Managing Battery Charge to Prolong Battery Life

• US 20160006274A1
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Tu, Lihui, Evans, Edward B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,536,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007184 in response to battery voltage gradient

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of controllers and methods for use in climate control systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a controller for use in a climate control system includes a charger for providing a charge current to a battery of the controller. The controller also includes a variable resistance for selectively limiting the charge current. A control is configured to monitor the charge current and a voltage of the battery. Based on the monitoring, the control varies the resistance to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery. The monitored voltage has a substantially minimized rate of change within the range.

Claims

1. A controller for use in a climate control system, the controller comprising:

a charger for providing a charge current to a battery of the controller;

a variable resistance for selectively limiting the charge current; and

a control configured to;

monitor the charge current and a voltage of the battery; and

based on the monitoring, vary the resistance to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery;

the monitored voltage having a substantially minimized rate of change within the range.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

the resistance is varied to maximize the charge current while selectively limiting the charge current; and

/or

power is stolen through a load of the climate control system and provided to the charger.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

based on the monitored voltage of the battery, a load of the controller is switched to an off mode to increase the charge current; and

/or

a level of the charging current is based at least in part on loading of the controller.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

a common wire of the climate control system is used to provide power to the charger; and

/or

the monitored voltage is used to determine whether the battery is approaching the end of battery life.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

a load of the controller is switched to an on mode when the monitored voltage substantially equals a platform voltage at which the rate of change of the monitored voltage is minimized; and

/or

the charge current is a trickle current.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

the battery is replaceable; and

/or

a battery replacement alert is displayed on the controller and/or a mobile device.

8. A method of managing charge of a battery of a controller for use in a climate control system, the method performed by a control of the controller, the method comprising:

monitoring a charge current provided by a charger to the battery;

monitoring a voltage of the battery; and

based on the monitoring, substantially minimizing the rate of change of the monitored voltage by varying a resistance to limit the monitored charge current, the varying performed to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the resistance is varied to maximize the charge current while selectively limiting the charge current; and

/or

power is stolen through a load of the climate control system and provided to the charger.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

based on the monitored voltage of the battery, a load of the controller is switched to an off mode to increase the charge current; and

/or

a level of the charging current is based at least in part on loading of the controller.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

a common wire of the climate control system is used to provide power to the charger; and

/or

the monitored voltage is used to determine whether the battery is approaching the end of battery life.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

a load of the controller is switched to an on mode when the monitored voltage substantially equals a platform voltage at which the rate of change of the monitored voltage is minimized; and

/or

the charge current is a trickle current.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the battery is replaceable; and

/or

a battery replacement alert is displayed on the controller and/or a mobile device.