INTEGRATED REJUVENABLE ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 3,876,921 A
• Filed: 02/04/1972
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Hatton Iii Bigbee
• Original Assignee: John Hatton Iii Bigbee
• Inventors: Bigbee, John Hatton III
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/223,641
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 323/22SC,21,36,39,30 320/DIG.2,39,40,21,28
• US Class Current: 320/144
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/25 Optical coupler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/27 Transformerless
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/32 Voltage divider having diverse elements other than merely plural resistors

Abstract

An integrated battery and charging circuit and method of battery charging in which a nickel cadmium battery pack may be connected to a standard 115 volt, 60 Hertz power supply and charging current supplied to the battery through a silicon controlled rectifier for a small portion of each of the positive half-cycles of the current from the 60 Hertz power supply. SCR conduction is controlled as a function of battery terminal voltage and/or temperature.

Claims

1. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:

a. generating a periodic time varying unidirection charging current;

b. generating a first signal related to the peak value of each cycle of the charging current;

c. generating a second signal related to the instantaneous value of each cycle of the charging current and a characteristic of the battery being charged;

d. gating a portion of the charging current to the battery to be charged in dependency on the first and second signals; and

;

e. varying the relationship of the second signal to the instantaneous value of the charging current as a function of the battery terminal voltage.

2. Apparatus comprising:

a battery;

a source current;

means including an SCR for applying charging current from said source to said battery;

means for providing a first signal related to the voltage of said source;

means for providing a second signal related to the integral of said first signal with respect to time;

means for providing a third signal related to battery terminal voltage and for modifying said first signal responsively thereto; and

, means for differentially comparing said first and second signals and for triggering said SCR responsively thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said modifying means includes a radiation emitting element;

and, wherein said second signal providing means includes a radiation responsive element in a radiation receiving relationship to said radiation emitting element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means impervious to radiation from said radiation emitting element for enclosing said radiation emitting element and said radiation responsive element whereby said radiation responsive element is responsive only to radiation from said radiation emitting element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including:

means for providing a fourth signal related to battery terminal voltage;

means for providing a reference signal;

means for comparing said fourth signal with said reference signal and for modifying said third signal responsively thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 including:

means for providing a fourth signal related to battery terminal voltage;

means for providing a reference signal;

means for comparing said fourth signal with said reference signal and for modifying said third signal responsively thereto.

7. Apparatus comprising:

a pair of input terminals adapted to receive alternating current power;

means for sensing a characteristic of a battery being charged;

means including an SCR for applying unidirectional current from said pair of terminals to said battery;

a capacitor;

means for providing a direct current signal related to the power received by said pair of input terminals and for applying said direct current signal to charge said capacitor; and

, voltage responsive switch means responsive to the charge on said capacitor and to a signal related to the instantaneous voltage of the power received by said pair of input terminals and to the characteristic sensed for initiating the conduction of said SCR.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said characteristic is battery terminal voltage.

9. Apparatus comprising:

a pair of input terminals adapted to receive alternating current power;

means for sensing battery terminal voltage;

means including an SCR for applying unidirectional current from said pair of terminals to said battery;

a capacitor;

means for providing a direct current signal related to the power received by said pair of input terminals and for applying said direct current signal to charge said capacitor; and

, voltage responsive switch means responsive to the charge on said capacitor and to a signal related to the instantaneous voltage of the power received by said pair of input terminals and to the characteristic sensed for initiating the conduction of said SCR, said battery terminal voltage related signal providing means including a radiation emitting element and switch means in series across said battery, and means for providing a control signal also related to battery terminal voltage, said switch means being responsive to said control signal to modify the current through said radiation emitting means, said direct current signal providing means including a radiation responsive element in a radiating receiving relationship to said radiation emitting element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said radiation emitting element is responsive only to radiation from said radiation emitting element.

11. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:

a. providing a battery to be charged;

b. applying alternating current power to a pair of input terminals;

c. applying power from the pair of input terminals to the battery to be charged through an SCR;

d. providing a capacitor;

e. at least half wave rectifying the power applied to the pair of input terminals to provide a charging current related to the power applied to the input terminals;

f. applying the charging current to the capacitor to provide a signal related to the voltage thereon;

g. providing a time varying signal related to the instantaneous value of the alternating current power;

h. providing a signal related to battery terminal voltage;

i. modifying the relationship of the charging current to the alternating current power responsively to the battery terminal voltage related signal;

j. comparing the capacitor voltage related signal with the instantaneous power related signal to provide a control signal; and

, k. triggering the SCR responsively to the control signal.