; and

(k) continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the switch is one of an electrical switch or mechanical switch.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the switch is one of a MOSFET or relay.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the counter is a timer.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a full bridge rectifier on the input terminals.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a rectifier diode on the input terminals.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a voltage divider on the input terminals.